A widower's entertainment

Chapter 402 [An Amazing Work] (Please Subscribe)
Lin Youcheng won an Oscar, which is a hot topic both at home and abroad. Perhaps because it just so happens that Lin Youcheng, the screenwriter, won an Oscar, the movie "Infernal Affairs", produced by Xu Feng, was released in Hong Kong.

Without a doubt, the movie "Infernal Affairs" became a huge hit as soon as it was released!

When promoting the film directed by John Woo, in addition to promoting the lead actors Tony Leung and Tony Leung Ka-fai, they also promoted Lin Youcheng, a leading writer and screenwriter in mainland China. Moreover, Lin Youcheng had just won an Oscar, which was certainly worthwhile for Woo-Cheng Film Company to use to promote the film "Infernal Affairs".

However, what Hong Kong audiences did not expect was that the story of "Infernal Affairs" written by Lam Yau-shing would be so sharp and so wonderful.

That's right, it was fantastic!
Under the direction of John Woo, the film "Infernal Affairs" was quite well made, directly igniting the entire Hong Kong film market.

Both audiences and film critics are praising the movie "Infernal Affairs" wildly. Of course, for film critics, they really did not expect that Lin Youcheng, a screenwriter from mainland China, could actually write such a police and gangster story with Hong Kong flavor.

That's right, this film, "Infernal Affairs," is a movie with a strong Hong Kong flavor.

The Sing Tao Daily praised John Woo's film, saying that the acting clash between Tony Leung and Tony Leung Ka-fai was incredibly exciting and satisfying.

Of course, most people also praised Lin Youcheng for writing such an amazing story.

As one film critic praised, "I never expected Lam Yau-shing to write such a unique police and gangster story as 'Infernal Affairs,' using the framework of fate and profession to construct a mindset of switching bodies, questioning and oscillating between good and bad, ultimately disillusioned at the bottom line of the rules. This film is very calm, a pre-set chess game, a steadfast prison, with people in the middle, waiting for what happens, the process, and the end, leaving only a lament in the end. In this middle, the director and screenwriter occupy the dominant position, and the deliberately understated filming technique adds weight to the bias."

"Among the director and screenwriter, the most important is undoubtedly the script. Lin Youcheng, a master screenwriter, ingeniously wrote a story about a bad guy who wants to become a good guy and a good guy who wants to regain his identity. It's a story of human struggle and tearing at the heart. Fate is like a big net, and everyone is just a fish trapped in it. No matter how hard they try to break free, they can't escape the torment of hell. The sorrow of destiny and the desolation of reincarnation run through the whole story. The intertwining of fates brings a shock to the soul. Perhaps because Lin Youcheng is from mainland China, there is none of the foolish gimmicks and ostentatious displays of the old Hong Kong films where one man can hold off ten thousand. The simple script and story intertwine to create a complex human nature. It's a truly amazing story!"

As this review article suggests, there is no doubt that the movie "Infernal Affairs" is truly special and amazing!
It's fair to say that the release of "Infernal Affairs" in Hong Kong caused a complete uproar!
Some film critics have even said that "Infernal Affairs" is a film that deserves to be recorded in the history of Hong Kong cinema!

This viewpoint resonated with many viewers, as the lead actors delivered outstanding performances. The crime thriller, while outwardly a crime drama, served as a reflection of Hong Kong society, and the film's title, "Infernal Affairs," perfectly encapsulates this: Avici Hell in Buddhism, the lowest of the eighteen levels of hell, where longevity is the greatest suffering. Who would have thought that a crime film could be so permeated with Buddhist thought?

This is also what film critics praised; the film is a culmination of Buddhist thought, permeated with an atmosphere of helplessness in the face of fate and the inescapable karmic retribution. It's not typical of Hong Kong films that rely on pacing and plot. But it's precisely this fresh perspective that drove Hong Kong moviegoers wild.

The title "Infernal Affairs" alone implies an uninterrupted, endless cycle of suffering. Others are hell. But the true hell is oneself. All suffering originates within, from a weak soul succumbing to stronger desires. In this sense, everyone's life is an endless, unending hell. This theme alone makes it worthy of being called the most brilliant crime thriller in Hong Kong cinema history.

