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Last Updated: 11 April 2004 |
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Starring: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Andy Lau, Andrew Wong, Eric Tsang, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, Sammi Cheng, Kelly Chen, Elva Hsaio
With all the hype surrounding this film in Hong Kong, expectations were always going to be so high. When you also include the biggest names around in HK showbiz into the cast - Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Sammi Cheng, Kelly Chen, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue and Elva Hsiao all have iconic popstar status with huge followings - you'd expect either an explosive story or sheer disappointment, nothing in between. Fortunately, it is the former category, and how well did they do it at that. Infernal Affairs tells of two top police cadets who choose or are forced to choose to follow different paths. Inspector Lau (Andy Lau) is recruited by a triad leader, Sam (Eric Tsang) to infiltrate the police force and act as a mole. Meanwhile, Yan (Tony Leung) appears to have been kicked out of police academy, but has been secretly been recruited to act as a mole in Sam's gang. Suddenly both come under the pressure each organisation suspects a mole, but can they keep themselves under cover. With three of my favourite actors headlining this film, I was hopeful for some quality performances. Andy Lau turns in a brilliant performance on a level with A Fighter's Blues (aka Ah Fu). It's emotional and gritty, and indeed very human. Not much to say about Tony Leung, other than he produces everything that we expect of this veteran actor. Eric Tsang plays the boss convincingly. Ok, I have to admit it is hard to pinpoint where the quality of their performances is for each of them, but that's the so-called 'X-factor' and they've got tonnes of it! As for the remainder of the cast, they are fairly short cameos, but it is nice to see Sammi Cheng in a role removed from her traditional RomCom roles. Kelly, Edison, Shawn and Elva's roles were really too short to comment on. But take away these stars, and you see the underlying plot and script were simply excellent. There was drama and intensity keeping your adrenaline pumping. Action scenes weren't innovative, but fit in nicely with the film. And there's plenty of subtext, emotion, roller coaster rides and beautiful scenery (they love their rooftops) to add. Infernal Affairs was the highest grossing movie in Hong Kong according to the MPIA, which is not bad for an industry that is suffering from imports to Hong Kong. And it certainly deserves that award, because it is probably the best HK film I've seen in a very long time. One to watch over and over again.
Home > Verbal > Movie Reviews > Infernal Affairs
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Infernal Affairs (2002)
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© Copyright Lester Mak 2003. All Rights Reserved |
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