Scorsese does it again

Rating: 9/10 (25 February 2007)

Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Whalberg are among an all-star in one of the best gangster flicks in years. The preview is at times confusing, especially because in the quick shots Damon and Dicaprio almost look like the same person. Dicaprio is Billy Costigan, a trainee cop who is approached by two cops (Martin Sheen and Mark Whalberg in his first Oscar nominated performance) with an offer. He will go undercover in the gang of Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) to infiltrate and bring him down once and for all. At the same, one of Frank Costello's men, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is infiltrating the police and has just become a detective.
Each scene is as entertaining, thorough, and well-written as the next, and you can tell Scorsese really pushed himself here to really engage the viewer. There is a good balance of dialogue and violence, and when the violent scenes come they are truly eye-popping. The language is rough at times, but needed and welcome.
The only reason why I do not give this movie a straight A is the ending. Without giving anything the way, it is quite abrupt and almost cartoonish.
Overall, this is worth at least two viewings, and possibly worth being in your DVD collection. It is also worthy of multiple Oscars.