More importantly, this amazing crime thriller was actually written by a mainland Chinese screenwriter.

Indeed, no one expected that the greatest crime thriller in Hong Kong's history would be born from the pen of mainland screenwriter Lam Yau-shing. Although it's a crime thriller, it tells the story of two people whose lives have intersected due to their different circumstances, both searching for a way back. In a hellish abyss, everyone is tormented by suffering. This story is a captivating and enigmatic spectacle, blurring the lines between right and wrong, and revealing the deepest cries of humanity.

It's absolutely incredible, absolutely insane!

That's right, it's insane!
This is absolutely amazing!
While it's a commercial crime thriller, it's completely different from previous crime films. This crime thriller also explores themes of life and cruelty. More importantly, the performances of the main actors are quite amazing, and film critics and audiences are discussing the incredible acting skills of the main characters.

A gunshot rang out, and a man collapsed. Huang Qiusheng, in a state of panic and unease, lay asleep on the wrecked car, blood trickling from his lips. His still, large body, stained with blood, exuded a stubbornness that belied his former friend and stern superior. Zeng Zhiwei's sinister cruelty was already evident in the opening glances of the film. His staggering steps towards the fire escape, the panic and despair that welled up within him, culminating in his silent death by gunshot—life teaches us that the difference between a real boss and a dead man is actually quite small.

Tony Leung Ka-fai's character is the most contradictory and complex. As a police officer facing a criminal, his performance, aside from his cleverness and slight smugness, lacks any exaggerated embellishment. His calm demeanor as he emerges from the elevator later reveals the karmic cycle sown ten years ago, making him understand any outcome. He sees no joy in life, no sorrow in death—a truly outstanding performance. As for Tony Leung Chiu-wai's performance, his innate melancholy and sense of helplessness seem effortless. His bewildered eyes and detached expression always reveal an inner betrayal of his actions and body, and a deep self-doubt.

Because the film itself doesn't have many explosion scenes, director John Woo wasn't allowed to unleash his violent aesthetics. He could only showcase his violent aesthetics in a few fight scenes. However, due to the excellent script of "Infernal Affairs," the whole story is very restrained, which allowed John Woo to shoot this special police and gangster film from a different perspective, which was quite successful.

Hong Kong moviegoers were completely stunned by the story of "Infernal Affairs"!
"I didn't have a choice before, but now I want to be a good person!"

"We agreed on three years, then another three years, then another three years, and now it's almost been ten years, boss."

"I want to be a good person," "I'm a police officer"—is this a helpless statement? Is it a condensed version of reality? One wrong step leads to another.

"Why do you undercover agents always choose to meet on the rooftop?" "Because we are aboveboard." Are you satisfied? A selfless heart makes the world a better place.

……

Such lines quickly became popular in Hong Kong.

Now that this movie has been released, it has truly caused a sensation throughout Hong Kong. There has never been a police and gangster story like this before. Audiences are completely stunned by this movie. They are all too shocked. The story is too exciting, the movie is too outstanding, and the actors' performances are even more amazing. It can be said that "Infernal Affairs" is undoubtedly like a bomb that suddenly exploded in Hong Kong with a loud "boom"!
That's right, it was an explosion!
It wasn't just the movie's box office that exploded, but the entire topic of "Infernal Affairs" exploded.

Leslie Cheung also went to see the movie "Infernal Affairs" and was quite shocked. He couldn't help but laugh and say to his friend Anita Mui, "His script is really amazing!"

Mei Yanfang nodded and said, "Yes, the story of 'Infernal Affairs' is truly incisive. I never expected him to write a story like this."

Upon hearing Anita Mui's words, Leslie Cheung couldn't help but laugh and say, "It seems that his stories have no limitations. You've also seen 'The Truman Show,' wasn't it quite amazing?"

"Indeed."

Mei Yanfang had naturally seen "The Truman Show" as well, and she was amazed when she first saw it, especially after learning that the story was written by Lin Youcheng from mainland China. Of course, she knew that Lin Youcheng, a writer and screenwriter from mainland China, could also write science fiction stories. After all, she had also seen the Hollywood movie "The Time Traveler's Wife". However, she really did not expect that a writer from mainland China could write such a unique movie as "The Truman Show".

