Review of Infernal Affairs (2002) by Priyanka B — 11 Aug 2010

Some films are not meant to be remade. Remember Gus Van Santâ??s shot-by-shot remake of Alfred Hitchcockâ??s "Psycho"? What was the point in that?

"Infernal Affairs" is the original thriller that is the basis for "The Departed". For audiences who are not subtitle averse, this is the film to see. It tells the story of two moles â?? one planted deep in the police department and the other to infiltrate a Triad crime ring. Years later as both moles work their way up in their respective organizations, they realize each otherâ??s existence. The rest of the film then becomes a cat and mouse game and a race to find out and expose the other.

Tony Leung and Andy Lau who play the undercover cop and gangster, respectively, give psychological and dramatic weight to their roles. This is a departure from most Hong Kong based films that find international distribution as it is not a kung fu movie. It is a tense and gripping crime thriller with emotional and spiritual themes that are well conceived.

For a film that originated in Hong Kong, it has elements of western style filmmaking. The obvious differences are there but the quick cuts, editing and cinematography give it its Hollywood feel. Martin Scorsese must have seen something great in it for him to remake it. Indeed he did as imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

"Infernal Affairs" took home a few of the major categories at the annual Hong Kong Film Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Screenplay and Editing.