Review of The Stool Pigeon

I think this film is underrated. I didn't expect much but it was a pleasant surprise. It's gritty, some what unsettling, and raw with emotions. It might start slow but it rewards those who're patient. Considering the premise - the dangerous line of work and the thin boundary an informant has to walk, it's not inappropriate for it to be dark and I wasn't turned off by the ending. I wasn't in for a Disney ending from the start. I think it's more realistic and all the build ups channeled well to the end. It's emotional and you get to see from both sides and their unspoken rationales and they're both right in their own respect and sometimes there's nothing more they can do. I was drawn into the dilemma, the unsettling conscience, the consequences of one's action, the fear, the adrenaline rush, the pressure, the guilt etc. The action sequence is not nice and pretty like that of Jackie Chan's. It's honest, brutal, and it's real, and it's scary because that's how things are settle on the street in the East. There's no hero; you've just got to do what you've gotta do. A good film in my book.