Driven by two great performances surrounded by solid supporting acts, Infernal Affairs is the rare testosterone movie that is also mature and thoughtful.
Infernal Affairs(無間道)
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
Hong Kong · 2002
Rated R · 1h 41m
Director Alan Mak, Andrew Lau
Starring Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai
Genre Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
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Young police officer Chan is sent to infiltrate a triad. Lau, a member of that same triad, is sent to infiltrate Chan’s police force. Years later, they meet and race to expose one another as the mole in the film that inspired Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The New York Times by A.O. Scott
The sophistication of the stylized minimalism here in Infernal Affairs is dazzling.
The New Yorker by Anthony Lane
The directors, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, manage to convince us that we have witnessed an action movie, although in fact the quantity of violence is so minimal that, under Hong Kong law, Infernal Affairs barely qualifies as a motion picture.
Expect to be confused for 10 minutes. Then sit back and enjoy the ride.
Spins in place with aplomb, generating exponentially more vertiginous doublings with each sweaty-palmed set piece.
Pic is superbly honed at both script and performance levels, with character taking precedence over action.
This is a real grabber.
Entertainment Weekly by Lisa Schwarzbaum
Dazzling psychological cat-and-mouse drama.
Rolling Stone by Peter Travers
Throbs with action, suspense and a seductive rhythm all its own.
Overflows with psychological intrigue, something often missing from such offerings.
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