Mou gaan dou (2002)

Directors:

Wai-keung Lau
Alan Mak

Writers:

Alan Mak (written by) &
Felix Chong (written by)

Release Date:

12 December 2002 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Loyalty. Honor. Betrayal.

Plot:

A story between a mole in the police department and an undercover cop. Their objectives are the same: to find out who is the mole, and who is the cop.

Plot Keywords:

Mole | Police | Triad | Undercover | Undercover Cop

Awards:

23 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Andy Lau	...	Inspector Lau Kin Ming
Tony Leung Chiu Wai	...	Chen Wing Yan (as Tony Leung)
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang	...	SP Wong Chi Shing (as Anthony Wong)
Eric Tsang	...	Hon Sam
Kelly Chen	...	Dr. Lee Sum Yee
Sammi Cheng	...	Mary
Edison Chen	...	Young Lau Kin Ming
Shawn Yue	...	Young Chan Wing Yan
Elva Hsiao	...	May
Chapman To	...	Tsui Wai-keung
Ka Tung Lam	...	Inspector B (as Lam Ka Tung)
Ting Yip Ng	...	Inspector Cheung (as Ng Ting Yip)
Dion Lam	...	Del Piero
Chi Keung Wan	...	Officer Leung (as Wan Chi Keung)
Hui Kam Fung	...	Cadet School Principal

Also Known As:

Infernal Affairs (International: English title) (UK) (USA)
Mou gaan dou (Hong Kong: Cantonese title) (alternative transliteration)
Non-Stop Way (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title)
Wu jian dao (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

101 min | Hong Kong:97 min (director's cut)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | English | Thai

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Brazil:18 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Company:

Media Asia Films

Trivia:

The alternative ending found as a special feature on most Western DVD releases was created for release in China, where the authorities were uncomfortable with the political implications of the original ending.

Goofs:

Continuity: Changes in the time on the clock in the living room when the cop is listening to the CD that's been dropped off for him.

Quotes:

Mary: I can't finish the novel, I don't know whether he's good or bad.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Cheng chong chui lui chai 2004 (2004)

Soundtrack:

THE FORGOTTEN TIME

One of the best from Hong Kong

This movie should be compared to movie like Heat, even when the storyline are not the same. Movies like Hardboiled and A Better Tomorrow are predominately action-based, whereas this movie is more dramatic and emotionally-driven.

The main attraction is the mole hunts but it would not be as brilliantly done if not for the fireworks between the major characters.

The title from the explanation in the intro means "Endless Purgatory Road". This philosophy, to me, really made this movie more thoughtful. The two central characters both had to walk their road, in life and in their minds for a long time. Both had no choice but to keep walking. As they cross path, they were forced to play the game of cat and mouse by their superiors. While it is not certain who's the cat and who's the mouse, one thing is certain - the loser will die.

While there are four main characters, they are all males. This should be bad for any movie but I think this is one of the exception to the rule. The emotions and tension between the four were well-scripted and brilliantly played. It is no surprised each had at least one best actor awards in the Hong Kong industry. The sequels(2 prequels) will delve deeper into it.

Plotwise - it is hard to see any holes.

Seen it around six times, a lot for a drama.

I think you should ask yourself after the movie, "what would I do if I am in the same situation?". Right and wrong is harder to separate.