Not a Bad Film, But Overrated

Rating: 8/10 (1 May 2007)

Over the years, Scorsese has delivered more American classics than any other director. From "Taxi Driver" to "The Aviator," he has always turned in fantastic work. The question is, is the "Departed" fantastic, or is it simply good? I would go with the latter.
If there's one thing that has put a serious dent on the quality of thrillers, it's the cell phone. Instead of a heated chase in which the two men have nowhere to turn, the chased man can now simply call for support on his phone. Suspenseful and intense? Not so much. As far as thrillers go, "The Departed" is a good one. The characters are interesting, the plot moves quickly, and the acting is fantastic.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon both turn in exceptional performances as a sheep in a land filled with wolves and a wolf in sheep's clothing. DiCaprio should have been nominated for an Oscar for his role as the constantly bad luck-ridden Billy. Damon also sets the tone right for the most part as Colin, though I feel that he should have made the role a bit more likable.
The best performance in the film belongs to Jack Nicholson, who plays an intense crime boss with a dirty mouth, eyes like a hawk, and power like that of no other man. It surprises me that he received no nominations, when his work in the film was potent and frighteningly brutal. He deserved the nomination much more than Mark Wahlberg, who does little more than strut around and talk in a thick accent.
These great performers, along with Alec Baldwin and Martin sheen, make the film very entertaining. The script suits the actors well, and is often quite funny. Still, this film is never elevated to the level that Scorsese's past films have been. It is a good movie, and I understand that the Oscar was more of a tribute to Scorsese's career, but the film does not quite measure up as a classic in my book. Better luck next time, Marty.