Infernal Affairs is a Hong Kong cop thriller, and an excellent movie.
The long and short of it (this is revealed before the opening credits) the mob has a mole in the Police department and the Police have an undercover cop in the mob.
As you want in a good thriller, it’s taut. . .nary an scene that doesn’t complicate matters more. There’s a sequence where a drug deal is going down while the undercover cop is sending info back to the police while the undercover mobster is sending info back to the mob. I thought it was ingenious how they handled it.
It’s elevated to a slightly higher level because each of the main characters is conflicted by their double lives (say, like Depp in Donnie Brasco).
It is subtitled.
Just wanted to toss that recommendation out there. I didn’t see it in a search of titles and I heard about the movie just in passing so it mght have passed under your radar.
I’d say if you like something like Donnie Brasco, The Usual Suspects, Spartan, Spy Game (underrated, IMO), then you will like this movie.
I just learned this morning at IMDB that Scorcese is making a version of it with Di Caprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson with an Irish mob and a Boston Cop. Watching the movie, I was thinking “this will get made in America” and then I started thinking about how some jackass would make it worse.
However, with Scorcese behind the wheel, I’m starting to think how they can make it better.
I will confirm that **Infernal Affairs ** is a very, very good movie. I bought the DVD from Hong Kong a couple of years ago and have watched it three times. The movie stars a whole slew of actors that I really like: Eric Tsang, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang. Andy Lau, who is also up there in my book, also stars. Sammi Cheng adds eye candy.
The plot is intricate and well-presented. As mentioned in the OP, the scene with the drug deal going down is masterful. Edge-of-the-seat stuff.
As the plot develops, you really get caught up in the situation that each mole finds himself in. Who to trust? How do you get “out” of your assumed role? Can you even? Or are you stuck playing a role (cop as gangster; gangster as cop) forever? If you assume a role for too long, does it eventually become you?
The DVD I have is a 2-discer with DTS and tons of special features. On word of warning. There is an “alternate ending” that, to me, really deflates the power of the film. The original (“theatrical”) ending is much better.
There were a couple of sequels. I also own part II and while it is a pretty good movie, it does not match the first. I have not seen the third installment.
I saw Infernal Affairs a few years ago and raved about it to anyone who would listen. Not perfect, but damned effective, and one of the best police procedurals I’ve seen in a while.
I got to see all three movies — the original and the two sequels — in a big-screen marathon last year, also.
I thought both sequels were crap, actually, especially seen directly following the first.
I’ve requested that spoiler tags be added to that post. It’s not fair to give away the ending of a movie, especially the fate of characters in whom you have made an emotional investment.
I agree with divemaster and have edited accordingly. Aquafina, please don’t spoil surprise (or unexpected) endings for others, OK? At the top of the forum, see the thread on Forum Rules, please
First off, [color=red] rent the prequel, Infernal Affairs 2. It’s a solid drama, much better film that builds on the events of IA1 quite well. See review at: Infernal Affairs 2 (無間道 II) (2003)
The first Infernal Affairs film has been remade by Martin Scorcese. Titled The Departed, the remake stars Leonardo DiCaprio in Andy Lau’s role (of a triad mole in the police dept) and Matt Damon in Tony Leung’s role of a long term undercover officer in the triads.
