“The Unmatchable Match”: When Journalism Becomes a Blood Sport in 1980s Hong Kong
Before Spotlight (2015) earned global acclaim for investigative journalism narratives, Hong Kong’s 1989 crime drama The Unmatchable Match (神行太保) offered a grittier, culturally nuanced take on press integrity – one that deserves reappraisal by international cinephiles. Directed by Joe Cheung and starring Andy Lau in his transformative “everyman hero” phase, this film blends social critique with kinetic action to dissect Hong Kong’s transitional era through the lens of tabloid warfare.
I. Context: Hong Kong’s Tabloid Golden Age
Set against 1980s Hong Kong’s media boom (over 100 Chinese-language newspapers competed then), the film mirrors real-world dynamics:
- Post-colonial identity flux: British rule ending in 1997 created both press freedom anxieties and commercial opportunism
- Triad-press collusion: Crime syndicates often funded sensationalist papers to manipulate public opinion
Lau’s character Tai Bo (“太保”) embodies this duality – a working-class reporter using guerrilla tactics to expose corruption while navigating ethical gray zones. His leather jacket and motorcycle (reminiscent of A Better Tomorrow’s Mark Gor) became symbols of rebellious truth-seeking.
II. Andy Lau’s Career Pivot
Fresh from TVB stardom but seeking cinematic credibility, Lau delivers his first anti-glamour performance:
- Physical transformation: Unkempt hair, stained shirts replacing his usual matinee idol polish
- Method acting nuances: Notice how Tai Bo’s chain-smoking intensifies during deadline crunches – a habit Lau learned from real reporters
The film’s climax at a printing press (filmed at the now-defunct Oriental Daily headquarters) showcases Lau’s commitment: he insisted on performing dangerous stunts amid rotating machinery to capture journalists’ round-the-clock urgency.
III. Brotherhood vs. Betrayal: A Cantonese All the President’s Men
The central trio’s dynamics subvert typical “buddy cop” tropes:
| Tai Bo (Andy Lau) | Chui Kit (Michael Miu) | Yeung Ka-chung (Wilson Lam) |
|---|---|---|
| Street-smart veteran | Idealistic editor | Privileged rookie |
| “Truth first, ethics second” | “Journalism as public service” | “News as social climbing” |
Their investigation into tycoon Pang’s (a triad-linked businessman) human trafficking ring mirrors Hong Kong’s actual 1987 “Dragon Garden Scandal” involving collusion between elites and gangsters. Director Cheung uses newsroom banter to explore Confucian values clashing with capitalist pragmatism:
Tai Bo: “Ink-stained fingers feed families. Morals won’t pay your rent.”
IV. Cinematic Innovation: Neo-Noir Meets Kung Fu Editing
Cinematographer Andrew Kam pioneers techniques later adopted in Infernal Affairs:
- Verité sequences: Handheld cameras in chase scenes through Chungking Mansions intensify claustrophobia
- Textual layering: Overlapping newspaper headlines during fight scenes visualize “information warfare”
- Sound design: Typewriter rhythms sync with punch impacts in the print shop brawl – a metaphor for words as weapons
The film’s most iconic shot – Tai Bo leaping between moving trucks to photograph evidence – required 23 takes. Lau’s bloodied knees (visible in close-ups) became a testament to pre-CGI filmmaking grit.
V. Cultural Legacy & Modern Parallels
Though overshadowed by Lau’s flashier roles, The Unmatchable Match pioneered themes now mainstream:
- Anti-hero journalists: Compare Tai Bo to Nightcrawler’s Lou Bloom – both exploit chaos but from opposing class perspectives
- Media manipulation: Pang’s fake news tactics (planting rival papers with counter-narratives) predate digital disinformation
- Youth disillusionment: Rookie Yeung’s arc from idealism to cynicism mirrors Gen Z’s climate activism frustrations
The film’s rediscovery coincides with Hong Kong’s renewed press freedom debates, making its warning about power’s corruption chillingly relevant:
Chui Kit: “A free press survives on courage… and obituaries.”
VI. Why Global Audiences Should Watch
- Historical artifact: Preserves Kowloon’s vanished neon-lit newsstands and “letterpress poetry”
- Genre-blending mastery: Marries thriller pacing with Wong Kar-wai’s atmospheric melancholy
- Andy Lau’s metamorphosis: Witness the star shedding teen idol image for complex character work
A telling detail: Tai Bo’s camera uses black-and-white film even as color photography dominated – a metaphor for journalism’s binary “truth vs lies” struggle in grayscale realities.
Final Verdict: More Than a Time Capsule
-The Unmatchable Match* transcends its era through raw emotional honesty. For Western viewers accustomed to sanitized newsroom dramas, this offers visceral immersion into journalism’s frontlines – where ink flows thicker than blood, and every headline could be your last. As misinformation epidemics plague our digital age, Tai Bo’s battered camera and smudged notepad remind us: truth endures when someone dares to chase it.
-Where to Watch*: Available with English subtitles on Asian cinema specialty platforms. Pair with documentaries about Hong Kong’s 1980s media wars for full context.