Seung sing (Confession of Pain) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Takeshi Kaneshiro, Qi Shu, Xu Jinglei, Chapman To, Emme Wong ... see more see more... , Hua Yueh , Vincent Wan , Wayne Lai , Bo-yuan Chan , Shaun Tam , Monie Tung , Tony Leung Chiu Wai

A man trying to run away from a personal tragedy finds out the hard way how much one of his best friends has changed in this action drama. In 2003, Lau Ching-hei (Tony Leung Chiu-wai) and Bong (Takesh... read more read more...i Kaneshiro) are a pair of police detectives who are both partners and close pals. While Bong respects Lau's abilities as a detective, he's wary of his friend's uncertain temper, and he has enough problems of his own to deal with after the suicide of his long-time girlfriend. Three years later, Bong has left the force to become a private investigator and has developed a serious drinking problem, while Lau is one of the top detectives with the Hong Kong police and has married Susan (Xu Jinglei), a respected reporter. Susan and Lau approach Bong and ask him for help with a case -- Susan's father Chow (Yueh Hua) was murdered, and while the team investigating the crime has found two of the men responsible, a third culprit is still at large. Bong agrees to help, but what he and Susan don't know is that Lau is the missing man who helped kill Chow, and he's playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with his fellow police officers as well as his best friend. Also featuring Shu Qi, Emme Wong and Chapman To, Seung Sing (aka Confession Of Pain) was directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak and written by Mak and Felix Chong, the same team responsible for the international hit Infernal Affairs. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

61% liked it

5,159 ratings

Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Wai-keung Lau, Alan Mak

Release Date: December 7, 2006

Invite friends to see

Stats: 328 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Seung sing (Confession of Pain) takeshi takeshi takeshi Seung sing (Confession of Pain) takeshi Seung sing (Confession of Pain)
Upload a Photo | View All Seung sing (Confession of Pain) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (328)

  • DragonEyeMorrison
    September 25, 2007
    DragonEyeMorrison
    The Infernal Affairs directorial duo is back with another crime thriller, with heavy stars once more in the main cast. Directores Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak show a full control of the genre, using a fluid and tight camera movement, they manage once more to keep the audience gl... read moreued to the screen.

    Unlike what many would think in a first view, the film is more about character motivations rather than twists. Both Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro give solid rock performances. Chapman To is fun to watch, as usual, and Shu Qi serves as great eye candy.

    All that said the film fells short in it's story, it starts quite interesting, then gets quite redundant, and when the final act comes it hardly has the impact the directors seem to have been trying to achieve. It's a very simple story, but told in an very unecessary convulted way.

    Ok and watchable, but very forgettable. Neverless, watch it before the upcoming hollywood-add-water-remake.
  • SarahG1988
    July 9, 2007
    SarahG1988
    Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

    A detective helps a friend investigate the mysterious death of her father ... read more

    Sadly Confession of Pain, is not what I thought it would be at all. For one thing, the story isn't very interesting nor is it orginal. However, Confessions have its strength that makes this movie watchable. Andrew and Alan pairs Tony and Takeshi as two leading actors, where both were reunited again after Wong Kar Wai's cult classic Chungking Express (1994). Tony and Takeshi did not have any crossover in Chungking Express, thus Confessions gives the duo a chance to see if there is any chemistry reaction. There is some chemistry there, that does make this watchable and interesting, sometimes, but it;s the only thing that really makes you watch. It?s no secret to some of my flixster friends, that I didn?t go much on Infernal Affairs, who had the same makers on Confession. I can not empathise what a disappointment this was for me. Mainly I watched it because it had Tony and Takeshi in it.

    It's surprising that the story decided to show its hand midway in the movie. While it doesn't exactly provide any definitive answers, by planting that seed of thought in you during its presentation. You're left wondering why, the rationale behind the actions, as well as the filmmakers' deliberate lack of effort of hiding the truth. Bong's character will bring you on that journey of discovery. However, audiences who have seen their fair share of crime stories, will find it pretty easy when figuring out the clues. For instance there?s no clear understanding , at times, that the narrative isn?t following in the linear way that you?re used to. I didn?t realise to the end of the movie that certain things happened because it was at the beginning of the dilm

    The editing and the parrarel editing at times, makes it pretty confusing to watch. There are many frames, that are skipped and in some of the scenes, and as I mentioned before there?s not clear ratinal as to what this character is doing. As for camera work, set design, sound, and editing, this movie feels more like a commercial than a feature film. The effect is to cheapen what otherwise might have been great and deep. The same goes for the acting, which seems to have been texted in.

