Goodfellas influenced the 90's, The Departed redefines contemporary cinema

Rating: 10/10 (18 November 2006)

Martin Scorcese has had a virtuosic and triumphant career in film making. With Scorcese's trademark being social and political overtones, uncompromising visions of violence and complex characters, it is palpable to see that The Departed is no exception to his rules. Underneath this vicious facade of guns and profanity beats the heart of a jaded beast that contradicts morality and identity. At first sight The Departed may feel clichéd and formulaic ,however, it is often expressed with an indefinable depth and nuance that causes the film to transcend. The Departed also retains a unique status in cinema, for it's ambiguity and denouement. Conformity certainly isn't in Scorcese's repertoire, the viewer is consistently subjected to graphic violence and explicit coarse language however, this is not a criticism it is in fact a complement that immortalizes my admiration for this masterpiece.