Infernal Goings-on

Rating: 8/10 (27 September 2013)

Wonderfully edgy and powerful remake by Martin Scorsese of Wai-keung Lau and Alan Mak's 'Infernal Affairs' (Hong Kong, 2002), an all-star cast is led by Leonardo diCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson, and features Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Ray Winstone and Vera Farmiga. Among a raft of great performances, diCaprio stands out as the severely stressed undercover agent, while Damon reprises something of the supremely cold performance that we saw in 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. Jack Nicholson verges on over-the-top at times, but is good value as the gangland supremo, while Martin Sheen exudes integrity as Captain Queenan. It's a tour de force with some great sequences and plenty of intrigue, and Scorsese is predictably adept at infusing the piece with lashings of slow burning tension. Well worth seeing if you haven't.