Review of Infernal Affairs (2002) by Cécile M — 26 Jan 2009

So direcrtor Wai-keung Lau gave Martin Scorsese an eight out of ten for his use of this movie in making The Departed . . . I think I'll have to call that "professional courtesy." And if he gave Scorsese an eight, then this one is deserving of about a 16 out of 10.

It certainly is at least twice as good. For one thing, there is none of the sleaziness or coarseness of Scorsese's failed borrowing. And with apologies to one of my favorites, Jack Nicholson, there is no comparison between this film's cast and Scorsese's.

This cast all around is a cut above, Lau's directing is at least as good, and any finesse to be found in the Scorsese project's story is a tribute to the original. I've said before that it takes a lot for me to put a living actor on my all-time favorite list, but I've now seen more than enough of Tony Leung Chiu Wai to know that I must add him.

Nicholson is also another living actor on this list. I'd love to see them do a movie together. That would be one awesome treat. I'm also going to put Infernal Affairs on my Top 100 list right now as well.

This is a movie not to be missed.