Winners & Sinners
Winners & Sinners
PG-13 | 07 July 1983 (USA)
Winners & Sinners Trailers

Five friends are released from prison and do their best to stay out trouble. While trying to mind their own business (and run their 5-Star Cleaning Service), they are caught up in a war between rival Triad gangs fighting for control of the counterfeit currency market.

Reviews
Leofwine_draca

Jackie Chan as a hard-assed American cop, a naked Chinese guy who thinks he's invisible, Lam Ching Ying as the strictest butler in the world and a multi-car pile-up to rival Grand Theft Auto are the ingredients of this comedy yarn from Hong Kong, shot in the streets with that raw low-budget look. In fact the title is misleading when packaged as a Jackie Chan film, as the superstar only appears in a minor supporting role with about twenty minutes of screen time. The rest of the movie really belongs to Sammo Hung (once again flexing his directing muscles) and the rest of the five-strong team of leads, all of whom are given equal screen time as criminals-turned-cleaners who find themselves up against some serious muscle when they decide to rob a guy working for a local crime boss.At first, I thought this film wasn't up to much, and was a little disappointed by the first hour which stresses comedy over martial arts action. In fact, there's only one major fight scene, in a fast-food restaurant, that I can think of. Instead the film slows down and takes time out to introduce the leading characters and put them through many comedic situations, most leaning towards the slapstick end of the genre and appealing to the low-brow crowd. At around the hour mark, suddenly the film kicks into gear with a major chase (on roller-skates, no less!) and then doesn't let up until the exciting finale, expertly mixing laughs with thrills into another winning combination that left me smiling at the end of it all.As for Jackie Chan, his main contribution is participating in the roller-skating chase, where he performs some of his usual dangerous stunts (jumping over cars and sliding literally between the wheels of a speeding truck) to the awe of the watching viewer. The major thing that sticks in my mind about the film is this chase scene which is top-notch stuff, climaxing in a slow-mo car pile-up packed with fantastic stunts of cars flipping and flying through the air, all captured lovingly on camera.Central performances from the leads are good, and mostly played for laughs (understandable when the character names are 'Teapot', 'Exhaust Pipe', and 'Vaseline'); in fact all of the five actors as an ensemble are excellent and have some great comedic interplay which keeps the film going through the slower moments. Sammo Hung is underused, but gets some great martial arts action at the finale, set in a warehouse, where he takes on dozens of villains (including veteran James Tien) and the like. Although the film is frequently silly, it's also innocent and the comedy is likable, with fast-paced humour and jokes that don't outstay their welcome, although the long-running "invisible" situation is a goodie. Fun, unserious, forgettable but entertaining laughs and thrills from our Chinese friends.

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triplexchiu

This is somewhat of a prelude to the lucky stars of the later hit 'My lucky stars'.Check it out as this is a funny film with a lot of laughs that you will enjoy in a typical Sammo, Jackie Chan film. And yes Jackie is not in the film for that long, as the main characters are the 5 gang of Sammo, Richard Ng and I can't remember the rest. Its about a gang who just got out of jail and somehow get themselves involved with some mafia and are being chased down by them. But thats towards the end as at the start they were only just getting to know each other and they start pulling practical jokes on each other. A good entertaining 80s film highly recommended. Get the DVD digitally remastered version as this contains interviews on the reflection of Sammo from many people and a face I haven't seen for a long time, Elaine Lui.

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gridoon

Watching "Winners And Sinners" is like going on a treasure hunt: you have to suffer through a lot of corny, childish comedy to get a few prizes. The prizes include: Samo Hung's fight scenes, Yuen Biao's all-too-brief cameo, the long sequence with Jackie Chan that begins with an exhibition of rollerskating stunts, develops into a furious chase and ends with perhaps the biggest, most spectacular car pile-up ever staged, and the one funny scene with the "Lucky Stars", in which one of them believes he is invisible(!). This movie is a mixed bag at best, a scam at worst (for Jackie fans, since the packaging fools them into thinking that he has a major role). (**)

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FinnishChanFan

Well, i bought Winners and Sinners, then i heard, Jackie has a pretty small role. It's true. Jackie appears only in couple fights. He doesnt take part to the final fight. But it doesnt matter. The film is great! I like Samo hung's films a lot. Especially i like the 'lucky stars' series, cos the humor is simple, funny and very unique. Humor is stupid and childish, but it fits in just right. I personally like Richard Ng. He is so funny! Of course there is good fight scenes and stunts. And the massive car crash is great in a low budget movie! Dont let Jackie's short appearance spoil the movie. Dont think this movie as a Jackie Chan movie. Think it as 'The lucky stars' movie!

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