tough guys shouting profanities with an intriguing plot

Rating: 9/10 (22 November 2007)

Do you want to see a movie with cops and bad guys (and there is certainly some overlap between the two)? Then watch this movie.
The best part of this movie is the intriguing story line that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the movie. In summary, the cops have planted "a rat" (DiCaprio) in the criminal organization led by Nicholson. But Nicholson has his own "rat" inside the police force (Damon). To make things more interesting there are also "rats" for the FBI, and both Damon and DiCaprio fall for the same woman. This then all plays out like a bloody game of chess where at the end both "kings" die.
This is a star-studded movie where most of the actors do very well, especially DiCaprio and Damon. I found Sheen's Boston accent convincing and Nicholson of course does his thing. Some times I got the impression that there was a bit of competition going on between the actors. Like, who can play the toughest guy.
The weakest point of the movie was the psychologist who is torn between DiCaprio and Damon. The speed at which she falls for the convict (as far as she knows) DiCaprio seems unprofessional and unrealistic. There is never a real confrontation between DiCaprio and Damon over her as one might expect, but the documents that DiCaprio gives to her (not to be opened until something happens to him) end up being Damon's downfall.