Scorcese Is Back Where He Belongs

Rating: 10/10 (29 October 2006)

Last night, I sat in a dark theater, thrilled to see the words, "Warner Bros. Pictures Presents" come onto the screen. I have been a Scorcese fan for as long as I can remember, but this was the first time I had ever witnessed one of his brilliant films on the big screen.
For starters, let me say that this is the best film that I have seen this year, and I find it sad that it comes so late. There have been no films that have really blown me away this year, and it's already October.
But it was worth the wait. I was blown away by the cast members' performances, especially those of Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin are fantastic in their roles as Oliver Queenan and Ellerby, respectively. Jack Nicholson plays Frank Costello the only way Jack Nicholson could play a villain, violent, vulgar and insane. And under Martin Scorcese's direction, he becomes the incarnation of evil.
The plot is a basic cops-and-robbers tale that makes itself complex, gripping and amazing all at the same time. Frank Costello (Nicholson) is the one man you don't want to meet if you ever find yourself visiting Boston. He's flashy and dangerous, and keeps all together apparently, as he's never been caught for his illegal activity. And there's reason for that: He has a mole working as a police officer in the State Police (a "Statie" in Boston street slang). The young man who tips Costello off is Colin Sullivan (Damon), who was just a kid when he began working for Costello.
Of course, there has to be a good cop. That's where Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) comes in. He has the task of going undercover as a member of Costello's crew.
And so begins the intensity of "The Departed." I can not give away any of the plot because it is just too good. Mark Wahlberg and Vera Farmiga also deliver solid performances. Martin Scorcese is back where he belongs directing gangster movies, and it shows: The film is packed with Scorcesean violence, heavy profanity and unbelievabely intense scenes. It's gripping, depressing and beautiful. It's the best film of 2006.