Crime thrillers have plenty of cops undercover, so Hong Kong’s Protégé won’t be the most unique and extraordinary entry that we’ve ever seen in the genre. But, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie. It’s a bit formulaic, but the film takes what’s best about the genre– the life-or-death stakes, the drama inherent in mistrust and betrayal, and the trickery each of the characters have to employ in order to survive this cutthroat world– and infuses it into a sharp, suspenseful script, without any of the usual platitudes on drugs. And they got some of the best of the biz in the cast, with Daniel Wu and Andy Lau making the most out of the film’s devastating conclusion. Protégé isn’t totally new, but it takes what’s tried and tested to bring together a great story and a great cast.