Island of Greed 黑金 (1997): The Movie Where Tony Leung Ka-fai Said "Who's With Me? Who's Against Me?" — And Made Everyone Forget Andy Lau Was Even There

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The Film Where a Supporting Role Ate the Lead Actor Alive

Here's a confession: Island of Greed is supposed to be a two-hander. Andy Lau plays the righteous cop. Tony Leung Ka-fai plays the gangster-turned-politician. The film was marketed as a clash of titans, a battle between law and lawlessness.

But when the credits rolled, one thing was clear: Tony Leung Ka-fai had stolen the entire movie.$citation:3$ His performance as周朝先 is so magnetic, so terrifying, so utterly captivating that Andy Lau — a star in his own right — becomes a footnote.$citation:5$ Critics have called it "one of the most brilliant screen images in world cinema history."$citation:11$

Island of Greed is not a perfect film. It's messy. It's over-the-top. It tries to do too much. But it has one of the greatest villain performances ever committed to celluloid — and that's enough to make it unforgettable.

What Is It About?

The plot is based on real events — the corruption scandals that plagued Taiwan in the 1990s. The film exposes a world where gangs run for office, where politicians are bought and sold, where religion is a front for fraud, and where the line between "black" and "white" is completely erased.$citation:7$

Fong Kwok-fai (Andy Lau) is a relentless investigator with the Ministry of Justice. He's determined to bring down Chow Chiu-sin (Tony Leung Ka-fai), a triad boss who runs illegal gambling dens and bribes judges to escape justice.

But Chow has a plan. He's running for the Legislative Yuan. He wants to "whiten" himself, to transform from gangster to politician. He's willing to do anything — bribe officials, rig elections, and kill anyone who stands in his way.$citation:6$

The film ends with a dramatic showdown, but the real story is the journey: watching a monster become a statesman, and watching the system that enables him.

The Performance That Defines a Career

Let me say this clearly: Tony Leung Ka-fai's performance in Island of Greed is one of the greatest in Hong Kong cinema history.

The film's most famous scene is also its most iconic. Chow is holding a meeting with rival businessmen to discuss a government project. He presents his proposal. He smiles. He asks a question that has become legendary:

"I've said my piece. Who's with me? Who's against me?"$citation:5$

A businessman raises a hand in opposition. Chow's smile disappears. He slaps the man across the face. The room falls silent. No one else dares to object.$citation:5$

This scene is not just good acting. It's a masterclass in control. Leung shifts from warmth to menace in a heartbeat. You believe him completely.

But his performance is not just about violence. In other scenes, he is vulnerable. He is a loving husband. He is a man who has been humiliated by his superiors and must swallow his pride.$citation:5$$citation:7$ He represents the complexity of power — the ability to be both monstrous and human.

Legend has it that Leung wrote a 100,000-word character backstory for the role, researching real-life gangsters and politicians to capture every nuance.$citation:5$$citation:7$ Whether that's true or not, it shows: every gesture, every glance, every line carries the weight of a man who has lived a thousand lives.

Why Andy Lau Disappears

Andy Lau is not a bad actor. He's a good one. But in Island of Greed, he's playing a straight man in a film full of fascinating villains. His character, Fong Kwok-fai, is a righteous cop who never bends, never compromises, and never surprises.$citation:3$$citation:5$ He's the hero the film needs, but not the character we remember.

Critics have noted the "schizophrenia" of the film: the serious, political thriller centered on Leung, and the commercial, action-heavy cop movie centered on Lau.$citation:3$ The two don't always mesh. But when the film is in Leung's hands, it soars.

The Supporting Cast That Makes It Work

Lee Liqun plays Minister Hou — the corrupt official who enables Chow's rise. His scenes with Leung crackle with tension. He is calm, calculating, and utterly without conscience.$citation:5$$citation:11$

Sun Jiakun plays Chow's wife. Her performance is often overlooked, but she grounds the film in emotional reality.

Wu Chenjun plays the reporter who becomes Fong's love interest. She's fine, but her character feels like an afterthought.

Niu Chengze plays one of Fong's colleagues. His famous line, "Wow, Brother Lin has a gun!" has become a meme — proof that even minor moments in this film have become cultural touchstones.

Why It Still Matters

Island of Greed is a film that tells the truth about power. It shows us how the system works: how money buys justice, how corruption is not a bug but a feature, how the monsters we fear are often the ones we've elected.$citation:3$$citation:7$

The film was almost banned in Taiwan for its unflinching portrayal of real-life politicians and gangsters. That's proof of its honesty.

But it's also a film about performance. Tony Leung Ka-fai plays a man who is always playing a role: the businessman, the politician, the loving husband, the ruthless killer. He is a mirror of the society he inhabits — a world where nothing is real, and everything is a game.

Final Thought

Island of Greed is not a perfect film. But it contains a perfect performance. Tony Leung Ka-fai's portrayal of Chow Chiu-sin is the reason we still talk about this film, 25 years later.

The line "Who's with me? Who's against me?" is not just a quote. It's a statement. It's a threat. It's the answer to every question about power.

And it's the moment when a supporting actor became the lead — in our memories, if not in the credits.

Have you seen Island of Greed? Do you think Tony Leung Ka-fai's performance is one of the greatest in Hong Kong cinema? Let me know in the comments.

Tom De · The Movie Prince 🎬