| INFERNAL AFAIRS (Miu Gaan Diy), 2002, 100 min.
By Andrew Lau & Alan Mak, with Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony
Wong, Kelly Chen, Shawn Yu, Sammi Cheng, Edison Chen, Eric Tsang
|
Andy Lau plays Ming, a Triad mole in the police department on the command of
his gangland boss, played by Eric Tsang. On the other end of the scale, Tony Leung plays
Yan, a police mole infiltrating the Triads. Leading parallel lives, Ming and Yan feel
increasingly trapped in their false surroundings, and are desperate to escape their double
lives. They do not know each other but when the department raids the gang it becomes clear
to both parties that moles have been implanted on both sides. Who is going to be in charge
of finding the mole ?
Infernal Affairs
is probably the best thriller made in 2002 and not only because there were actually very
few thrillers produced this year in HK! The film, obviously made for international
markets, gathers the best cast and crew that the HK movie industry could possibly offer
(Nansun Shi, Chris Doyle, The Pang Bros.). Brilliant lead actors are supported by very
experienced second roles. Not only Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau are at their best, but
Eric Tsang and Anthony Wong performances are impressive for their depth and restraint as
well. In addition to that, the script is well written, complicated at time but never
confusing. It's beautiful, clever at time and even thrilling.
The over-stylised aesthetic
certainly gives an undeniable value to the movie, but it doesn't always serve the film
discourse as a whole. Infernal Affairs is however not a beautiful empty shell,
since a few shots are truly brilliant and meaningful (Wong Kar Wai director of photography Chris Doyle
is the visual consultant).
Thomas
PODVIN, January 2003 |