A Rare Hollywood Remake That Outshines The Original In All Aspects

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2020)

Helmed by a master filmmaker in complete control of his craft, fuelled by a razor-sharp script that packs armour-piercing dialogues, and further bolstered by a star-studded ensemble that fires on all cylinders, The Departed is one rare Hollywood remake that outshines its original in all aspects, and ranks amongst the sharpest, slickest & most sophisticated examples of its genre.
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film marks the 3rd collaboration between Scorsese & Leonardo DiCaprio and finds the duo working in better harmony than ever before. It is fast, it is foul-mouthed, it is furiously paced & it is frenetically thrilling. Easily the most entertaining film of Scorsese's career until then, the story exudes an unbridled energy that's unlike Scorsese's works yet exhibits his trademarks throughout.
What makes The Departed so gripping & entertaining is that it never stops to take a breather and is always on the move. Several subplots are at play and it's all headed in the same direction at the same pace. DiCaprio impresses with another calculated input, Matt Damon is excellent as well, Martin Sheen & Mark Wahlberg are in prime form, and yet all of them are overshadowed by Jack Nicholson's formidable & show-stealing act.
A dynamic blend of kinetic direction, explosive screenplay, energetic camerawork, cut-throat editing, breakneck pace, lively soundtrack & outstanding performances, The Departed is powerhouse storytelling that deftly merges style & substance into an expletive extravaganza that will delight both Scorsese fans & causal filmgoers. One of the best films of its year, one of Scorsese's finest, and one of the greatest remakes in existence, The Departed is genre filmmaking at its most vicious.