Directing Expertise And a Phenomenal Cast

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 2018)

Martin Scorcese once said about this movie >>it's the first movie I've made with an actual plot<< (not the actual quote but you get the point) and compared to most other crime films of the 2000s, that's very true. It's complex and every aspect of the plot is displayed in a manner where yes, you understand it, but you're also often enough busy figuring out who knows what (because you the viewer know everything).
What really makes the movie outstanding though is the cast and production. Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg play amazing and the performances of Leo DiCaprio and especially Jack Nicholson are truly impeccable. Not a false note anywhere; I might have given Nicholson the Oscar if I could.
The last (and greatest) aspect of the movie is Martin Scorcese's directing. Just by watching the movie and not even paying attention to what's going on in the story, you see how much of a directing veteran he is. Every shot has a purpose, every line fits perfectly into the scenes. There are so many details that even other great directors don't remotely think about. I've found this kind of attention to an immersive world only with one other man in a similar way: Steven Spielberg.
Don't get me wrong; other directors create immersive worlds and have a wonderful directing style (Fincher, Nolan, you name them) but few do it as seamless and effortless as Scorcese and Spielberg.