overrated and below Scorsese standards

Rating: 4/10 (26 February 2007)

I rented this film to watch on Oscar night. Anticipating a classic Scorses film I was let down. While my opinion of Martin Scorses is and remains high I found too many issues to enjoy this film.
Casting: I found the cast to be odd. Matt Damon is a perennial stiff and lived up to that rap again. Baldwin and Sheen are C list celebs and seemed more of a favor to someone that anything. I thought Nicholson was excellent along with Decaprio and Wahlberg. I didn't get the point of Vera Farmiga at all. I still cant believe that Scorsese cast this movie. It seems like this cast was put upon him.
Screenplay: What a mess. What was all the cop killing at the end. Yeah that was pretty believable. What should have been a tightrope was more like a loose fishing line. I didn't buy the story almost from the start. While the movie should have focused on the gangsters we are treated to Matt and Vera playing house much of the time. This may be one of the worst screenplays of the last ten years in a highly acclaimed film. It was truly a mess.
Acting: The problems started with the casting and continued with some poor performances. Matt is the new Harrison Ford. A one trick pony with almost no acting range. Vera should go back to TV bits. Sheen, Bladwin overact constantly. Jack was well Jack. I think the biggest problem for me was not concentrating on the gangsters more. I just don't find Damon, Sheen, Farmigo, Baldwin very interesting.
As you can tell I wasn't impressed with the movie and I really wanted to be. I was concerned when I saw that Matt Damon was in the lead role. I really felt that Scorsese was looking for cash/fame/Oscar and took the bait. One of the old sayings is the masses are asses and I think this films popularity and awards confirm this.
Wait for this clunker to show up on HBO or Showtime.