It's true. It really is one of Scorses's best

Rating: 10/10 (13 October 2006)

This genuinely is a ten out of ten movie. No exaggeration. From the first frame to the last this screams Oscar at you. Best Actor (presumably Damon, but Di Caprio's role is just as awesome) best supporting actor for Nicholson (no question whatsoever) His rat scene rivals Anthony Hopkins' Fava beans for outrageousness. Best Director (goes without saying) Best movie, best editing for Thelma Shoomaker. Best adapted screenplay. The soundtrack's pretty cool too - even if the use of Comfortably Numb, which I predicted to myself quietly as the scene before it prompted (Was it Van Morrison covering?), was a bit corny.
If there is a weakness it could be the love interest coincidence which I felt was a touch unlikely, but so what I'll forgive that.
The swearing is as good as I've ever seen in a movie. Really, really great F****** swearing. Really great.
The cast is universally magnificent and the scriptwriting is so real it's like...real.
The (many) deaths are executed like you'd expect them to be in real life, no huge contorted death scenes, just wham bam you're dead.
My jaw was on my chest for most of this movie. Scorses regains his best director in Hollywood title. Thank you Marty.