Never Forget The Departed!

Rating: 10/10 (13 March 2020)

My favourite, of a great list of Scorsese films and what do you know; it's a brilliant remake of a very good Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs. Many who read and write these reviews will know and understand, that more often than not, American remakes of Asian/European films are inferior for a host of reasons; but not always. The Departed is one of those rare birds, whose quality outshines the very worthy original work.
The casting is impeccable. Leonardo DiCaprio as William "Billy" Costigan; has there ever been a more convincing performance of an undercover cop living on the edge? Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan, playing very much against his usual more heroic self, in his cocky, smarmy portrayel of an inside man of the most dangerous type. Who could imagine anyone other than Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello, the ruthless Irish gangland boss with some deep dark secrets of his own. And the lesser lights, Mark Wahlberg very much deserving of his Oscar nomination for his very physical, bullying Dignam. Vera Farmiga's cogent role-playing of Madolyn so persuasive that we can believe the unlikely private relationships she develops with both Costigan and Sullivan. Ray Winstone, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin; the list just goes on. All perfectly cast and repaying us with memorable characters.
Scorsese has created a two and a half hour film that just bristles with suspense and creative, believable twists, that ramp up the thrill levels to a breathless high, before delivering a hugely satisfactory triple play climax, topped off with the symbolic rat running across the Boston Skyline. The pace never slackens and as usual his musical choices are flawless, never failing to enhance the onscreen action.
A number of critics observed that Scorsese's Academy Award for Best Director of The Departed was rather a career acknowledgement than anything else. Don't be fooled. Both Martin Scorsese and his film deserved their oscars. He has created a dazzling, gritty, engrossing gangster thriller that never fails to both surprise and entertain. It's a must see.