Good movie but overrated!!!

Rating: 6/10 (20 April 2008)

Martin Scorsese is one of the finest directors and seeing this movie it feels great that he hasn't lost his touch. But I think this movie is only half as good as his previous works. Definitely the year's best, considering the crap that is coming out of Hollywood these days. Screenplay is great but the setting subdued. I couldn't think of Nicholson's character as more than a street thug while he is supposed to be some kind of a notorious mafia. There are moments which are electrifying...like the one where Caprio's character gets shot...not to mention the layered story telling and the complexities of characters. As for the performances, the only one that stands really tall is that of Caprio's. I never thought much of him as an actor but after seeing this movie I believe given a right part he is one of the finest actors of his generation. His character is most complex and he delivers without any gimmicks and heavy dialog.
As for others, Nicholson resorts to his usual gimmicks to give punch to his character and I found him more caricaturish than frightening. Damon is a good actor but his character was beyond his capabilities...he doesn't look as mean as the character is meant to be. I personally feel both Nicholson and Damon are miscasted (probably just because of the star power). As for Wahlberg's character, much has been written. If shouting some well written lines with the F... word and being tight face makes him a good actor then I differ on that. John Sheen was good and Alec Baldwin just OK.