    Which is a pity, because everything turned predictable towards the end of the movie narratively. However, stylistically, it is what assisted in keeping the attention on screen. The cinematography is brilliant, capturing moody loss effortlessly in its never ending night shots of the cloudy city, unappealing streets, and empty apartments was engaging to watch but nonetheless I?ve seen better in HK movies before.

    The diagetic music is, in some scences a little off putting and doesn?t quite fit with the scene. For instance having, let?s say happier music in a scene which is not happy-just doesn?t make sense at all. I?m sure you know what I mean, music in a film needs to fit with what what you?re watching on screen. Sadly there?s no evidence of that here.

    Overall, one of the more disappointing Asian films I?ve seen. Don?t let me put you off the film, as some of you may like it. It?s worth watching for Tony Leung and Takeshi and perhaps some scenery around HK, but nothing more. The plot isn?t very interesting and you don?t really care for the characters by the end of the film. Perhaps if I watched it again, I might change my mind.
  • deano
    May 21, 2007
    deano
    Fine Hong Kong mystery-murder film like the lost souls in a city of fallen angels, the cop, the private detective, and the killer are doing what they must.
  • aliyanto
    April 23, 2007
    aliyanto
    Good script but disappointing execution. The cinematography is excellent. No wonder it won at Hongkong Film Awards!
  • threefolddado
    January 14, 2008
    threefolddado
    Could have been more, but a cut above most thrillers.
  • Elentari948
    July 31, 2008
    Elentari948
    Very slow and it took Bong forever to figure out his best friend was the killer. Clearly his detective skills have gone to the wayside just like his liver. :p Beyond that, an okay movie, just wish the plot had been better.
  • Claraity
    July 25, 2008
    Claraity
    I was expecting more from this movie, but it turned out boring. The movie was unnecessarily long, and there was no climax to the story. I didn't get the feeling of pain that I was expecting from Tony Leung's character at the end. I also got tired of waiting for Takeshi Kaneshiro'... read mores character to figure out who the killer was...It was painfully boring to watch.
  • joshalvarez9
    April 9, 2008
    joshalvarez9
    i really enjoyed this one. almost as good as general stand out movies in this genre, yet further reaching in its musings beyond the genre on the topics of humanity and its consequent loss in the quest for revenge. great movie.
  • hhwu
    July 21, 2007
    hhwu
    From the director of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, comes another gem from Alan Mak Siu Fa. This movie also revolves around a detective's entanglement between professional and personal lives and between friendship and doing the right thing. Tony Leung plays it straight on as the l... read moreost detective tortured by his past.
  • ozarksavage1977
    May 26, 2007
    ozarksavage1977
    Okay movie, let down even more considering the talent.

    The pedigree on display here should have made this a movie not to be missed. You have Inferanl Affairs director Andrew Lau along with two fantastic leads in Leung and Kaneshiro but a plodding script and some just get on wi... read moreth it moments had me watching the clock rather than the screen.

    I didn't feel any of the tension that should have been building up toward the climax. Knowing who the killer is makes the last two-thirds of the movie pointless as you just sit there waiting for Kaneshiro's private detective to figure out who it is.

    Kaneshiro and Leung do what they can with what they have to work, that alone is a reason to see it. Also the beautiful Shu Qi makes proceedings bearable.

    Forgive me for saying this but in the case of this movie the upcoming Hollywood could end being an improvment. Sorry Andrew.

View All Seung sing (Confession of Pain) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Matthew Sorrento
June 21, 2008
Matthew Sorrento, Film Threat

A Hollywood remake is already in the works, but I must confess, I may have to skip it. Full Review

Derek Elley
March 30, 2011
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Tirdad Derakhshani
October 18, 2008
Tirdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer

Click to read the article Full Review

October 18, 2008
Film Threat

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Mou gaan dou (Infernal Affairs)
    Mou gaan dou (Infernal Affairs) (60%)

More Movies like Seung sing (Confession of Pain)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Seung sing (Confe... : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Seung sing (Confession of Pain). Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Seung sing (Confession of Pain) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?