The internationally famed action star and stunt master tones down his usual martial arts specialties for a more traditionally dramatic role in this police drama. In CRIME STORY, Chan portrays a Hong Kong police detective who’s guilt-ridden over his participation in a recent shoot-out. He is absolved of wrong-doing by the force, and assigned to protect a major real estate developer.

Despite Chan’s best efforts, though, the man under his care is soon kidnapped. The criminals demand millions in payment from the developer’s wife, and Chan takes it upon himself to try to foil their plot and rescue the developer. His job is made more difficult by the fact that his new partner (Kent Cheng- Jet Li’s THE DEFENDER and ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA) on the case, an esteemed detective, is secretly conspiring with the criminals.

Courtesy of famed Hong Kong director Kirk Wong, there are a number of martial arts sequences that take place near the film’s climax but much of the action is more typical of Hollywood than Hong Kong, consisting of shoot-outs, explosions, and vehicular stunts. The amount of blood and the overall gritty tone is combined with Chan’s restrained performance to create a darker experience than most of his other films familiar to American audiences.

Kirk Wong was nominated for Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the results show. He gave the RUSH HOUR star a chance to flex his acting muscles and back out of his usual martial arts and goofball humor. The set pieces and acting material was laid out nicely. The film also features veteran actors, Chan’s former bodyguard Ken Lo (LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER) and Chung Fat (Sammo Hung’s SPOOKY ENCOUNTERS) who play criminals. The two play their roles well to fill in as bad guys and give Chan enough fits through out the film.

CRIME STORY wasn’t a flawless movie but it was an entertaining piece of work. Chan’s performance makes the film an unforgettable landmark in his film career.