Review: “Infernal Affairs” is a Thrill Ride
One of the most widely acclaimed Hong Kong movies of last decade, Infernal Affairs is a gritty crime thriller that became a “box office miracle” in its native land. It also spawned the Oscar-winning Hollywood remake The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese. Indeed, the two movies are nearly identical in terms of story and structure but co-directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak set the bar high with a star-studded film that was both original and viscerally satisfying.
Yan (Tony Leung) is an undercover police officer who has spent a decade rising through the ranks of the mob. He has been undercover for so long that he has become the criminal he is supposed to be fighting. Only one person knows of his true identity, Superintendent Wong (Anthony Wong) who has developed a fatherly affection for him. On the opposite side is Ming (Andy Lau), a Triad mole who has spent just as many years infiltrating the ranks of the Hong Kong police department for the benefit of Triad crime boss Sam (Eric Tsang). Both Yan and Ming soon become aware of the existence of the other and work to uproot each other before their respective cover is blown.
Devoid of the action set pieces that are traditional of Hong Kong action thrillers, Infernal Affairs is a character-film that focuses on the psychology and moralities of living a double life. Although Yan and Ming are on opposite of the law, they actually have quite a lot in common. Lonely, weary, unhappy and pretending to be people they aren’t, both men are yearning for a dramatic change. Having seen The Departed, it was surprising to see that the original version has this added moral dimension. The two men have been undercover for so long that their sense of allegiance and morals have become muddy. While Scorsese’s remake kept the weariness of the undercover cop, it sadly eliminated the undercover gangster’s yearning to shed his criminal past and become a real cop. Does this tells us something about American audience that our version has to be more black and white while the original version is more subtle in portraying shades of good and evil? More proof is the difference in the ending which may bother some who are overly used to see the “good” people triumph.
This film is at his best when it studies the thin line between cops and criminals, contrasting both characters’ search for their own identity against who they are supposed to be. Andy Lau and Tony Leung are given meaty roles to work with and they deliver terrific performances. Leung in particular is able to convey the weariness and desperation of his character mostly through his demeanor and facial mannerisms. You may recognize him from his highly acclaimed turn in Kar-Wai Wong’s In The Mood For Love and he nails another character here. On a negative note, the female characters in the movie were mostly extraneous with tidbits roles that did not require much from any of them. As expected with most Asian movies, some of the more sentimental moments in the movie are overly melodramatic and corny but this is an issue that pops up only a handful of times throughout the movie.
An original, thrilling and well polished crime thriller that will satisfy any fan of good cinema.
B+
(8.0/10)
Notes: Rated R for violence, 101 min.
15 Comments
I believe the title of the film is actually Infernal Affairs, as opposed to Internal Affairs? That’s what it’s called in English in Singapore anyway, and also when I watched it in New Zealand.
I love Tony Leung. He is such an amazing actor and everyone always raves about his soulful eyes. Everyone is right. <3
I haven't had the chance to watch Infernal Affairs II or III yet but I really should…
Wow thanks Kirsten, I never noticed!
Surprisingly I haven’t seen this yet, but your review sounds good. It has been on my list since it came out. It is Infernal affairs though, as kixes noted above.
Tony Leung is one of powerhouse actors in Hong Kong and has a ton of great movies under his belt. So does Andy Lau for that matter. Love how you note that the American version tends to be more black and white with the characters, I notice that a lot in remakes of foreign films. They will tidy everything up so Americans don’t feel conflicted. Yeah, gonna have to get to this one soon.
I’ve been meaning to watch this forever, but I keep forgetting to get a copy of it! Thanks for the review reminder though. I enjoy watching Foreign films and their American counterparts and seeing the differences. Especially in terms of how they present the characters. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the things you mentioned.
Ummmm… this movie is an A, hands down. I’m proud of you for watching it but I should slap you for the B!
They are nearly identical. I will say that I don’t have a favorite of the 2. I actually like the changes the remake made but love the darker ending of the original.
slap me? slap me?
(lays down under desk in fetal position)
I don’t have a preference either. Like you, I enjoyed the small variations between both movies
Good review Castor. Hong Kong and east Asian cinema in general is something I need to see more of.
Despite being Asian, I actually don’t watch too many Asian/Hong Kong movies. Even when I was living in Indonesia, I’ve always more into European or Hollywood movies. That said, I did hear good things about this movie. Andy Lau is huge in Asia, a lot of my Asian friends are big fans.
I wasn’t really all into Asian entertainment, until I went to live to Canada and most my friends were Asian. LOL
A classic Hong Kong crime drama and it’s a very very good base for Martin Scorsese to make his own champion Departed. I actually like both film, this Hong Kong original and the Hollywood version.
This was a movie I found at Blockbuster back in the day, a random rental which turned into one of my all-time favorites. Everything is so subtly and stylistically done, from the cinematography to the music to the performances themselves. You’re right that the film pays special attention to the moral quandary within both of the main characters, and this idea of living double lives without ever really living one life fully. I was very excited for the Departed, but honestly almost walked out when I saw it in theaters. I felt everyone in that movie was overacting, plot sequences that took just a couple minutes in Infernal Affairs were needlessly drawn out in the Departed, and I thought the two plot twists in the remake (that the crime boss was an FBI informant, and that the bad guy dies in the end) were horrible, the latter definitely being the American need for the good guys to win. To me, Infernal Affairs is the far superior film, but I can definitely see why people were drawn to the Departed when they had not already seen Infernal Affairs.
You are right but everyone in Hollywood loves overacting! It’s too bad they had to give The Departed an “happy” ending. American audience should be exposed to more ambiguous endings.
For my money, this movie encapsulates its central tragedy far better than The Departed does– while that film may be more thrilling and more slick, this is infinitely more dramatic and compelling through all of its emotional weight and impact. Plus, you can’t really argue with a Tony Leung vehicle. The guy’s such a mensch.
Wow, well said Andrew. Probably what I tried to say in the entire review
Well, don’t give me too much credit now– I think that that just means that we both agree!
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