Martin Scorsese's best work since Goodfellas...

Rating: 10/10 (9 October 2006)

We all hoped, prayed and wished that someday, Martin Scorsese would wonder around familiar territory again with his previous works like Mean Streets, Goodfellas and Casino. Well, it has taken a little while, but he is back on that familiar territory and that its territory that he knows best and loves.
"The Departed" is set in South Boston, where the state police force is declaring war on organised crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob run by gangland chief Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Billy is quickly gaining Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the mob, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in order to save himself.
Scorsese has constructed a work of pure brilliance. Some of his trademarks are all still present here with the at times dizzying camera work and the sharp quick fire editing, which come courtesy from his stalwarts Michael Ballhaus and Thelma Schoonmaker respectfully. William Monahan's script is sharp, quite witty and beautifully paced, but it is the actors who have a field day with his script. You get the feeling at times that the three main leads are all vying for contention. Its extremely difficult to single out an outstanding performance, in fact it would be unfair to do so, as Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon are all on fine form.
It would be unfair also to pick out flaws with this film, but there are two and they are albeit minor. Ray Winstone's (Mr. French) accent is extremely dodgy. I don't care what is said, it is hard for an Englishman to master any type of American accent. Also The Departed is not what you would call Oscar friendly. The Academy does have a tendency to shy away from work of this nature. I sincerely hope they don't. I hope the Academy will have the courage to finally bestow the ultimate accolade to a director who is as diverse as they come. After the body of work Martin Scorsese has made, it is very much overdue.
With those two minor flaws aside, it doesn't affect the outcome of my rating for this gleaming piece of cinema. Quite simply, outstanding. *****