Scorsese + DiCaprio = Amazing... Three Times Over

Rating: 10/10 (11 April 2007)

So, I've seen this movie for the second time, and it is still as effective as the 1st time I saw it, about 3 months ago. This is a recommended watch to all fans of either : Martin Scorsese, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Great Gangster Film or Great Cinema in General. In Martin Scorsese's 3rd film of this decade and 3rd straight film starring Leonardo DiCaprio he delivers only as he could. Leo and him have shown that they are an unstoppable force in the film industry, throwing out their (most likely) 3rd straight Best Picture contender. William Monahan does an excellent job adapting this film from the original Japanese films the Internam Affair Trilogy. He did such a great job recreating this film for America and other audiences alike. The most unlikely of events happened, the audience and critics alike loved this remake, unlike so many other films that failed to reach that goal. Combining the best of the best from the trilogy, he creates 1 of the Best Adapted Screenplays of the Year. Surprisingly this is only his 2nd screenplay written in his career (the 1st being Kingdom of Heaven). Though the fact that this film contains vituperation, it is astounding the potency is not lost or even degraded in the process.
Mr. Scorsese's direction of this transcending cinematic masterpiece. He has total control of such a mob-thriller for the 1st time since Goodfellas and boy does he make it count. With perfectly placed violence, excellent pacing and fantastic scenes of intensity, it is no wonder why he is 1 of the moguls of Direction, for last generation, this generation and hopefully for the next generation to come. This is probably the 1st time I have ever mentioned this but, Ellen Lewis has done an amazing job casting the perfect actors for the roles they were placed. The best cast I have come across in a long time, and all thanks to Madame Lewis. After re watching this film I finally see what was so good about Mark Wahlberg. He does a really good job, but still, is #3 or #4 from the film, in my opinion. Though he does a great job with his anger and rage it is more surprising that in his midst of rage he is hilarious as well. The perfect combination, glad to see others enjoy his performances as well. Vera Farmiga is having her breakthrough year with 2 great performances, the other being in Running Scared. She is the extra subplot in the film, and could've been left out, but without her the emotional longevity is much less effective. She has great facial expressions and good use of tone in her lines. Nothing too spectacular, and in my personal opinion, she was better in her other film of 2006. Matt Damon, everyones precursor for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the summer, and now, is not in anyone's mind or on anyone's lists. Sadly overshadowed by 2 or 3 other men in the film did nothing for his performance. He was good, great portrayal of emotions, fantastic important scenes of tension, but for some reason, I felt it could've been stronger. Not saying he doesn't do a good job, but he could've expressed more rage in certain scenes, and more depression is other crucial scenes as well. Anyways, despite being under minded throughout the whole Award Season, he still her 1 of the better performances of the year. The funniest performance of the film easily comes to Ray Winstone who is also having a great year, starring in Breaking and Entering, The Propostion and the TV version of Sweeney Todd. He does a great job as Mr.French, delivering every scene with either a great punchline or a wonderful scene of emotion or action. Jack Nicholson is the most experienced actor of the lot, the Grandfather of Cinema some say. His performance was no less that excellent, playing Frank Costello a modern bad guy and a memorable character for years to come. He stole a lot of the scenes he was in and rightfully so. The fact that his performance was able to convince many that he was the character is fantastic. Many solid scenes, some funny, some intense but mostly all effective. Leonardo DiCaprio, the best performance in the film without a doubt, proving he will be 1 of the Best Actors in years to come. Teaming up with Martin Scorsese is the best thing he's ever done, and it has made him a sensational success. His performance is 1 to be reckoned with at the Oscars, due to the fact that he massively exceeds expectations, and if it weren't for Forest Whittaker, he would quite possibly be the #1 contender for the coveted prize.
I am definitely looking forward to The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt when it is released in 2008, marking ScoCaprio's 4th collaboration this decade. The film editing of this movie is very significant in the pacing of the film, seeing as the 150 minutes passed by seamlessly due to it. The score is very beautiful, but yet, does not make my list for Best Original Score, though it is receiving some very nice praises among critics and "Buzzers" alike. The cinematography is very nice, but nothing to spectacular. Very important in some scenes but not important in a lot of them. The make-up, though minor, is not insignificant in the least. Majorly important in fight scenes, it does what it needed to do to create the utmost effective effect.