Infernal Affairs
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Infernal Affairs (Template:Zh-cp) is a stylish 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller. The Chinese title refers to the lowest level of hell in buddhism, and the English, while similarly having connotations of Dante's Inferno, is a play on words on internal affairs.
Infernal Affairs initially received much publicity because of its star-studded cast of Tony Leung, Andy Lau, Anthony Wong (黄秋生), Eric Tsang (曾志偉), Kelly Chen, and Sammi Cheng, and later rose to critical acclaim.
The film sold exceptionally well in Hong Kong and was considered "a box office miracle". It was heralded as a revival of Hong Kong cinema which at the time was considered to be lacking in creativity. Due to its commercial and critical success, Infernal Affairs was followed by the prequel Infernal Affairs II and the sequel Infernal Affairs III, both released in 2003.
In 2004 Brad Pitt's Plan B Productions acquired the rights for a Hollywood remake which is now well under way. It is being directed by Martin Scorsese and tentatively titled The Departed. The film will star Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon.
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Plot
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Infernal Affairs is about a cop named Yan (played by Tony Leung) going deep undercover into the Triads, and a Triad member, Ming, who infiltrates the police department (Andy Lau). Each mole was planted by the rival organization to gain an advantage in intelligence over the other side.
Because officials in Mainland China were uneasy with original ending, where law enforcement eventually fails, an alternate ending has been made for that market, incongruous with the sequel Infernal Affairs III, where the Triad mole is rooted out and caught. Many DVD releases contain the alternate ending as a bonus scene.
Infernal Affairs I - cast and roles
- Andy Lau - Lau Kin Ming (劉健明)
- Tony Leung - Chan Wing Yan (陳永仁)
- Anthony Wong - Superintendant Wong
- Eric Tsang - Sam
- Kelly Chen - Dr. Lee Sum Yee
- Sammi Cheng - Mary, Ming's future wife
- Edison Chen - Young Lau Kin Ming
- Shawn Yue - Young Chan Wing Yan
- Elva Hsiao - May
- Chapman To - Keung
- Lam Ka Tung - Inspector B
- Ng Ting Yip - Sir Inspector Cheung
- Dion Lam - Del Piero
- Chi Keung Wan - Officer Leung
- Fung Hui Kam - Cadet School Principal
Awards
Infernal Affairs did very well at the 2002 Hong Kong Film Awards, beating the blockbuster Hero for the Best Film award, and also winning the following:
- Best Director - Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
- Best Screenplay - Alan Mak and Felix Chong
- Best Actor - Tony Leung
- Best Supporting Actor - Anthony Wong
- Best Editing - Danny Pang and Pang Ching Hei
- Best Original Film Song - "Infernal Affairs," sung by Tony Leung and Andy Lau
Infernal Affairs II - cast and roles
- Edison Chen - Young Lau Kin Ming
- Shawn Yue - Young Chen Wing Yan
- Anthony Wong - Superintendant Wong
- Francis Ng - Ngai Wing-Hau
- Eric Tsang - Sam
- Carina Lau - Mary, Sam's wife
- Chapman To - Keung
- Andrew Lin - Ngai's brother
- Roy Cheung
- Bey Logan - Inspector Calvin
- Ricardo Mamood - Parking lot dealer
- Brandon Rhea - Private investigator
- Teddy Chan
- Tung Cho 'Joe' Cheung
- Chiu Chung-yue Chiu - Mary
- Fung Hui Kam - Cadet School Principal
- Hu Jun Hu - Superintendant Luk
- Liu Kai Chi
- Wan Chi Keung - Officer Leung
- Arthur Wong
Awards
Although Infernal Affairs II earned ten nominations for the 2003 Hong Kong Film Awards, it could not match its predecessor's success. The film won only one award, Best Original Film Song, for the song "Chang Kong" (performed by the Cantopop band Beyond).
Infernal Affairs III - cast and roles
- Andy Lau - Lau Kin Ming
- Tony Leung - Chen Wing Yan
- Kelly Chen - Dr. Lee
- Daoming Chen
- Edison Chen - Young Lau Kin Ming
- Sammi Cheng - Mary
- Leon Lai - Superindent Yeung
- Lam Ka Tung
- Carina Lau - Mary
- Ng Ting Yip
- Chapman To
- Eric Tsang - Sam
- Wan Chi Keung
- Anthony Wong - Superindent Wong
- Courtney Wu - Stereo shop owner
- Shawn Yue - Young Chen Wing Yan
See also
External links
- Official site (http://www.infernalaffairs.com/)
- Official UK site (http://www.infernalaffairs.co.uk/)
- Official Japanese site (http://www.infernal.jp)
- Official site on Miramax (http://www.miramax.com/infernalaffairs/)fr:Infernal Affairs