Looks good but weak plot

Rating: 6/10 (22 November 2006)

From the beginning, the departed looks like it's going to be a great film. It has a star studded cast, great director, and is well filmed. The film certainly has all the right elements to push every button. So why do I not rate this film highly? Well for starters the whole plot is rather clichéd. Throughout the film you want to scream "its him" with regards to Matt Damon. The number of clues ignored by the rest of the department seem to point to a pink panther film rather than a Scorsese classic. On the other side of the plot Jack Nicholsons character and henchmen seem to be similarly dense. "Hmm we're being betrayed by someone wonder who it could be? Surely not that recently enrolled ex-cop"
You feel for Leonardo di Caprio's predicament, but wonder if he is in so much trouble why he can't just skip town. There are so many better written films around nowadays, particularly by the likes of Scorsese that you wonder why more money couldn't have been spent on the storyline of this film. If you're looking for a hammy Scorsese film why not try the Godfather Part 3 instead.