Greating writing, great acting

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2006)

I haven't liked all of Scorsese's films (such as Gangs of New York), but The Departed is a clear winner. Great writing and great acting usually produces a good film, and the results are very evident here. DiCaprio gives an Oscar worthy performance as an undercover cop in a situation he desperately wants out of. Definitely the best male performance I've seen this year. Matt Damon is also very good as the bad cop, and Nicholson gives his normal over-the-top performance as a mob boss. The editing is very effective, cutting between DiCaprio's and Damon's intertwined situation. No doubt a finely crafted near-masterpiece...