Infernally good

Rating: 9/10 (2 November 2006)

First things first  if you've not seen it, see Infernal Affairs (just the first one  no real need for the sequels). It doesn't matter if you see it before or after The Departed, but you should see it all the same. It is not quite the same film (with, for me, the biggest difference being in the interpretation of Damon's character) and is excellent.
So, that out of the way, The Departed: what a great film! A top, top, top flight cast, with a top director and a top idea  as a cynic, for me it was set up to be a turkey, but luckily they got it right. Scorsese's pacing and control are spot on, Nicholson seethes and explodes as only Jack can, Damon is cold and controlled, Alec Baldwin (world's greatest actor, according to Kim Jong Il) is superbly fat and sweaty, Wahlberg is intense and dislikeable (in a good way) and Di Caprio gives, maybe, his best performance since What's Eating Gilbert Grape? managing to convey the desperation and isolation that Costigan was feeling without resorting to melodrama.
It is a long film but never drags and, despite having already seen Infernal Affairs first, still felt fresh and gripped me to the end. This is quality cinema, of a style that you don't get much of these days (that's right kids  no wire work or chicks doing kung-fu) and deserves to be seen and applauded.