This movie's ma should have taken Plan B

Rating: 5/10 (11 January 2012)

Early on, Mark Wahlberg mocks Leonardo DiCaprio, "Don't you know any Shakespeare?" Scorsese definitely knows Shakespeare, and tries to make a twist out of the classic tragic ending "everybody dies". The final shot is a rat scampering in front of the Massachusetts State House. This blatant symbolism is nothing less than the punchline to a bad joke.
"The Departed" is a classic double-agent flick, but one without any class. All the characters are double-crossers, even the ones who aren't, and they glide through their conflicts with dumb, irish luck. Unlike other such films, there's no sense of glory or betrayal - nothing for an audience to cling to. The "villain" is losing his taste for crime; the undercover cop carries out his mission not for justice, but to get his civilian liberty back; and the undercover mole doesn't care about anything but getting his dick wet and keeping his head above water.
Despite their lukewarm characters, Leonardo DiCaprio (who I normally hate) and Jack Nicholson give outstanding performances - and watching them is what makes this movie worth watching at all. DiCaprio downplays his anxiety at being a fake criminal with expert grace and subtlety. Jack is ever cool and commanding - a prince among thugs. Watch for his trademark speak-singing.