Overflowing with performances.."The Departed" is one of the best films of the year.

Rating: Null/10 (12 October 2006)

As with most Martin Scorsese films are:beautifully edited,brutally violent sequences,brimming with life even as bodies are hitting the floor in pool of blood and gore,all awash in a blaring Rolling Stones tune where the musical selection in either Scorsese movie is usually The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter",or some other signature tune with have the musical selections of either Tony Bennett,Dean Martin or perhaps Frank Sinatra. This is always the case in any mob-gangland crime drama that is coming from any Martin Scorsese movie.
His newest venture,"The Departed" is basically the Americanized version of the 2002 Hong Kong hit "Internal Affairs,"-but this remake of that movie is pure vintage Scorsese at his finest and one of the best films of the year. This comes from a veteran director who knows his territory-who has made a brilliant study and a magnificent film about Boston cops and mobsters(this time around its the Irish mafia instead of the Italian syndicate)with dazzlingly rich performances from a top notch stellar cast and an ambiance that screams Scorsese's typical cultural authenticity. And this is coming from a director who is known for gritty crime dramas,and his returns to that familiar side of the mean streets is a welcome sight. Leonardo DiCaprio,reuniting with the director for a third film following "Gangs Of New York" and "The Aviator",stars as Billy Costigan,a Massachusetts State Police detective who has gone undercover to take down syndicate crime boss and head of the Boston Irish mafia Frank Costello(Jack Nicholson, in a devlish tour de force performance that is worth seeing and the return of the Jack Nicholson everybody loves--crazy,out of control and always doing the unexpected). Matt Damon,meanwhile stars as the crime boss'protégé,Colin Sullivan,who worked his way up the state police ranks to become staff sergeant of the special investigations unit. The two function in a perfect parallel until it starts to become clear that Costello's gang is staying one step ahead of the police,even while the police seem to know too much about Costello's operations. Never the use of cell-phone text messaging seemed so sinister.
And so Billy and Colin are each asked to sniff out the rat(or stoolie)in their midst-to seek out each other. It's a nice touch that the two actors(DiCaprio and Damon)so strongly resemble each other,with those crystal blue eyes and a look that can be considered boyish or fiendish,depending on your view or perspective. However,Billy and Colin are on two sides of the same coin,both raised in South Boston,trying to escape their lineage of Southie Irish trash but having chosen opposing routes.(The screenwriter William Monahan grew up in the city of Boston and draws strongly from his roots. He absolutely knows the people and rhythms,not to mention the mean streets of it too. Scorsese shot much of the picture on location in Boston and also in New York,and that actors Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg are natives of the city too--they were born and raised in Boston. If you listen to the accents,at least they got it right.)
The movie itself delivers a clever but thrilling moment in each scene and this what makes the film a standout,especially with the performances from the actors. It's movie that grabs your attention and from there it never let's go. "The Departed" is a game of cat-and-mouse and goes very well with the shocking climax that will have you on the edge of your seat. The brash energy and breathtaking suspense keeps the film on focus throughout. Among the cast members here,Mark Wahlberg is eloquently brilliant as the surly sergeant in the brash detective unit,and basically steals just about every scene he's in; Alec Baldwin as the jacked-up police captain,is just as darkly funny. On the other side,the under-appreciated British character actor Ray Winstone is a force of nature,as always,playing Costello's top thug. Actress Vera Farmiga provides a touch of warmth as a police psychiatrist and the only woman among the main characters-though it is a massive plot contrivance to have her character get involved with both Billy and Colin. Anthony Anderson is along for the ride as one of the detective working under the supervision of Colin. But mostly the film belongs to Jack Nicholson who basically commands every scene and most of all do whatever he's involved. Their work and that of Martin Sheen as the under pressure level handed captain of the department who places Billy undercover,protects his identity and helps him keep sane before his cover is completely blown. At a running time of 154 minutes,this is a movie that is riveting from start to finish with lots of soul searching before reaching its climatic rooftop conclusion. One of the best of the fall batch of the movies to be out this year that stands among the crowd,and for director Martin Scorsese,the Oscar for Best Director will come at a greater time than now for this brilliant masterpiece.