Awesome!

Rating: 10/10 (5 November 2006)

Okay, I'm not a huge Scorsese fan and entered the theater having possible thoughts that this film was another cop and criminals film. It is a cop and criminals film, but done in a very rare feat of movie-making that blew me away! The film is based off of a previous film made in China that explores both sides of the law through the eyes of two men. both of them are moles who are in deep, seeking out information for the other. Billy Costigan (Leo Dicaprio) plays a hot-headed cop who hasn't graduated the academy yet. he is assigned to go undercover as a henchmen for a ruthless gangster named Costello (Jack Nicholson).
Meanwhile, Costello has a mole inside the police department, Det. Sullivan (Matton Damon) who is ambitious and who worked his way quickly through the department to get a high position in the police force. As the story progresses, both sides of the law learn they're being watched and leads to a very violent and shocking conclusion.
The acting was top-notched and believable. I'm not much of a Leo fan, but he was flat out excellent and deserves some recognition in the Oscars. Nicholson was pretty much himself with his charm, wicked humor, and psychotic facial expressions. i don't need to mention the rest of the cast, for they were all equally as great, despite the fact that Alec Baldwin stole the show a bit.
the story was in-depth and ad a lot of character development, as well as twist and turns and occasional plot holes that were meant to be. The film-making was excellent, especially with the use of old rock'n'roll music such as Pinkfloud and the Rolling stones, the editing was tastefully done, as well as the cinematography, and the pace of the film flew by, feeling like a ninety minute movie versus a two and a half hour film! Despite all of this, I have to say that this film is not for everyone. especially for those who are squeamish to blood, for there is plenty of graphic blood spray, which never really bothers me, but made me gasp and say "Oh my GoD!" in a few scenes, and there was boat load of swearing that was as bad, if not worse than Bad Boys II.
nonetheless, I loved this film, and I think it is the best film of the year, and as well as Scorsese's best film. It was awesome. It had offbeat, and sick humor, action, acting, story, fast-paced, and above all shock value. there is no doubt that this film should get some Oscars!
**** out of **** If you are a Scorsese film (which I now am because of this film), and can handle a great deal of violence and swearing, it's for you!