A heartfelt modern masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2006)

Throughout the ages, a single question has been troubling film viewers worldwide: "How is it possible that such a visionary and immensely talented director as Martin Scorsese has yet to win an Oscar?". This question is provoked anew, with new heat and fervor, with the release of Scorsese's new love child, The Departed. Will The Departed finally be the film for the bushy eyebrowed maestro to take home his much deserved golden statuette? It's hard to determine, since the Academy has shown itself to be considerably impartial to his past masterpieces, such as Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. But does Scorsese deserve to take home an Oscar along with the inevitable critical acclaim this time round? The answer of course, is nothing less than a resounding yes.
In his latest heartfelt masterpiece, Scorsese lights up with storytelling flair and passion unseen for decades, unleashing one of his most powerful and affecting films yet. After a period of trying new things and exploring new vicinities, Scorsese seems to have returned to what he knows best - the streets, this time incarnated in a contemporary Boston mob setting (which makes for a slightly amusing update from Scorsese's usual mobster flicks with the addition of frequent cell phones and text messaging in the mix). The trademark musing Catholic overtones and brutal violence are both on display as usual here; in fact as well as his strongest, this may well be Scorsese's bloodiest picture for years. But rather than sinking to the lengths of most typical gorefests, the violence serves only to amplify the edgy and intense mood of the film, driving home its emotional points in a way which has seemed lost to Hollywood of late. Expect to cringe frequently, not just because of the pain inflicted, but due to the emotional resonance which ensues.
The storyline may seem a bit convoluted at times, detailing the lives of a policeman who infiltrates his way into the mob in order to act as a mole for the police force, and a fellow officer who is bought out by the mob, acting as a mole for them. However, the simply astonishing screenplay by William Monahan handles the tricky material with ease, as well as working in humour, emotional resonance, and a slew of quotable lines the likes of which have not been seen for years. Backing up this incredible script is a terrific score from the always reliable Howard Shore, as well as Scorsese's usual excellent taste in classic rock numbers, including the film's reoccurring theme, a strangely catchy mix of Irish shanty style music with heavy metal.
While known for extracting extraordinary performances from his actors, once again, Scorsese has truly outdone his reputation here, as the star-studded ensemble cast delivers a combined effort which will truly knock any viewer flat, with simply superb performances from Matt Damon, a surprisingly feisty and memorable Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin and newcomer Vera Farminga. Special acclaim should be given to the iconic Jack Nicholson giving his most engaging and charismatic performance in years as a ruthless mob head, and surprise standout Leonardo DiCaprio, blowing away any past work with a stunningly affecting and emotional performance. Though awards could easily and justifiably be awarded to any cast member, DiCaprio manages to stand out not from his star status but from his simmering performance in a cast of outstanding performers - an impressive feat indeed.
All in all, for those not deterred by brutal violence and frequent profanity, The Departed should be considered something of a must-see. Don't skip out, for fear of passing by one of the most remarkable screenplays in years, a stunning cast of flooring performances, and a veteran filmmaker re-igniting his past fervor with a simply marvelous film. The Departed is down, dirty, brutal, intense, heartfelt and hits home with an unforeseeable emotional impact - don't miss it.
-10/10