The Conman
The Conman (Chinese: 賭俠1999) is a 1998 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Wong Jing, starring Andy Lau as King, a skilled con artist regarded as the successor to the legendary God of Gamblers.[1][2] The movie blends high-stakes gambling sequences with dramatic elements of revenge and redemption, centering on King's efforts to rebuild his life after prison while mentoring an ambitious young protégé.[3][4] The plot follows King, who is released after serving five years in prison for the accidental death of a mob boss during a botched cheating scheme in a high-stakes card game.[5] Desperate to reconnect with his estranged wife Ching and the son he has never met, King navigates threats from the victim's vengeful brother, a ruthless triad enforcer, while taking on Dragon, a street-smart but reckless gambler eager to learn his tricks.[5] The narrative culminates in a tense, World Cup-tied gambling showdown that tests King's wits and loyalty.[5] Featuring a strong ensemble cast including Athena Chu as Ching and Nick Cheung as Dragon, the film runs for 112 minutes and was released theatrically in Hong Kong on December 18, 1998, where it earned HK$17,369,190 at the box office.[2] Produced under Wong Jing's signature style of fast-paced, over-the-top entertainment, The Conman draws from the popular God of Gamblers franchise while introducing supernatural "bad luck" elements in its sequels, contributing to its cult following in Hong Kong cinema.[2][3]Plot
Synopsis
King, a talented conman and gambler, is imprisoned for five years after killing a mobster in self-defense during a heated brawl over a rigged card game. In the altercation, King becomes colorblind and prematurely gray-haired.[6] While incarcerated, he hones his skills by learning insider horse racing tips from fellow inmates, preparing for his return to the world of cons.[7] Upon his release, King is driven by a deep desire to reconnect with his estranged wife Fanny, who left him during her pregnancy, and to meet their young son for the first time, marking his hope for personal redemption amid his criminal lifestyle. He soon forms a partnership with Dragon, a clever and loyal con artist who idolizes King's expertise and provides unwavering support while eager to master the art of deception under his mentorship. King also meets Ching, Dragon's sister, with whom he develops a romantic connection.[6] To rebuild his fortunes, King and Dragon execute a daring horse racing con at the track, leveraging King's prison-acquired knowledge to fix the outcome, place strategic bets, and secure a substantial payout that solidifies their alliance. Their collaboration faces an early test when they confront the deceitful swindler Raymond Chou, Ching's manipulative fiancé preying on her, leading to a tense showdown that exposes Raymond's schemes and protects King's budding connection with Ching.[6] The plot escalates with a revenge scheme orchestrated by Handsome, the vengeful brother of the man King killed, who coerces King into participating in a massive con targeting Macau Mon, a formidable gambling tycoon. Handsome's plan ties the bet to the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, forcing King and Dragon to devise an audacious fake World Cup scheme: they stage an entire soccer match in a remote location, broadcast it via manipulated satellite feed to mimic the official game, and insert parody commercial breaks to maintain the ruse, tricking Macau Mon into a disastrous wager.[6] The narrative reaches its peak in a high-stakes casino showdown, where King directly challenges Macau Mon in a poker game infused with sleight-of-hand tricks, technological aids, and psychological ploys, ultimately outmaneuvering him to thwart Handsome's revenge and claim victory. Through these trials, King's motivations converge as he secures his family's safety, leading to an emotional reunion with Fanny and their son—upon seeing the boy, King's colorblindness is miraculously cured—while planning a future with Ching. In a comedic twist, as King boards a bus with Ching, he is unexpectedly run over by Dragon's car.[6]Themes
The film The Conman delves into themes of redemption through cunning, portraying the protagonist's transformation from a self-serving swindler to someone who employs his deceptive skills for moral ends following his release from prison.[8] This arc highlights how intellect and trickery can serve as tools for personal atonement, rather than mere exploitation.[6] A core motif is the blurred boundary between gambling and crime, where high-stakes cons in casinos and betting scenarios seamlessly merge entertainment with criminality, underscoring the precarious ethics of the underworld.[7] Family reconciliation amid ongoing deception forms another pivotal theme, as the lead character's quest to reconnect with his estranged wife and son is complicated by his persistent involvement in scams, emphasizing the tension between loyalty and survival.[6] Symbolically, elements like the protagonist's prematurely gray hair represent the weight of guilt and the toll of his past deceptions, marking his internal shift toward responsibility.[6] The narrative's use of elaborate cons, such as staging a fake World Cup match for betting purposes, satirizes media manipulation and the insatiable greed driving fraudulent schemes in gambling circles. Horse racing sequences serve as a metaphor for calculated risks, mirroring the protagonist's high-wire acts of bluffing and strategy in both personal and professional gambles.[7] On a broader level, the film offers social commentary on Hong Kong's pervasive gambling culture and its intertwined underworld during the late 1990s, reflecting the societal allure and dangers of casinos as gateways to moral ambiguity and organized crime.[7] This critique aligns with the era's cinematic trends in Hong Kong gambling films, which often portrayed the pursuit of wealth through vice as a distorted reflection of economic pressures and cultural fantasies.[9]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
