Almost flawless

Rating: 9/10 (24 October 2006)

The Departed is truly a film that could be called flawless. The story is engaging, the character development is superb, the acting is Academy Award worthy, and production-wise, the film is polished to a mirror shine. There is only one thing I can find to hold against it: there is nothing new or original in the film. You'll find things you've seen in other movies brought to perfection in this one, but the only aspect in which it could be called groundbreaking is the amount of blood droplets you'll see suspended in air.
The story is a complex tale of betrayal in the crime and law enforcement scene of modern-day Boston. It is told very effectively, never losing the viewer in all of its numerous plot turns and revelations. In true Scorcese style, it is also bluntly violent, but every death on screen is strongly tied to a particular plot aspect or intended audience reaction, and never seems gratuitous. Even the romance subplot does not seem forced, as is the case with many Hollywood productions of this type, and is integral to the picture as a whole. As with many action movies, there is plenty of quality comic relief in the form of witty remarks, and even those remarks never seem forced.
Not surprisingly, given the extensively star-studded cast, the acting is top-notch, perhaps at least in part due to material the actors had to work with. What was surprising though, was that you'll never find a particular actor stealing the scene. Scorcese has managed to bring out the best in every person on screen, and that best was being true to their character, making the audience forget that these people are actors despite their recognisability.
As I mentioned, however, there is little about the film that will leave a lasting impression on the viewer. It is a great ride while you're in the theatre, but upon leaving, you'll find very few details that are truly memorable, or plot points that warrant further pondering. You'll know you just saw a great movie, but it just failed to extend beyond that screen. Perhaps the only exception to this is the visual feel of the movie. The sepia-like tones that help emphasise just the right aspects of the movie's action are what really make the film feel unique, and are a prime example of cinematography being used to enhance the story, rather than detract from it. One can only wish that more movies were as flawlessly executed as this one.