Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Infernal Affairs


















The mega blockbuster starting more A-list Hong Kong actors then anything else in the past decade. With incredible performances from all the cast members, this engrossing crime thriller will please not just Hong Kong movie audiences, but anyone who is willing to give it a chance.

The story of Infernal Affairs is typical of the Hong Kong film. It is about two men, going undercover for the opposite force (the police or the triads) for many years and hit a point where it must inevitably meet. Andy Lau plays a criminal undercover as a top ranked cop in Hong Kong's police department while Tony Leung plays a cop undercover as a A-list triads in the crime world. Both men, after serving at that respected undercover job for ten years, starts to wonder where they truly belong. Andy is wondering whether he should stop his connections with the triads and become a true to heart real policeman; while Tony started to question his true self, his focus, and the person he as become. On the two men's way to true identity comes the aid of Anthony Wong, the only person in the world who knows about Tony's true policeman background; and Eric Tsang, the mob boss that made Andy joined the force to help him through his crime. However, never before has such a story been told so well and effective.

The acting in this film is exceptionally good, almost perfect at times. Andy Lau could have easily won another Best Actor award if it isn't for Tony Leung's performance that is pitch perfect. Anthony Wong is typical Anthony Wong with his cool style and satirical humor. The rest of the cast is just as incredible, depicting their character on screen as their real life counterpart. The film has wonderful pacing, amazing cinematography, and a very distinctive art style.

This is simply another great example on how far Hong Kong movies as come in the last two decades.

Year: 2002
Director: Andrew Lau, Alan Mak

9.3/10