Andy Lau portrays King, the film's central character, a skilled conman and gambler who emerges from prison to orchestrate elaborate scams with sharp wit and strategic prowess. By 1998, Lau had solidified his position as one of Hong Kong cinema's biggest stars, having risen to superstardom in the 1990s through blockbuster hits like the God of Gamblers series, which showcased his charismatic blend of action and comedy.[10] His performance as King draws on this established persona, evolving the role from a hardened ex-convict to a masterful deceiver who navigates high-stakes cons with calculated precision.[11] Athena Chu plays Ching, King's devoted yet strained wife, providing emotional grounding amid the chaos of deceit and gambling schemes. Chu, who had transitioned from TVB television roles since her recruitment in 1991, brought a nuanced vulnerability to the character, highlighting the personal toll of her husband's criminal lifestyle.[12] Nick Cheung embodies Dragon, King's eager and bumbling partner in cons, whose enthusiastic but inept attempts at deception inject humor into their joint ventures. Cheung's portrayal, marked by impeccable comedic timing, earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1999, marking a breakout cinematic performance that propelled his career from television to acclaimed film roles and multiple future awards.[6][13][14]Supporting Roles
In The Conman, the supporting cast features seasoned Hong Kong performers who amplify the film's action-comedy dynamics through their portrayals of antagonists and catalysts for conflict. Frankie Ng plays Rocky, a cunning pool hustler whose deceptive scheme targeting the sister of the protagonist's ally exposes vulnerabilities and ignites the series of elaborate cons that propel the central narrative.[15] This character's downfall establishes the initial stakes, forcing the leads into riskier deceptions while highlighting the perils of the underworld gambling scene. Rocky's interactions with Dragon underscore a brief but tense rivalry, as the young hoodlum counters the hustler's tricks with raw determination.[16] Waise Lee portrays Handsome, the fierce brother of the assassin inadvertently killed early in the story, whose obsessive quest for revenge injects high-stakes action sequences and relentless pursuit that keeps the tension simmering throughout.[6] As a brooding enforcer, Handsome's vendetta not only complicates the protagonists' plans but also forces alliances and moral dilemmas, contributing to the film's blend of thriller elements with humorous cons.[17] Jack Kao depicts Macau Mon (also known as Ma Kau Wan), a ruthless casino boss driven by insatiable greed, whose operation becomes the target of the story's culminating swindle involving a rigged World Cup broadcast.[6] His character's exploitable flaws enable the high-wire climax, where overconfidence leads to his undoing, providing a satisfying payoff to the themes of deception and comeuppance.[16] Wong Jing strategically casts these character actors to balance villainous menace with opportunistic humor, using their established screen presences to deliver memorable relief in both comedic scams and intense confrontations.[13]Production
Development
Wong Jing, renowned for establishing Hong Kong's gambling film genre through his work on the God of Gamblers series, took on the roles of director, writer, and producer for The Conman, building on his established expertise in crafting high-stakes con artist narratives infused with action and comedy.[18] His involvement stemmed from a desire to revisit the successful formula of his earlier hits, rehashing elements like professional gamblers and underworld rivalries while introducing fresh dynamics.[13] The screenplay originated as an original work by Wong Jing, inspired by the prevalent 1990s Hong Kong cinema tropes of cunning con artists and elaborate scams, particularly those popularized in gambling-themed stories.[7] It emphasized a seamless blend of action sequences and comedic exploits, setting it apart as a genre hybrid that catered to audiences seeking escapist entertainment amid evolving industry trends. Development occurred in 1997–1998, coinciding with Hong Kong cinema's post-handover adaptation, where filmmakers like Wong Jing experimented with hybrid genres to navigate economic uncertainties and shifting audience preferences toward mainland markets.[19] Casting included Andy Lau for the lead role of the slick conman King.[17]Filming
Principal photography for The Conman was conducted in Hong Kong.[17] The project was produced by Win's Entertainment Ltd. and BoB & Partners Co., Ltd., and distributed by China Star Entertainment Group.[17]Release
Theatrical Release
The Conman was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 18 December 1998.[17]The film's distribution in the region was managed by China Star Entertainment Group, a prominent Hong Kong production and distribution company.[17][20]