This movie is simply not one of Scorsese's great ones.

Rating: 6/10 (7 October 2006)

I went to The Departed last night on the strength of some of the reviews I'd read. And while it was a fairly good movie, it is not great. In my opinion, Scorsese has taken an interesting story and a very good cast and created a somewhat-better-than-mediocre picture. The photography is very good, the shots well done for the most part, but he has made some odd choices. The most puzzling is the Chinese/microchip issue. This could have and, in my opinion, should have been omitted. It doesn't move the plot, it doesn't add depth or breadth to the story and it doesn't help to develop any of the characters.
Some of the acting was uneven as well. I love some of Matt Damon's work, but I never felt an emotional connection with this character. I had the sense that I was watching him act. Even his accent isn't consistent, changing from the Boston Southie he displayed in Good Will Hunting to Midwestern.
Jack Nicholson is Jack Nicholson, and that's the problem with his portrayal. Unconvincing.
There are other issues I have with this movie, but on the positive side, Mark Wahlberg and Alce Baldwin are both quite enjoyable to watch. And by far the best performance, without question, is given by Leonardo DiCaprio. This young man can act! He has a way of becoming the character and his performance here is worth the price of admission.
So, my suggestion is to go and see this movie, but don't set your expectations at the level suggested by some of the almost hysterically glowing reviews. If you do, you will be disappointed.