A Masterpiece Except for several Scorsesesque flaws.

Rating: 9/10 (3 February 2007)

Seriously Director Martin Scorsese finally delivers a mind blowing, crowd pleasing, genuine Hollywood heavyweight. And his long-time loyalists can't be more thankful. Credit begins with a brilliantly complex screenplay adapted from the 2002 Chinese film "Infernal Affairs." As Scorsese testifies, "It was the first picture I made with a plot." It seems like that is exactly what the people were waiting for, as the opening weekend gross of $26.8 million obliterated all other Scorsese releases. And regardless of its many shortcomings*, Marty certainly reassures us all that he is still the master of modern mortality with a riveting final half-hour of elegant and exciting violence that is right on par with the 'Baptism/Murder' crescendo in "The Godfather Part I"-- when Michael Corleone finishes all of the family's unfinished business. With "The Departed," it seems that Marty also finishes some business of his own.
*First, realize a few things: that this film takes place in a fantasized contemporary world, that Jack Nicholson can't help but act extremely ridiculous, and of course, that Marty Scorsese is a highly stylized director the musical selections, the over-lighting, the frequent and casual violence, and the excessive story exposition and once all of this is understood, or more importantly, accepted (asking too much?), then you can really begin to have fun with this movie.
Now, coping with Nicholson's absurd over-performance is probably an issue on to its own How much better might this movie have been had DeNiro played Frank Costello, rather than the attention starved Jumpin' Jack, who seemed like he was just horsing around until he got to the Lakers game later that night (i.e. playing with a dildo in a porno theater)? See Born Critic for more on that
http://borncritic.blogspot.com/2006/10/departed.html
On the other hand, the rest of the cast displays career acting performances, most notably Leo DiCaprio, who brings an amazing raw energy and intensity to his roles, balancing both the physical and psychological demands of his complex character, and was only beat out for a Best Actor nod by himself in "Blood Diamond."
http://manwithavan.blogspot.com/