Movie review: The Departed
The Departed
October 17, 2006
Michael Wallbank
Name one Martin Scorsese film. I bet you said Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, or Raging Bull. I bet you didn’t say any recent films like Bringing out the Dead, Gangs of New York, or The Aviator. Why? Because they sucked. America’s best-known director without an Oscar win (but 5 nominations), has been in a bit of a slump, but with The Departed he has finally broken the spell.
The Departed sports one of the biggest casts of the year, featuring Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Matt Damon. All are at their best. In fact, Damon hasn’t been this good since Good Will Hunting, and DiCaprio hasn’t been this good since…well, he’s never been this good. Jack Nicholson will probably end up with at least a few award nominations for his terrifying performance as mob boss Frank Costello. If you don’t like Jack, then you don’t know Jack, do you?
This storyline is based on the brilliant Chinese film Infernal Affairs. I won’t spoil it for you because it’s just too complicated, but I think this movie will probably come to define the Irish gangster film the way Goodfellas did for its Italian counterpart.
This film allowed Scorsese to flex his creative and stylistic muscles but not so much that it interferes with the excellent cast and script. Scorsese offsets the violence of his latest film with timeless rock anthems and Irish ditties. All in all, if you can handle the intensity and violence of this thriller, it just might be the most enjoyable Hollywood movie this year.
Now you go...
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