I don’t claim to be an expert in modern music and even less so with current Cantopop trends, but the twelve-strong group ‘Mirror’ are making waves in the film industry. Not all at the same time (apart from recent hit ‘We 12’) but the lads are certainly getting around.
Vincent (Lui) is the son of a famed horologist who specialised in creating ‘Frankenwatches’ – luxury watches put together from numerous parts sourced elsewhere. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and Vincent is just as proficient at the craft, meaning he has a constant stream of shady characters in his shop. One such visitor is a mysterious figure called ‘Uncle’ who blackmails Vincent into joining his crew as he plans an upcoming heist in Japan. The team includes Yoh, the son of a retired thief and Mario, who had also hoped to leave the crime behind. The complex scheme targets lifting luxury watches from a Tokyo store and stripping them before returning them to avoid suspicion. Despite initial twists, the crew achieve their goal but are not aware just who owns the store – and how determined he is to get the items back. When Uncle also double-crosses them, the team is left between the devil and the deep blue sea.
While musical artists crossing over to movies is nothing new in Hong Kong, one thing struck me about the members of ‘Mirror’ that I have seen – they are not picking obvious vehicles for their talents. ‘The Moon Thieves’ is a slick, tense thriller dappled with black humour and the fact that Anson Lo, Edan Lui and Keung To look at home here is quite the achievement; it’s a reminder as to how seamless the blending of the arts in Hong Kong have always been. Keung To, in fact, plays one of the villains of the film so no one can accuse the singers of taking the easy route. And that is what impresses – the vehicles that the members of ‘Mirror’ are appearing in are all about their acting chops rather than trying to make them appeal to the female gaze.
‘The Moon Thieves’ is a decent action thriller that never quite ignites in the way that the classics do, but has plenty to recommend it. The set-pieces are well-shot and as soon as the double-crosses start, the pace really picks up. ‘The Moon Thieves’ is a 2024 Hong Kong hit that is worth catching.
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