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Rating: 9/10 (8 October 2006)

Well.
The departed is brilliant! I haven't enjoyed a film at the cinema that much for god knows how long.
But it's a remake I hear you cry! a poxy unimaginative remake! Yes it is a remake, but it's a remake in the way magnificent seven and fist full of dollars is a remake in that it takes it's inspiration from an idea - a concept - and then the writers, director and producers have gone to town on it in their own style and their own agenda. It is not a remake like the Italian job or the grudge or the wicker man in that someone actually sweated over the script and martin scorsese gave the direction his full attention and all the elements in this make sense.
All the parts are well written, a bit quirky and brilliantly acted. I'm sure I wasn't the only person watching it thinking that a hardcore gangster film with dicaprio, damon and whalberg would be a bit BBC3. But they are great. Every character is appropriately cast and completely excels in their roles. It's not "cool" in the way gangster movies are now. It is very low key direction in a way. Scorsese has very little flourish to his shots, he has just gone for one great and totally appropriate framing to another. It is such a pleasure to watch a master of cinema back on top of his game after (in my opinion) the disappointment of the Aviator and Gangs of New York. And to have nicholson back from mid-life crisis/am i over the hill roles in fluffy comedies to doing what he does best - acting his socks off and terrorising you - is a real joy to behold.
There are a few potential plot holes that I'm sure I will dwell on when my happiness at having been blown away by this movie will subside and I'll be able to think about it all but everything about this was great! Very realistic and brutal but not gratuitous. often very surprising too.
If you proper like movies like they used to make in the seventies (and scorsese continued to make into the 80's and 90's) then this is well worth a watch.