Review: Movies come and go. You watch it, you like it, you forget it. Then, once in a blue moon, you experience a masterpiece of cinematic glory. A film so worthy of all the praise and massive hype that you sit and think to yourself, “Damn . . .” Right after, you pause, take a deep breath, take a dogged weary walk to your nearest refrigerator and pop open a Budweiser. You once again take that same dogged weary path back to your couch, sit, and think to yourself once again, “Damn . . .” Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs is a film that straddles the fine line of good and evil. It is undeniably one of the best movies to come out of Hong Kong today and it will be considered the film that finally revitalizes the ailing HK film industry. Bar none.

HK has been trying desperately to climb out of the gutter the past 2 to 3 years now. Their blockbuster movie output was spiraling downward and so was the interest of HK film enthusiasts everywhere. Then all of a sudden, our prayers for a magnificent movie had been answered. Touted as a director with all glitter but no glue, Andrew Lau’s films brought a sense of glamour and controlled mayhem. The look was always extravagant, but the plot seemed to fall short more often than not. This is where Alan Mak steps in. Doubling as the film’s screenplay co-writer with Felix Chong, Mak fills in the holes that Andrew Lau couldn’t quite fill in the past. The outcome is extraordinary.

Never in my wildest imaginations did I think that I was ever going to praise the plot of an Andrew Lau film. I don’t mean to bash the man, but you can’t really argue with me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of his fans and adore his mastery of chaotic brilliance, but just think Wesley’s Mysterious Files and you’ll see my point. When you realize how simple the actual story is, you will be amazed at the execution. Every subtle nuance and every little camera movement is done in exquisite perfection, thanks to the film’s visual consultant Christopher Doyle, who has been a cinematographer for such movies as In The Mood For Love and Chungking Express. The actual cinematography was done by Andrew Lau and Lai Yiu Fai.

Every piece of the puzzle is extremely important and I have to hand it to Andrew Lau for signing the top names in the business to become a part of his masterpiece. Infernal Affairs is an HK enthusiasts’ dream. The film is overflowing with star-studded appeal right down to its cameo stars. The central leads are headed by HK’s two most sought after actors. The incomparable Andy Lau and the internationally acclaimed Tony Leung brings the most entertaining performances I have seen in a long time. Their roles as moles (heh, that rhymes) in a world that’s either black or white with no sign of a gray area is superb. Each played their respected character with pin-point accuracy. The troublesome lives they lead are slowly and painfully eating away their will to go on and this becomes apparent throughout. Leung’s facial expression displays his anguish as he struggles to fight his urges to become a triad. Andy, on the other hand, succeeds with subtlety. He wants so much to change his triad ways for the better that he’ll do anything to cover his tracks. This is where the plot takes the whole cat and mouse game to a whole new level. The story plays around with the characters in a way that they begin to question themselves and their beliefs. Will they change or will they follow the narrow, dark path fate has chosen for them? Only the mind-blowing ending will answer that.

Along with amazing leads, the viewers are treated to a wonderful cast. When you have Sammi Cheng and Kelly Chen playing supporting roles then you know exactly the kind of caliber this film is playing on. Despite Sammi and Kelly’s minor roles, they play two of the film’s most significant characters. They are the catalysts for the leads. The power of women is in their ability to change a man. Every “smart” guy in this free world knows that. There isn’t any surprise here that Sammi was chosen to be Ming’s fiancé. Andy and Sammi’s onscreen chemistry is fireworks. More chemistry equals more realism. Sammi also does a convincing job as she pushes Infernal Affairs’ story forward by becoming the foreshadower of the film. Then there is Kelly, who is Yan’s love interest. His past love interest, played by newcomer Elva Hsiao, has moved on and now has a daughter. Elva’s role is minute, but her significance is uncanny. She is Yan’s past and the only one he’s ever gotten close to aside from his only contact Wang, played by Anthony Wong. Kelly rekindles the passion Yan lost during his rise in the triad world and his breakup with Elva. These are just pieces of the puzzle.

For those of you looking for an action packed crime caper, go rent Full-Time Killer or one of John Woo’s classics. You certainly won’t find it here. While Infernal Affairs is considered a crime caper, you won’t see Andy and Tony in an all out shoot out nor will you experience any fiery explosions. What you will experience, however, is an edge of your seat thriller pushing the limits of the duality of man, a struggle of the human soul and the distinctive perception of two different colliding worlds. Infernal Affairs is truly an inferno of mixed emotions going through the revolving door of life. If you strive to keep up with the film, then the seemingly everlasting blaze will be inevitably distinguished in a way you may or may not like. I’ll leave you at that.