The World Is Full Of Rats.

Rating: 8/10 (10 October 2006)

BEFORE READING AHEAD PLEASE NOTE THIS COMMENT CONTAINS Spoilers !!! As a huge fan of the original Hong Kong Infernal Affairs I had my critic's eye firmly on place during The Departed. Frankly, I did not expect much from Scorsese who - with the exception of the wonderful The Aviator - has been on a downward spiral for many films. Imagine my surprise when The Departed impressed me, impressed me a lot. The story is very similar to the original film and despite my general hatred of Hollywood making a living remaking Asian films (PLEASE tell me no one is redoing the best film of the 21st Century Oldboy???) these days, The Departed is impressive on all counts. Scorsese's direction is masterful, DiCarpio just gets better and better with every film (Scorsese DeNiro of the Noughties?), the editing is Oscar winning and even Damon is bearable for this two and half hour gangster fest. Plus, who cares DeNiro could not do the part of Frank Costello, Nicholson is outstanding.
My only problem with the film is the ending. If you can get passed the very rushed last 20 minutes and even beyond the speedy demise of Damon who can forgive Scorsese for the final "rat" we see on screen? The final shot does not diminish a very good film but why oh why did he do that? I mean as if the audience didn't get the message that the world is full of rats by then! Come on Marty, tell us why?