Nice action film, but not much more

Rating: 4/10 (17 November 2006)

Scorsese does a good job in making a sassy action film, but the story line is not incredibly sophisticated. There are too many "main persons" involved in the plot, and the dynamics between them are more sketched. The different events are loosely connected, and one gains the impression that the film just moves from one setting to the next without any good story underneath of it. Additionally, once scene can be seen as condescending towards other cultures, when Costello emphasizes three times towards foreign criminals how "things are done here", in the States -- like, we are gangsters, but we still have a better culture. Poor is also the way Scorsese puts the only women into place -- even though being a psychologist, and in touch with the key persons, she remains passive throughout the movie. One can only think, how would that be if the role was played by a guy? On the positive side, however, the film has some great acting to offer. Especially DiCaprio sticks out and really being Colin Sullivan, authentic to the smallest detail. Vera Farmiga, within her role, also plays wonderful, and Jack Nicholson is in his best as a bastard. So, four points for that, but to be a really good movie, but a lot is missing for it to be a really outstanding movie.