Brilliant Acting, Brilliant Directing---Brilliant Movie

Rating: Null/10 (8 January 2007)

The Departed (2006) Dir. Martin Scorsese by Connor Bailey 9/10
It's a shame that dear old Marty hasn't yet received an Oscar for his good work. I'm sure that he'll be nominated this year, as will the movie (although I'm tied between Marty and Alfonso Cuaron).
Anyway, the Departed is a remake of a Japenese thriller called "Infernal Affairs. This film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon in the leading roles. Jack Nicholson also takes a smaller supporting role as the evil and psychotic mob boss Frank Costello. Damon plays Costello's police informant, while DiCaprio plays exactly the opposite--the police informant inside Costello's outfit.
Both DiCaprio and Damon are charged with finding each other's identities, while Jack does his own thing. Through a series of close calls and wonderfully suspenseful moments, the film builds into a climax that you will still be thinking about after you've left the theater.
As with any Scorsese picture, there is lost of violence, language (which I was a bit turned off by, so call me a wuss if you must), suspense, and, of course, great acting. Nicholson easily delivers a powerhouse performance as Costello. DiCaprio and Damon are on equal footing with Nicholson for an Academy Award nomination. But I have to say that Jack impressed me the most.
Others like Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Mark Whalberg, and Anthony Anderson give great performances as side characters. Whalberg is particularly memorable, and gives a whole new definition to the term "loudmouth".
And finally, onto good ol' Marty Scorsese. One would hope that he gets an Oscar this year. He will certainly be nominated, I'm sure--although, if it comes down between him and Alfonso Cuaron, I hope neither of them win, because I want them both to win equally as much.
If this film is not nominated for best picture, then I swear to God I won't watch another Academy Awards show.