Another Great Film from a Great Director!

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2006)

Just as it was becoming painfully clear that 2006 was one of the worst years for movies in recent memory, along comes a masterpiece like 'The Departed' to freshen things up a bit. This should come as no surprise, however, when one takes a look at the credentials of the film's director: Martin Scorsese. Scorsese is arguably the greatest living filmmaker whose films tend to center on themes dealing with violence, masculinity, and urban alienation. Films like 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', and 'Goodfellas' are among his best work and have represented American cinema at its very best.
After a series of period pieces, such as 'Gangs of New York' and 'The Aviator', Scorsese takes a change of pace with 'The Departed' and goes back to the urban alleys and streets that have been the setting for many of his films. Many fans will no doubt find this to be a welcome 'return to form' for Scorsese, although this is hardly a fair assessment of the director's body of work.
Although the plot has a somewhat labyrinthine structure, the basic premise of 'The Departed' centers around two moles, or 'rats', both of whom are employed by the Boston State Police Department and the Irish mafia. Jack Nicholson, in one of the best performances of his career, plays the notorious mob boss, Frank Costello, who has many friends in high places protecting his every move. Frank is the kind of man who rules his Boston turf with an iron fist, but is capable of mercy and generosity when it suits him. He values loyalty above all else, and if "you'll scratch his back, then he'll scratch yours."
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, a young thug who works his way into the Boston State Police Deparartment and gets a little more than he bargained for: he gets assigned to work undercover as a 'mole' in Frank Costello's gang. The other mole is played by Matt Damon, who also works for the Boston Police but is secretly helping Costello every step of the way.
The brilliance of 'The Departed' lies in its wild energy and fast-paced storytelling. Tight editing and controlled camera-work move the story along at a quick pace while the twists and turns of the plot will leave you on the edge of your seat. Another charm of the film is its somewhat over-the-top sense of violence combined with eccentric dialog and crude humor. While watching 'The Departed', I was reminded of Quentin Tarantino's 'Pulp Fiction' in that both films contain random and brutal scenes of violence that are juxtaposed with long scenes of quirky dialog.
'The Departed' is a remake, or more accurately, a reworking, of the popular Hong Kong produced film, 'Infernal Affairs'. Other than a change of setting, 'The Departed' keeps the basic story intact while modifying everything else to appeal to Western audiences.
With a great director at the helm, 'The Departed' winds up being one of the most wildly entertaining movies in recent years. It is sure to be a big contender come Oscar time and may even score Scorsese his long eluded best director trophy. Everybody is perfectly cast with strong performances from Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Alec Baldwin in particular.
'The Departed' works because it knows how to entertain. Whatever it may lack in thematic content it more than makes up for in entertainment value. Don't skip this film as it is one of the year's best films and deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Rating: 9 out of 10.