[Movie Review] The Goldfinger 《金手指》 (2023): Tony Leung and Andy Lau Reunite on the Big Screen, 21 Years after Infernal Affairs

The highly anticipated Goldfinger《金手指》 is a 2023 Hong Kong action crime thriller film written and directed by Felix Chong, and starring two of Hong Kong’s best-known actors globally, Tony Leung and Andy Lau. Set in the 1980s, the film is based on the story of Carrian Group, a Hong Kong corporation that rose rapidly before collapsing shortly afterward due to a corruption scandal.

To promote the film, Tony Leung was in Singapore earlier in December to launch the gala premiere at Universal Studios, along with the director Felix Chong and producer Ronald Wong:

In the much-anticipated reunion of Tony Leung and Andy Lau on the big screen, the duo’s on-screen chemistry proves to be the biggest highlight, delivering a fantastic dynamic that keeps audiences engaged throughout the film. While not reaching the pinnacle set by the classic Infernal Affairs, the movie manages to entertain with its charismatic leads.

Leung’s portrayal of the flamboyant crook Henry Ching and Lau’s role as the determined ICAC investigator Lau Kai Yuen bring a palpable energy to the screen. Their interactions and performances captivate, showcasing the undeniable talent these actors possess.

Fans of good old-fashioned Hong Kong police and gangster movies will definitely enjoy this. 

The truth is sometimes stranger than fiction and this is true about the collapse of the Carrian Group which involves the murder of an auditor from Malaysia, among other intriguing details, way before the 1MDB global financial scandal. For those working in the financial or crypto markets, the storyline will be even more arresting as it is reminiscent of today‘s crypto finance frenzy and the likes of the collapse of FTX and Three Arrow Capital.

It is not easy to condense all the details from the real-life source material, spanning over a decade of investigations, into a two-hour movie. In addition, the subject matter of white-collar financial crime can get too technical for the lay audience to grasp quickly. As a result, the movie had to compromise on depth, which is a pity as it could have delivered so much more.

Nonetheless, just seeing the two titular leads reunite on screen is enough to get back the price of your movie ticket.

The Goldfinger is rated PG13 and is now showing in Singapore cinemas. Go catch it!