I loved this so much. First of all, it’s a judo movie, and it absolutely does the art of grappling justice. The throws were pure poetry in motion, a ballet of bodies sent flying and spinning mid-air with flawless technique. This film understands what I love about grappling so well - the punishing, grueling physicality, the dance-like footwork and push-pull flow, and that beautiful brotherly union that can only arise between two men joined in a mutual agreement to try to throw and break each other. It even had multiple actual ground fighting sequences, it’s just too good to be true. When Szeto Bo did a double under pass on Tony and put him in a kimura I literally cheered. Probably the closest thing to a good BJJ movie we have right now, until I make one of course (delusional).
Awesome martial arts aside, *Throw Down *is just so gorgeous and uplifting. A film reminder to never give up on doing what you love, whatever puts a smile on your face, no matter if you’re going blind, if you dislocate your arm, if you failed three times before or if you run out of good reasons to keep going. The shot of Szeto Bo smiling like never before as he spins around his opponent in a gi for the first time in two years? The one of Mona gleefully running off into the distance, ready to start on her dreams all over again? Absolute cinema. It’s equally as life-affirming as it is ridiculous. A really funny movie and doesn’t take itself too seriously. The concept of neon-lit Hong Kong crime underworld where everyone trains and fights by judo (on concrete may I add) is absurd, but Johnnie To films it so damn good and full of colour you can’t help but love it. It ends in an incredible showdown, followed by an Akira Kurosawa salute, followed by a Gilette advertisement. Simply must be seen to be believed. The madness and absurdity of it all is what makes it work, because it is inherently mad and absurd to despite everything keep pushing on. It’s not perfect by any means, the plot is at times a bit strange and meandering and the characters can be difficult to connect with, but it resonated me with so much and brought me so much joy I just can’t give it any less than 5. A flawed, bizarre little favourite of mine.
