Scorcese ceases to score

Rating: 1/10 (3 November 2006)

Do not be deceived by favorable reviews.
This is a bad movie from a director who has long ago lost his edge.
It is a naked king's clothes, the Jonestown cool-aid, an Iraqi WMD, Iranian uranium for peaceful purposes only...all hype, no substance.
A suicidal Scorsese confided in friends in 1980 that Raging Bull would be his last great film; he was not far off. King of Comedy was great. In a vacuum, Goodfellas was also exceptional...but, if you think Goodfellas was on par with Scorecese's 1970s triumphs then you should watch (or re-watch) Mean Streets, Who's that Knocking at my Door, and Italianamerican. Goodfellas is a big budgeted, sleek production that rehashes these earlier classics.
Which leads us to The Departed.
What is wrong with Scorsese? Has he developed dementia? Does he have permanent writer's block? Has his obsessive-compulsive disorder gotten the best of him, again? Why has he lost the precious ability to be artistic and original?
In The Departed, the best Scorsese can do is abscond core themes from other great movies faster than Winona Ryder can stuff away apparel at Saks.
The Departed, itself a remake of a recognized foreign classic (Marty, didn't you learn anything from Cape Fear?), grabs from far better films like
Reservoir Dogs (e.g., the rat/informer)
Donnie Brosco (e.g., the undercover cop in too deep)
Mystic River (e.g., the gritty & violent underbelly of Boston)
See these excellent movies and identify others that Scorsese has rubbed his dirty hands all over.
Hey Marty, my version of The Departed has the Tigers' Kenny Rogers shaking your hand and leaving with enough smudge to pitch a few good ones, (at least until Tony LaRussa gets a look).