Scorsese Needs His Oscar ... and This is Worthy

Rating: 10/10 (21 October 2006)

"The Departed" -- what an awesome *expletive* movie! Yeah, it's another of those cop vs. bad guy vs. cop movies, but this is probably the best interpretation of that style of film-making that has come out in years, perhaps even decades. It's gritty, and vulgar, and violent, and yes, a bit overacted. But it's fraggin' entertaining, I tell you what! This film has so many great elements. First, and most importantly, it's a great movie to watch. It's very rare for a movie to be entertaining through-and-through, "The Departed" pulls it off. Most movies make me look at my watch several times, as if saying "um, are they getting near the end?" Not "The Departed"! Most of the actors play their characters slightly over-the-top. Matt Damon's vulgar turncoat cop is excruciatingly squeaky-clean. Alec Baldwin's vulgar police captain is excruciatingly by-the-book. Martin Sheen's vulgar police lieutenant is excruciatingly trusting, loyal, and competent. Mark Wahlberg's vulgar sergeant is excruciatingly tough, combative, and vulgar (yeah, I used "vulgar" twice, and for good reason). And Jack, what can one say about Jack? His portrayal as crime lord Frank Costello is both over-the-top and subtle, for he really sells the idea of a powerful crime boss realizing his empire is falling apart.
Now normally one would see these exaggerated characters as a negative in films, but in this case it works brilliantly. The film's core is Leonardo DiCaprio's conflicted undercover cop, Billy Costigan. He plays this very straight, and does a great job. What we are seeing is the world through Costigan's eyes, a regular guy's view of the ridiculousness of office politics in crime and law enforcement. When you're an undercover cop, the straight-laced police hierarchy (Baldwin and Sheen) seems comic. When you've overcome a tough childhood, phony toughness (Wahlberg) seems ridiculous. When you've struggled to make it in life, those who've had it easy but act otherwise (Damon) appear pathetic. When you're an honest guy thrown into a world of crime, the paranoia and wrath (Nicholson) seems otherworldly. By having these supporting actors put that bit of "top spin" on their characters, it gives us the viewpoint of the main character.
This movie (as also suggested) is quite vulgar. Expletives tossed out at every turn, the petty (and not so petty) bickering and demeaning that fills up this world. This movie is *highly* quotable (something not said about too many movies today). Some of the lines are hysterical! Of course, this is Martin Scorsese, so the film is quite violent. But these comical interchanges between bitter rivals keeps it light, you're not drowning in a sea of blood but are peppered with comedy amongst the carnage.
The writing, of course, is really top-notch. This is a clear case where the writing makes the movie. The writers did a great job keeping the plot complex and surprising, yet intimate. The banter between characters is superb. The plot itself is not wholly original, so you may think "I've seen this before." I suggest you pay attention to how the pieces are put together: this is more of a character study than an action film, although there's plenty of the latter. And they did a beautiful job making an ending unlike most films of this genre. You do want to watch it all the way through. I don't know what the qualifications are for an Original Screenplay Oscar, if this fits the rules then these guys should surely be nominated.
The soundtrack is also terrific. I don't know who's doing that Irish-ska-punk sound heard at various points, but I'd love get one of their CDs.
I would love to see Martin Scorsese get his Oscar. I'm not entirely sure if the Academy will give it to him for "The Departed". Personally, I think it's a great movie, well-crafted, and Oscar-worthy, but I could see how the voters may be put off by the violence, vulgarity, and over-the-top acting by the various leads.
However, if the rest of this season is like the season that has already passed, full of uninteresting crapola, "The Departed" should be a shoo-in for at least a nomination.
10 out of 10, a ranking I haven't used for many movies in 2006.
Barky