One question to ask yourself when watching Scorsese's The Departed compared to the Hong Kong original Infernal Affairs. Scorsese didn't realise it was a remake until after he bought the rights to the script and didn't watch the original so as not to influence his vision. The result is a mixed bag. Do large budgets and A-list celebrities make a film better?
The two films are separate enough not to be a straight-up American retelling, but the story is essentially the same. The Boston accents, and hilarious banter between the cops, especially by Walberg, who delivers some brilliant insults, are a fantastic addition. However, the one thing it lacks is the subtext of the original. Infernal Affairs was released shortly after the British handover, a time when a lot of Hong Kongers were experiencing an identity crisis. It was the perfect metaphor for the future of Hong Kong, being a mole in Chinese society to protect Hong Kong or vice versa. This was the real beauty of Infernal Affairs and something no budget or list of celebrities was able to replicate.
The two films are separate enough not to be a straight-up American retelling, but the story is essentially the same. The Boston accents, and hilarious banter between the cops, especially by Walberg, who delivers some brilliant insults, are a fantastic addition. However, the one thing it lacks is the subtext of the original. Infernal Affairs was released shortly after the British handover, a time when a lot of Hong Kongers were experiencing an identity crisis. It was the perfect metaphor for the future of Hong Kong, being a mole in Chinese society to protect Hong Kong or vice versa. This was the real beauty of Infernal Affairs and something no budget or list of celebrities was able to replicate.
Tell Your Friends