'Infernal Affairs': Smooth criminals/cops

In this country, the movie 'Infernal Affairs' (trailer) has the distinction of being known more as the source material for Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winner, 'The Departed'. Like most Americans, I saw the English take before the original Hong Kong blockbuster, which also cleared up at awards ceremonies itself. I will have to admit that I have never been the biggest fan of Asian cinema -- not that I think it's bad, it's just that I have never gotten into it like, say, Mexican movies. Something about the style just never suited me. That being said, it's hard to argue that 'Infernal Affairs' is not a first-rate crime drama.

The movie is slicker and the set-up more realistic than its American cousin. Both movies share the same basic idea of an undercover cop working for in a criminal enterprise and another cop who is secretly feeding information to the same crime boss. Where Scorsese's movie takes two pretty young guys, 'Infernal Affairs' puts his guys in hiding for 10 years before the major events of the movie take place. And although Scorsese is known as one of the real masters of American film, directors Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak crafted a taunt thriller that is less bloated and more exciting with the slickness of a true eye for action. That's not to say that both are not worthy movies -- I'm no film snob who refuses to acknowledge quality in 'The Departed' because I want to show I'm sophisticated and have seen the original (kind of the movie equivalent of liking a band before they became popular and "sold out"). Leonardo DiCaprio truly thrives in his movie and creates a level of psychological dilemmas and violence as its focus (instead of action) that creates a more dense tableau.

Each movie is good in its own right, but to pass the movie up simply because it has subtitles would be to miss a great thriller. The action is better shot than movies you will generally see from this country and it does have the benefit of actually coming up with a great story on its own.

Grade: B+

'The Wind that Shakes the Barley': My kindgdom for a subtitle

It's probably not the best to choose a title line/headline that makes me look stupid. But alas. Watching 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' (trailer), I found myself wishing that I was at home at could put the captions up because for the first five minutes I understood hardly a word and throughout the film I think I missed things because the accents were so strong that my American ears had a hard time comprehending. Also the fact that I had to pay close attention because I kind of felt like there was going to be an exam at the conclusion. It had the feeling of those type of European films (mostly British, although it would be bad to use to equate an Irish movie to anything British) that American doesn't have which are actual histories and not a sexed-up re -imagining of history.

Where the movie excels is in its deft handling of the complexity of the political situation that forms the backdrop, in which it goes directly from the Irish War of Independence to the Irish civil war as seen through the eyes of two brothers. The movie captures the complexity of this struggle and the moral ambiguity of violence by presenting us with a worthy fight against the Brits and then a more questionable civil war. Although director Ken Loach seems to have more allegiance to one side (I won't bog myself too much in the conflict in this little space), he shows the flaws on both sides and in the end I saw the heroism and the repugnancy of both sides. It also features a pretty spectacular performance by Cillian Murphy, who has finally found a movie where he lives up to his promise. He got rave reviews for his role in Breakfast on Pluto, but I found it gimmicky. Before now his standout role to me was still 28 Days Later, but here he manages to pull of such strength from a less than dominating stature and a character who begins so small. He's really the heart of this movie and we see in him how a smart and compassionate man can be driving to the worst things imaginable because of repression.

My suggestion is to catch it on DVD. You'll miss the lush Irish countryside and the always preferable opportunity to see something on the big screen, but it's the type of movie that would benefit from being able to take a break and perhaps use those subtitles. That way maybe you'll realize who Cillian Murphy's brother is long before I did.

Grade: B+