Scorcese creates a whole new classic

Rating: 8/10 (3 November 2006)

The Departed will hands down become an instant classic further positioning director Martin Scorcese in the cinema hall of fame. This is Scorcese's biggest public hit now grossing over 100 million dollars. The cast is brilliant, an ensemble the likes we have yet to see this year. The story is gritty, violent and captivating. Despite a bit of a dragging tempo it only leaves you open to be more blind sided by the shocking twists when they do happen. The climax and the end of the film will literally move you to the edge of your seat as it all boils over. It's a thriller, crime drama, mob story and delivers everything it promises and best of all it seems to be simultaneously a critical and viewer smash success and I predict certain Oscar wins as locked in the bag perhaps even a nomination for long overdue Leonardo DiCaprio. I won't say it's one of my favorite films of the year, in fact I toyed between 8 and 9 but the film has to be given respect and points for it's cast, gritty direction and style while I still sit on top of the opinion that it flows a little slowly and almost predictable at times.
Leonardo DiCaprio sincerely knocks one out of the park as young, if not slightly naive rookie cop Billy Costigan. Despite this huge incredible ensemble cast DiCaprio stands out as really doing an amazing job. Forced undercover in this brutal Boston mob war he struggles on the line between good and evil but holds his moral ground when all is said and done. If DiCaprio doesn't get an Oscar Nod for this portrayal there is something wrong!! Matt Damon plays DiCaprio's counterpart in more ways than one playing slick and dirty cop Colin Sullivan. Whereas DiCaprio is undercover on the mob side, Damon is undercover in the police precinct for the mob. Damon's character is almost the mirror image opposite of everything DiCaprio's character is as they play this cat and mouse game with each other without ever really coming into contact until the final scenes. It's brilliant and wonderfully played out. I found Damon a little much, almost over acting, but still his character was a sleazy bad guy that you definitely detest. And then there is Jack. Honestly...what can you say about Jack Nicholson. The guy is an icon, he's a master, a genius and rumor has it that Scorcese even gave Jack full authority over his lines in the film telling him to go with it...I mean he's Jack!! He plays the head of this crime family Frank Costello and although he is portrayed as the incarnation of evil he doesn't really come across as overtly brutal but a leader nonetheless. He ups the ante to this story by leaps and bounds and DiCaprio and him are brilliant together. Mark Wahlberg plays a smaller supporting role as Detective Dignam, in charge of DiCaprio's undercover work. His role is a brutal, mouthy, loud man who just really wants to get the job done and make sure the undercover work is not being screwed. All in all Wahlberg gets everything he wants but his role is unfortunately small. I think he has really done some terrific work as of lately and this is a great performance by him. And finally the terrific Martin Sheen in an unfortunately small supporting role as Oliver Queenan, the aging detective who convinces DiCaprio to go undercover. Sheen is terrific on screen and could easily hold a leading role even in his aging days but he gets a supporting role that is decent.
If nothing else The Departed has plenty of surprises in store for you. It's not like it has a twist to it...the story is almost predictable but nonetheless you will find yourself shocked by some of the outcomes the scenes involved. Just when you think you're in for a heavy handed drama the guns come out blazing so to speak. If nothing else this could the crime drama of the year considering the slightly disappointing Black Dahlia and Hollywoodland. The Departed is a throwback to the great films of the eighties with hundreds of foul words used, brutally bloody violence, and an almost film noire feel to it. Scorcese has this picture locked up because fans of his say this might be his greatest to date and I say it's absolutely worth seeing for the cast and for the story alone!!! 8.5/10