Of course, she was also quite shocked. She was also quite shocked by "Infernal Affairs". However, Mei Yanfang knew that Lin Youcheng, the author and screenwriter, had always been very talented. She had seen movies such as "The Devotion of Suspect X" and "Atonement", and each of them had moved her deeply.

"I really hope to get to know him if I have the chance."

Upon hearing Mui Yan-fong's words, Leslie Cheung smiled and said, "I'll introduce you to him later."

Are you that close to him?

Mui Yan-fang naturally knew that Leslie Cheung had never worked with Lam Yau-shing, and she didn't know the extent of their relationship.

Leslie Cheung smiled and said, "I met him in Beijing before, and I even went to his house. He said he would write a good script and give me a good role later."

"Is this just a casual remark?"

Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung were old friends, so they naturally didn't stand on ceremony and jokingly said with a smile, "Others are just being polite."

Leslie Cheung recalled what Lin Youcheng had told him. Although he didn't know if Lin Youcheng was just being polite, he still hoped that Lin Youcheng would really ask him to cooperate. He smiled and said, "I think we will have the opportunity to cooperate in the future."

When Anita Mui heard Leslie Cheung say this, she couldn't help but say, "Then I also hope that we can have the opportunity to collaborate once. It's just a pity that he doesn't come to Hong Kong, otherwise I would definitely pay him a visit."

"If I have the chance to go to the mainland later, I'll take you to visit him."

Mui Yan-fang knew that Leslie Cheung truly admired Lam Yau-shing's works, whether they were novels or film scripts, and that he might even visit Lam Yau-shing in mainland China someday. With a smile, she said, "Then I'll leave it to you."

"Speaking of which, your schedule doesn't match up with 'Infernal Affairs.' I wonder if you feel sorry about it?"

When Leslie Cheung heard Anita Mui ask this question, he said, "It is a pity, but the role I played in 'Farewell My Concubine' was also very good. I'm going to the Cannes Film Festival later."

Of course, it's not the time for "Farewell My Concubine" to be at its peak yet. Right now, the most popular movie in Hong Kong is "Infernal Affairs." In fact, it's not just in Hong Kong, because "Infernal Affairs" was also released in Taiwan shortly afterward!
It can be said that screenwriter Lin Youcheng is already a well-known figure in Taiwan. Several of his novels are bestsellers published in Taiwan. Hou Xiaoxian's "The Devotion of Suspect X" won the Palme d'Or, and his film "Amour" won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. It can be said that Lin Youcheng has a very high status in the Taiwanese film industry. Moreover, this screenwriting master has won an Oscar, so he is naturally even more sought after.

Now that the movie "Infernal Affairs" is being shown in Taiwan, it has once again amazed audiences and filmmakers there!

Because the story of "Infernal Affairs" written by Lin Youcheng is just too wonderful!

Audiences and film critics in Taiwan have also praised John Woo's film, commended the acting skills of the lead actors, and of course, praised the script written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Lin Youcheng as truly brilliant.

In fact, many directors in Taiwan also want to collaborate with Lin Youcheng, but obviously none of them have approached him directly like Hou Xiaoxian did, acquiring the film rights to the novel "The Devotion of Suspect X," which went on to win the Palme d'Or and later the Golden Lion for the film "Amour." Now that a Hong Kong film company has approached Lin Youcheng to collaborate on such an amazing film as "Infernal Affairs," it has naturally made some Taiwanese film companies eager to try. Even if their relationship with the mainland is still uncertain, collaborating with Lin Youcheng shouldn't be a problem.

Of course, the most difficult question is whether Lin Youcheng will agree to cooperate, since it's not just one company that wants to cooperate.

These problems are all because the movie "Infernal Affairs" became a huge hit. It can be said that not only film companies in Taiwan, but also many film companies in Hong Kong wanted to work with screenwriter Lin Youcheng and wanted to collaborate with him on an amazing work like "Infernal Affairs"!

It should be said that no company would not want to cooperate with Lin Youcheng.

After all, a new and amazing "Infernal Affairs" movie has now appeared in front of everyone, once again making everyone thrilled and shocked.

(End of this chapter)