Scorsese at the Top of His Game

Rating: 10/10 (9 October 2006)

Martin Scorsese has returned to the top of his game with "The Departed," which is his best work since "Goodfellas." I wondered going in whether the 149 minute running time of the film might be excessive but it is not. It is a sophisticated, complex tale, which, because it takes its time is clearly understandable. Nevertheless, it moves without a lag.
The cast are uniformly wonderful. Leonardo DiCaprio, as Billy Costigan an emotionally crippled undercover cop, gives the finest performance of his career. Matt Damon, who just seems to get better and better, is also outstanding as Colin Sullivan, a state police sergeant who is also a mole for a big time mobster, Frank Costello, played by the always terrific, Jack Nicholson. Nicholson is alternately funny and creepy, in a way I can't imagine any other actor being able to pull off.
I had not seem Vera Farmiga, who plays Madolyn a state health professional who treats both police officers and paroled convicts. Hers is a very important role because she treats and develops a personal relationship with both Costigan and Sullivan, with fascinating consequences. Madolyn is both vulnerable and a risk taker. Farmiga made me care about her.
"The Departed" is the best movie I have seen this year, and maybe in the last two years. I hope that Scorsese ends his Oscar shutout with this one. If he does it will have been a well deserved victory.