By far and away Scorsese's best movie since Goodfellas. A masterpiece. ******(out of five)

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 2006)

Based on the enjoyable, if flawed, Asian film Infernal Affairs Scorsese and screenwriter William Moynahan expand on that films neat premise and where that was a cops and robbers thriller here Scorsese has fashioned a gangster epic almost on a par with Goodfellas. Speaking of Goodfellas, this is easily Scorsese's best film since that 1990 masterpiece. Its as if Scorsese has rediscovered his youth with this film its sparky energy and style resembling Mean Streets. The acting as well as the directing and screen writing is outstanding. But what would you expect from a cast that includes: Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and Ray Winstone. As for Oscars, personally I think it shows the idiocy of the awards that Scorsese who is undoubtedly one of the greatest directors of all time has never won an Oscar and the likes of Ron Howard has.So he probably won't win this year either. Nicholson may(deservedly) get nominated for best supporting actor but even though DiCaprio and Damon are awesome in this movie, they probably won't get nominated. But its Marty, Jack, Leo etc that will have the last laugh as I feel in twenty years time people will still be talking about this movie. Jack and Marty quite possibly the greatest actor and director of their eras have finally made a film together and they can add it to their already massive respective lists of masterpieces. ***** (out of five)