The musings of an Olympic rower in the midst of training camp

Words TOM RANSLEY

Patrice is a killer. Murdering for money. He is a steely eyed villain.

Systematic preparation precedes an execution. He readies himself for the next cold-blooded murder, but, our hero lies in wait. 007 lurks in the darkness; watching, waiting.

The scene is set. It will be a deadly game of cat and mouse played out under the perpetual light of Shanghai’s electronic billboards. Life and death precariously balanced upon the misinformation of an obscured line of sight. The scene has all the hallmarks - madness and obfuscation - of a fairground funhouse.

The exquisite cinematography is as scintillating as the secret agent’s soon-to-be flying fists or the assassin’s sniper shot.

Drenched in the fluid neon hues of the Asian night sky both characters engage in battle. Despite the transparent nature of the glassy interior, the high sheen reflections create an iconic hall of mirrors.