Each episode of The Next Reel Film Podcast is a part of a series or collection of films brought together by time, idea, or contributor. Looking to build a great watchlist? You can’t go wrong with starting on a Next Reel Series.
We wrap up our conversations about the Infernal Affairs trilogy with our April 2023 member bonus episode, discussing Andrew Lau’s and Alan Mak’s 2003 film INFERNAL AFFAIRS III. Does it work as the conclusion to this trilogy? Why does it feel more convoluted than the previous two? Which of the story threads works best for us? Tune in!
We return to the world of moles working both for the cops and with the criminals as we dig into Andrew Lau’s and Alan Mak’s 2003 follow-up INFERNAL AFFAIRS II. Does it work as a prequel? Does it get muddied with character information that feels unnecessarily included just because it’s a prequel? How does the further development of our police superintendent Wong and crimelord Sam work? Tune in to our March member bonus episode!
“Infernal Affairs” may have won seven out of the sixteen Hong Kong Film Awards it was nominated for in 2002, including beating Zhang Yimou’s “Hero” as Best Film, but the majority of Americans probably didn’t hear of it until it was remade by Martin Scorsese four years later as “The Departed.” And while that’s a shame that it took so many people so long to discover this 2002 Hong Kong gem by directors Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, it’s great that they did discover it. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we continue our Movies & Their Remakes series with Lau’s and Mak’s crime thriller “Infernal Affairs.”