Overshadowed by its American remake, The Departed, which came to us courtesy of Mr. Martin Scorsese (and won Best Picture, don't you know?), Infernal Affairs is still perhaps the superior film of the two. Unfortunately, it's a movie from Hong Kong, which means that it hasn't had anywhere near as much attention on account of... well, let's face it... the fact that it has subtitles. But here's a subtitled movie that absolutely deserves you attention. Starring acclaimed Chinese actors Andy Lau and Tony Chiu Wai Leung, Infernal Affairs tells the story of a cop and a gangster who find themselves embedded in opposite organisations, both of whom are tasked with uncovering and exposing one another. Compared with The Departed, Infernal Affairs is a far grittier - and perhaps somewhat more complicated - picture. Even if you've seen Scorsese's picture, though, this is essential.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
