Red Meat for Oscar

Rating: 7/10 (1 September 2008)

Martin Scorsese's blood-splattering story of organized crime and cell-phones, in Boston, Massachusetts. Mainly, it involves two infiltrators: Leonardo DiCaprio (as Billy Costigan Jr.) is a police officer sent undercover into the camp of "Godfather"-type Jack Nicholson (as Frank Costello). Matt Damon (as Colin Sullivan) is an active detective working undercover for Mr. Nicholson. It is an intriguing plot, directed with a abundance of flair.
Mr. Scorsese quite interestingly teams up Nicholson with Mr. DiCaprio; the two actors have often been compared. Nicholson clearly revels in his character; DiCaprio plays along, stroking his face as Nicholson seems to improvise. Mr. Damon is less showy, and more effective; he uses is natural accent well, and is the most consistent of the three leads. The supporting cast is solid. Mark Wahlberg (as Dignam) makes the best of the secondary roles. Pay attention to what Mr. Wahlberg says about haircuts; he's dead on.
I have the comic book Nicholson buys Damon's character when he's a kid: it's "Wolverine #11", dated early "EARLY SEP" 1989. Note that Scorsese reprises the "bag of groceries" scene at the end of the movie, without the comic. Rats! That, and the over reliance of cell-phones, place the setting as (roughly) around the film's year of release. I wonder, were the Boston police amused?
The soundtrack seems inappropriately laced with "oldies"; probably, this is reflective of Nicholson's domineering character. It's odd to hear John Lennon's relatively obscure "Well, Well, Well" played; perversely, Lennon is mentioned as a "Costello" favorite. Scorsese should have considered using the Plastic Ono Band album's "Working Class Hero"; the song's infamous use of what Lennon called the "Fuh King" word would have been appropriate.
Scorsese, with a dose of Nicholson, proved to be irresistible red meat for "Oscar" voters; but, this isn't the director's best work.
******* The Departed (2006) Martin Scorsese ~ Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson