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| Mou gaan dou (Infernal Affairs) (67%) |
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Plot: This unsettling psychological thriller that focuses on two men seemingly at the ends of their respective ropes.
Meet Other Fans
Recent Reviews
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MCT:July 31, 2008Very slow and it took Bong forever to figure out his best friend was the killer. Clearly his detective skills have gone to the wayside just like his liver. :p Beyond that, an okay movie, just wish the plot had been better.
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MCT:July 25, 2008I was expecting more from this movie, but it turned out boring. The movie was unnecessarily long, and there was no climax to the story. I didn't get the feeling of pain that I was expecting from Tony Leung's character at the end. I also got tired of waiting for Takeshi Kaneshiro's character to figure out who the killer was...It was painfully boring to watch.
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MCT:June 28, 2008
It was interesting and well acted. Though i found it a bit slow. What language was it ? Cantonese ? I didn't recognize it..
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MCT:April 9, 2008i really enjoyed this one. almost as good as general stand out movies in this genre, yet further reaching in its musings beyond the genre on the topics of humanity and its consequent loss in the quest for revenge. great movie.
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MCT:February 5, 2008This latest offering by Infernal Affairs director Andy Lau is strong though for the most part not very memorable. The police procedural thriller has been done to death since the release of Se7en more than a decade ago and given an extra beating thanks to TV shows like NCIS, Criminal Intent and especially CSI. This is a real shame since this wave of genre saturation is the primary reason why Confession of Pain feels so uninspired. Lau's choice of casting is also quite a dubious one. Whilst Japan's Takeshi Kaneshiro works wonders with his performance as an alcoholic private detective, as a villainous character Chinese heart-throb Tony Leung appears to be a fish out of water and for the most part his performance seems grey and flavorless. Some major amends are made during the tragedy of the film's third act, where Leung illicits genuine sympathy from the audience, but one still gets the impression that he was not the right choice for the role. However, not to sell Confession of Pain too short, whilst Lau's film has several flaws he still manages to prove that he is indeed a man of experience. The camera work is quite impressive as in pans slowly across middle class bars and apartments, displaying the majesty of Hong Kong by day, as was achieve in Sean Penn's The Pledge, and at night switching to the same lucid dreamscape which Dion Beebe managed to create with Collatoral. If nothing else Confession of Pain is worth seeing in order to listen to the psyche bothering orchestral schores which fluctuate between loin-girdingly shrill Chinese strings, frenetic trance and depressingly simplitic piano sections. It is here that Lau introduces his biggest strength as a director and promises far more of his film than he provides. If you're a fan of the genre or either of the two lead actors, chances are you'll like it but if you don't see it you shouldn't miss any sleep.
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MCT:September 25, 2007
The Infernal Affairs directorial duo is back with another crime thriller, with heavy stars once more in the main cast. Directores Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak show a full control of the genre, using a fluid and tight camera movement, they manage once more to keep the audience glued to the screen.
Unlike what many would think in a first view, the film is more about character motivations rather than twists. Both Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro give solid rock performances. Chapman To is fun to watch, as usual, and Shu Qi serves as great eye candy.
All that said the film fells short in it's story, it starts quite interesting, then gets quite redundant, and when the final act comes it hardly has the impact the directors seem to have been trying to achieve. It's a very simple story, but told in an very unecessary convulted way.
Ok and watchable, but very forgettable. Neverless, watch it before the upcoming hollywood-add-water-remake. -
MCT:July 30, 2007
The movie would have been a failure if not for Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung. It's just another good/bad cop story without much surprises.
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MCT:July 21, 2007
From the director of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, comes another gem from Alan Mak Siu Fa. This movie also revolves around a detective's entanglement between professional and personal lives and between friendship and doing the right thing. Tony Leung plays it straight on as the lost detective tortured by his past.
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MCT:July 9, 2007
A detective helps a friend investigate the mysterious death of her father
Sadly Confession of Pain, is not what I thought it would be at all. For one thing, the story isn't very interesting nor is it orginal. However, Confessions have its strength that makes this movie watchable. Andrew and Alan pairs Tony and Takeshi as two leading actors, where both were reunited again after Wong Kar Wai's cult classic Chungking Express (1994). Tony and Takeshi did not have any crossover in Chungking Express, thus Confessions gives the duo a chance to see if there is any chemistry reaction. There is some chemistry there, that does make this watchable and interesting, sometimes, but it;s the only thing that really makes you watch. It?s no secret to some of my flixster friends, that I didn?t go much on Infernal Affairs, who had the same makers on Confession. I can not empathise what a disappointment this was for me. Mainly I watched it because it had Tony and Takeshi in it.
It's surprising that the story decided to show its hand midway in the movie. While it doesn't exactly provide any definitive answers, by planting that seed of thought in you during its presentation. You're left wondering why, the rationale behind the actions, as well as the filmmakers' deliberate lack of effort of hiding the truth. Bong's character will bring you on that journey of discovery. However, audiences who have seen their fair share of crime stories, will find it pretty easy when figuring out the clues. For instance there?s no clear understanding , at times, that the narrative isn?t following in the linear way that you?re used to. I didn?t realise to the end of the movie that certain things happened because it was at the beginning of the dilm
The editing and the parrarel editing at times, makes it pretty confusing to watch. There are many frames, that are skipped and in some of the scenes, and as I mentioned before there?s not clear ratinal as to what this character is doing. As for camera work, set design, sound, and editing, this movie feels more like a commercial than a feature film. The effect is to cheapen what otherwise might have been great and deep. The same goes for the acting, which seems to have been texted in.
Which is a pity, because everything turned predictable towards the end of the movie narratively. However, stylistically, it is what assisted in keeping the attention on screen. The cinematography is brilliant, capturing moody loss effortlessly in its never ending night shots of the cloudy city, unappealing streets, and empty apartments was engaging to watch but nonetheless I?ve seen better in HK movies before.
The diagetic music is, in some scences a little off putting and doesn?t quite fit with the scene. For instance having, let?s say happier music in a scene which is not happy-just doesn?t make sense at all. I?m sure you know what I mean, music in a film needs to fit with what what you?re watching on screen. Sadly there?s no evidence of that here.
Overall, one of the more disappointing Asian films I?ve seen. Don?t let me put you off the film, as some of you may like it. It?s worth watching for Tony Leung and Takeshi and perhaps some scenery around HK, but nothing more. The plot isn?t very interesting and you don?t really care for the characters by the end of the film. Perhaps if I watched it again, I might change my mind. -
MCT:June 17, 2007
A decent film from the team that gave us "Infernal Affaris", but the story is a little less compelling, as we seek to understand why Tony Leung murdered his father-in-law.
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MCT:June 14, 2007
Although many though that it is an infernal affairs wannabe show, i still feel that this show is pretty watchable.
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MCT:May 26, 2007
Okay movie, let down even more considering the talent.
The pedigree on display here should have made this a movie not to be missed. You have Inferanl Affairs director Andrew Lau along with two fantastic leads in Leung and Kaneshiro but a plodding script and some just get on with it moments had me watching the clock rather than the screen.
I didn't feel any of the tension that should have been building up toward the climax. Knowing who the killer is makes the last two-thirds of the movie pointless as you just sit there waiting for Kaneshiro's private detective to figure out who it is.
Kaneshiro and Leung do what they can with what they have to work, that alone is a reason to see it. Also the beautiful Shu Qi makes proceedings bearable.
Forgive me for saying this but in the case of this movie the upcoming Hollywood could end being an improvment. Sorry Andrew. -
MCT:May 21, 2007
Fine Hong Kong mystery-murder film like the lost souls in a city of fallen angels, the cop, the private detective, and the killer are doing what they must.
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MCT:April 29, 2007
I have a confession to make, watching this puts ME in pain. Maybe it's because it's run-of-the-mill, or maybe because the movie lacks story, or maybe it's just overly hyped, but in the end, it's just painfully boring.
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MCT:April 23, 2007
Good script but disappointing execution. The cinematography is excellent. No wonder it won at Hongkong Film Awards!
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MCT:April 6, 2007Riveting, suspenseful and heartbreaking, this is one of the best movies I've seen. Or just another great film from the director of INFERNAL AFFAIRS. Two cops, two seperate paths, both leading to the same place. The gut punch at the end was unexpected. Truly, truly great motion picture in every sense. My hope is that the US remake doesn't suck.
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MCT:March 30, 2007this was a really powerful movie, i didnt know the plot when i went in and i was entertained throughout...even when i got home i stil couldnt stop thinking about it...definately worth the watch...
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MCT:March 16, 2007
Disappointing, lots of style at the expence of a story that works. Could/should have been better, Kaneshiro's performance was really good but the film is dragged down by supriseingly Tony Leung. Although to be fair to him it's not his fault, it's just that charater is poorly written.
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MCT:March 4, 2007
They managed to replicate the old Infernal Affairs feel alright but the story is not tight enough this time. Still, lots of sexy melancholy and meanderin. And Tony fuckin Leung, can he put a foot wrong?
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MCT:February 28, 2007
A very different Honk Kong movie than most, being a full blown thriller without a martial art kick in sight, even though it has a conventional story, it is beautiful to watch and the music is also beautiful and moving.
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MCT:January 12, 2007
quite interesting. its like those thinking shows, with frequent flashbacks. nice one. tony looks good in glasses while takeshi kaneshiro looks good anytime anywhere.
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MCT:January 10, 2007
Yummy! Tony Leung looks very good, and so is Takeshi Kaneshiro... sad that Tony Leung turned out to be a bad bad guy....
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MCT:January 5, 2007
not too bad, considering the bad reviews i've read. yeah, the mandarin dubbing sucks, and i don't get the christmas link either. plus, there are a couple of loopholes here and there. but all in all, pretty good. :)
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MCT:January 5, 2007
the dubbing was really bad... it's a bit like watching hk movies in the 90s... and the plot isn't that well written either...quite a disappointment...
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mistershinobiposted 337 days ago
