The rat symbolises obviousness!

Rating: 9/10 (20 April 2020)

"The Departed" is a 2006 crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. As the annual birthday feature I decided on Scorsese's mid two thousand gem. It's a rewatch for me, as I already watched it back in November of 2017 and I still can feel how much this day has impacted me and my always developing taste in films. It's Scorsese, isn't that enough said? While there also many people who just don't resonate with his films, I'm definitely considering myself a great admirer of his work. I always knew that when Scorsese makes a film it's gonna be nothing short of cinematic art. This one's not quite different. First of all, he assembled one of the greatest casts and uses extremely talented actors even in the smallest roles. From terrific central performances by DiCaprio and Damon, there's an absolutely crazy performance by Jack Nicholson who dominates every single scene he's in. This man is without a doubt one of the most talented actors of all time and appearing in this film only confirms his status as an absolute legend. The supporting contributions by Sheen, Farmiga and Wahlberg are also not to bee scoffed at and also on an tremendously genius level. As to expect from a Scorsese feature, the whole final product is pure art by all accounts. Based on the Chinese classic feature "Mou Gaan Dou (Infernal Affairs)" he managed to relocate the story in the wonderful and brutal streets of Boston and it doesn't lack the tension a film of this genre needs. The story is without a doubt a masterful construct that even more masterfully combines its plot lines with such unique brilliance. It's basically a simple idea elaborated to such a sophisticated and packing plot. Two moles from two different parties try to identify each other all the while trying not to be uncovered. This duality is kept until the very end and even when the film already starts with this specific feeling of threat, it's becoming increasingly more and more as the film goes on. Just when you thought you've seen it all, Scorsese doubles it and blows your mind again. The character constellation is what makes this formula work out so extremely well. From start to finish it's not one hundred percent sure who's a friend and who's a foe, everyone has their own secrets and hidden role. Who can you trust? While we as the audience know about some characters and their role in this construct, we're still surprised nevertheless about some revelations. The triangular relationship between the two moles and the same woman is only one of the weak spots about this whole concept of trust and paranoia. The runtime might seem a little long, but in direct comparison to some of the director's other works, he uses every single second wisely and actually never slows it down or makes it boring. The tension doesn't decline once and until the shocking ending, had me on the edge of my seat. It wouldn't work out though if it wasn't for the ingenious cinematography and brilliant editing that create this packing atmosphere in the first place. All in all, this film is hands down one of the best thriller of the two thousands and effortlessly ranks among my favourite Scorsese flicks. It's an interesting gangster take with enough shocking twists and unraveled secrets that keep the film from getting boring, not even once it made me lose attention. In the end, nobody wins in this merciless game of trust and I think that's the crushing message behind it that makes it so subliminally epic. Well crafted, well acted and just highly enjoyable to witness. One of his best, that's for sure, but some other films of his filmography even better than this one. To conclude my review with the words of Ralph Wiggum: The rat symbolizes obviousness!