Powerful, violent, profane

Rating: 8/10 (10 October 2006)

Great character study of two young state cops, each leading a double life and trying so hard to keep their deceptions undetected. Leinardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon are probably going to be competitors for the best actor Oscar; both gave great performances, DiCaprio in a flashier role, but Damon's controlled intensity was amazing, too. Strong supporting roles, especially by Martin Sheen and, of course, Jack Nicholson, as the most evil guy in the world. I usually find Nicholson to be a distraction, since he's usually called upon to play basically a slightly different version of his crazy-guy role; this time he really submerges into an anything-but-crazy role as mob boss Frank Costello. Savagely bloody, sustained tension; vintage Scorsese, easily his best movie since Goodfellas, and the best American movie of the year.