Los Angeles Times
"...As fast and furious as pictures get....Movies don't get much more kinetic than CRIME STORY, which is fun all the way..." 02/25/1994 p.F4Chicago Sun-Times
"..CRIME STORY features one great set piece after another..." 08/06/1993 p.35 Variety 8 of 10
Jackie Chan takes a career swerve with "Crime Story," a dark-edged cop thriller in which the star's stunts play second fiddle to plot and mood. Stylish direction by former New Waver Kirk Wong makes it a fresh entry in the Chan oeuvre...Pic is a clear attempt by Chan, now 39, to broaden his range from purely stunt-driven blockbusters, though on present evidence he still needs more time with his drama coach. Chan buffs will note similarities with the angry tone of the first in the "Police Story" series, which has since softened into exotic comedy-actioners...Playing by Chan is straight, sans his usual boyish humor, and he's well framed by Wong's moody lighting and direction, all diffused light and Ridley Scott-like interiors...Action set pieces and firepower are high caliber, with a simmering tension that holds the whole together. A standout sequence of the zillionaire's wife handing over the ransom loot while being tracked by the cops is a tour de force of cross-cutting and direction...Tech credits are fine, with a spacey synth score by composer James Wong. - Derek Elley
DVD Beaver 8 of 10
Crime Story is based on the real-life kidnapping of a Hong-Kong tycoon, and it's a serious, straight dramatic thriller without the comedic elements that frequently make their way into a Jackie-Chan movie. (The action choreography is toned down compared to most of Chan's other efforts, but this is about a real-life detective and not a superman.) As with the other times he has played policemen, Chan delivers a very good performance, one mixed with genuine emoting, solid stunt work, and conviction. I'm not sure why Chan is drawn to playing policemen, but he's frequently shown the Hong Kong Police at its best. Perhaps even more than the Police Story series and New Police Story (which are centered squarely on how great Chan's characters are), Crime Story is about the dedication and diligence of law-enforcement officials in an often-chaotic city. - Yunda Eddie Feng
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