So gripping, even Brad Pitt wants a piece of Hong Kong's million-dollar crime thriller.
Infernal Affairs
Running time: 100 minutes
Directors: Alan Mak and Andrew Lau
Writers: Alan Mak and Felix Chong
Producer: Andrew Lau, Media Asia Films
Cast: Ming: Andy Lau, Yan: Tony Leung, Wong: Anthony Wong, Sam: Eric Tsang, Young Ming: Edison Chen, Young Yan: Shawn Yue, B: Lam Ka Tung, Keung: Chapman To, Mary: Sammi Chen, Dr. Lee: Kelly Chen, May: Elva Hsaio
Director Andrew Lau, who is known to some for his quantity over quality in directing recently made an exciting comeback with his $5.1 million dollar suspenseful crime thriller Infernal Affairs. A native of Hong Kong, Lau was popular in the mid-'90s for his hit series Young and Dangerous, and the award winning film The Storm Riders (1998).
Infernal Affairs was a major box office hit at home in Hong Kong. Barely a month after its release in theaters, the film, backed and distributed by Media Asia, grossed roughly HK$50 million (U.S. $6.4 mill.). The film has now become the territory's second highest grossing local film behind Shaolin Soccer.
Infernal Affairs is the story of two moles. Tony Leung plays Yan, an undercover cop who has infiltrated a notorious gang, and Andy Lau plays Ming, a gang member who joins the police department and rises through the ranks as an informant to the gang. Throughout the story, suspense builds as each mole attempts to uncover the other.
Living secretive lives, each man endures his own personal hell. Yan yearns to regain his normal, moral life, while the once-scandalous Ming aches to relinquish this now forced role of informant and become a true police officer.
Infernal Affairs received positive reviews across the board upon release. Derek Elley of Daily Variety stated, “Infernal Affairs holds its audience in a vice-like grip for 100 minutes as the dark, claustrophobic narrative winds its way to an emotionally powerful climax.”
In addition to receiving excellent reviews, the film also won numerous awards. The Hong Kong Film Critics Society awarded Anthony Wong Best Actor of 2002 for his role as the police force Superintendent. At the 22nd Annual Hong Kong Film Awards, Infernal Affairs brought home multiple awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai), Best Supporting Actor (Alan Mak Sui-Fai), Best Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Original Song.
At the 40th Annual Golden Horse Awards, it faired similarly, snagging the award for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Tony Leung), Best Supporting Actor (Anthony Wong Chau-Sang) and Best Sound Effects. Infernal Affairs took home the top five awards at the 8th Annual Golden Bauhinia Awards and was also included by the HKFCA as one of the eleven “Films of Merit” of the year.
Fortunately for the United States, Andrew Sun of The Hollywood Reporter was correct when he stated that “this taut and entertaining picture should have enough macho magnetism to generate international interest,” because Warner Bros. and producers Brad Grey and Brad Pitt won the bidding contest for the remake rights to Infernal Affairs in 2003. Warner Bros. beat out the other studios in the bidding war with an offer of $1.75 million. It is rumored that Pitt may even play one of the two lead roles in this new American version.
Media Asia also produced a prequel and a third final Infernal Affairs film. Both were released in 2003 and were only available on DVD in the United States.
Hong Kong's Film Industry
The Hong Kong film industry can be said to be successful in two different ways. First, directors like John Woo, who just released his latest film Paycheck with Hollywood stars Ben Affleck, and Uma Thurman as well as Tsui Hark (Xanda, Time and Tide) have established themselves successfully in the world's film mecca of Hollywood. Second, directors like Wong Kar-wai (2046 currently in post production, 6 Days, 2002) and Stanley Kwan (Lan Yu, 2001) have attained an impressive art-house audience internationally.
But like many film industries across the globe, they too have to deal with the competition from imported Hollywood blockbusters. And unfortunately, this challenge has caused a dramatic decline in recent years in domestic films' box office receipts.
Information on the film industry courtesy of asianfilms.org.