The Infernal Affairs Trilogy (2007)

The screenwriter of The Departed is reportedly working on a sequel, which, given the first film's body count, makes you wonder if he actually plans to set it in the title realm. But there's precedent: Infernal Affairs, the Hong Kong smash that provided The Departed's blueprint, prompted two follow-ups, collected in The Infernal Affairs Trilogy (R/Unrated, 338 mins., 2002-03). Both were produced and released within nine months of the original, with equally convoluted plotting — so whatever they're putting in the coffee, can we import some? The first Infernal plays like The Departed on fast-forward; you get dozens of scenes nearly identical to Scorsese's, but a running time that's 50 minutes shorter. Affairs 2 is a decent prequel that downplays its dueling moles while filling in an epic Mob-war backstory. The more intimate finale is part prequel, part sequel — but between an insanely overcomplicated structure and moral equivocating about who's good or bad, prepare to be baffled about why key players get whacked, and whether to cheer or cry.

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