A real gem and simply brilliant...but don't forget the original!

Rating: 8/10 (13 October 2006)

Based on the Hong Kong masterpiece 'Infernal Affairs', Martin Scorsese delivers what is an instant classic with profundity and after a few misguided films (such as 'Bringing out the Dead') Scorsese is back on top form with 'The Departed'. From the opening frames of Jack Nicholson and the bone-crunching chords of 'The Rolling Stones', we can see Scoresese's talent and dexterity shines through at the highest level and you know this is a ride that will thrill you and keep you attentive until it fades to black.
Set in present day Boston, with Irish gangsters dominating the state, 'The Departed' tells the tale of Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) undercover and assigned to infiltrate the mob run by crime lord Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). While Costigan gains Costello's trust more and more and enters into the murky crime-world, we see Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a rising Police officer through the ranks and a protégé of Costello, acting as an informant for the crime-syndicate. As we see each character getting deeper and deeper into their double life, it soon becomes apparent to the mob and the Police that a rat is in their midst, which places danger on Costigan and Sullivan's lives, who must race to expose the enemy's identity to save himself.
'The Departed' has a multitude of depth to it and is able to deal with a myriad of themes such as loyalty, betrayal and relationships. We are also able to see Nietzsche philosophy of good and evil within each character as a prominent theme emerge. These are all evident throughout 'Infernal Affairs' too, however are presented slightly more subtly. 'The Departed' is not flawless and although these may be few, it is these that separate this from 'Infernal Affair', which was there first and with better results.
William Monahan provides the script and with the tame and meandering 'Kingdom of Heaven' in his past now, Monahan screen writes the western take on the emotional 'Infernal Affairs' , without a dependency on its predecessor. Monahan does not restrict himself to what is in the original and is able to add a new hemisphere of further character and story development with an explosive and stinging dialogue, whether it be from Jack Nicholson's darkly wit or Mark Walberg's punchy, foul-mouth.
There are buckets of gore to secure a quite just 18 certificate and it is not this that Scorsese uses to create high amounts of drama. It is well-directed scenes with little dialogue and it is these that produce a dynamic tension that is only comparable to that of Hitchcock.
As far as the casting goes, it seems as though everyone brought their A game to the film. DiCaprio continues to show us no end to his ability as an actor as we see his character slowing descending to a breaking point. Matt Damon is also able to give a highly emotional and complex performance, while Nicholson is able to bring characteristics of his role as 'The Joker' and reach's unprecedented heights of evil with what is undoubtedly one of his finest performances. With an equally glamorous and star filled supporting cast we see talent and charisma ooze through from the likes of Ray Winstone and Martin Sheen. Vera Farmiga is a wonderful actress who brings a mix of sex-appeal and intelligence to her role. Although Walberg's performance is one of the finest and most memorable of the film, it almost feels as though he creates a slight obstacle between what should have been a more emotional and father-son type relationship between DiCaprio and Sheen's characters.
Leaving those unnecessary questions behind such as 'Is it Scorsese's year at the Oscars?' and watching 'The Departed' with an open mind and heart, you will forget some of the minor flaws, shout at the screen as you are rooting for both DiCaprio and Damon and love every minute of the next best thing since Goodfellas!