Go see the original!

Rating: 5/10 (25 December 2006)

A few years ago I saw the Hong Kong police thriller "Infernal Affairs", of which movie "The Departed" is a remake. I wrote this review of it on the IMDb: "Great movie! In the same league as Michael Mann's "Heat", but it does not "Out-heat" him, as the tag-line on the DVD-box suggests. On the other hand: this movie brings back the exciting and exotic feeling of the first John Woo films. A word of advice to Martin Scorsese, who's named as the director to make an American remake: forget about Matt Damon (one of America's worst and most boring actors) and Leonardo DiCaprio (a fat has-been these days)! It would be an offense to the great original movie to cast actors like them in the main roles. Forget about the box-office, Marty! Just make a good movie! I suggest actors like Edward Norton and Tim Roth for the main roles, and for example Al Pacino as the police captain, or the main hood." Now, having seen "The Departed" I still agree with myself. On the other hand: this movie makes the original even better. (By the way: there are also two sequels: "Infernal Affiars II" and "III", but don't waste your time watching those; they are complete rubbish!) Don't get me wrong: "The Departed" is not a bad movie at all, and I've always respected Martin Scorsese. He's one of the great modern directors, and has made some fantastic movies (I don't think I have to name them for you). But when you're watching a remake, and can't get the original out of your head, there's something wrong. In the first place there's a reason why the aforementioned DVD-box hints on Michael Mann. The original was clearly inspired by his films. So, in my opinion, he was the perfect director to make this American remake. He could have given the film the looks and feel the original has. Scorsese clearly made another choice, and made the film less glamorous, and put it more in the tradition of say "Mean Streets". Also, because Mann is in fact not a mainstream director, I trust he would have kept the feel of the story, with is essential to why "Infernal Affairs" was so attractive. I admit, Scorsese isn't really mainstream either, but he and his scriptwriter made some ridiculous changes to the story, typical for "Hollywood" movies. The most irritating two: in this version the two main opponents (the undercover cop and the undercover hood) share the same love-interest (very unbelievable), and there's something you could call a "happy ending". Why oh why? The original has an ending which leaves much more to our imagination. Then, about the actors! I think Jack Nicholson is a great actor, but as the mafia boss he is to much over the top, as he unfortunately often is now-days (Eric Tsang in the original is less of a caricature, and much more powerful). Leonardo DiCaprio surprised me; he's actually quiet good. Matt Damon is still boring and overrated (by chance I also saw him this weekend in John Dahl's great movie "Rounders"in which he's a college kid, a perfect role for him, and is played of the screen by his friend in the movie, Edward Norton). Martin Sheen as the police captain is OK, but oh sweat dreams, it would have been so beautiful when De Niro played this role. A reversal of what he and Pacino did in "Heat", but I know it's very unlikely they will ever work "together" again. Finally the music: there's really something wrong here! Wake up Marty, this is 2006! But all I hear in the movie is music from the sixties. Don't get me wrong; I'm a big Stones fan, so it's good to hear "Gimme Shelter" and "Let It Loose". But the only music from these days in the film is by the Dropkick Murphys (of whom I'm not really a fan, but that's my problem). Also in this aspect, your average Michael Mann film, and even an episode of "The Sopranos" is much more up to date. In short: I think Scorsese is getting a bit old.