If you are a movie fan at all you have to see this movie

Rating: 9/10 (7 October 2006)

I am not a Martin Scorsese fan, not at all, so I'm surprised to be here telling you that I really liked this movie. Let's get a few things out of the way first. I can't stand Matt Damon. So I'm pretty much going to leave him out of this review. Leonardo DiCaprio, I've thought has been underrated for a long time even with the praise he's gotten recently. I thought he was one of the best actors out there going into this movie. Also, I didn't get to see 'Infernal Affairs'. I meant to and when I can get my hands on an undubbed copy I will.
DiCaprio definitely did not disappoint and acting-wise I think he basically wipes the floor with the rest of the cast. This is no diss on Jack, because Jack is Jack. He can walk on water basically but in the scenes with them together as a movie fan you think to yourself "is Leo going to be able to handle it?" and somewhere in the middle of the scene you realize he's the one commanding it. Really if you are a fan of movies at all you have to see this, for the performances alone. Some of the accents were a little iffy but that's to be expected. I mean everyone here does good work but you can sell repeat tickets on the scenes with Jack and Leo. Think Pacino/DeNiro in the movie 'Heat' but better and more often.
The movie is about Boston cops trying to take down a titan of the underworld. Nothing new here, but the story has, not twists but, double crosses and synchronistic incidents that baffle without being contrived or remotely ridiculous. I can't imagine any crime fan not enjoying this movie and wanting to see it again right away. I'm not going to go into the plot anymore because you need to see it. But with all that it's not confusing, or every critics' favorite word lately, incoherent. You know who's who and what's what the whole time. You are completely on the edge of your seat and some things are predictable but it's the stuff that you don't want to happen. So you sit there with your stomach in knots hoping it doesn't. Is it violent? Of course, but it's nothing we haven't seen especially from Scorsese. Actually the scene that for me was the most excruciating to watch involved no blood at all.
A few minor complaints. I don't understand Martin Scorsese's use of music. It seems like he likes to drown out his dialogue, and then using the same songs repeatedly, I mean, who does that? And I'm a hater of remakes so I have to take one point off for that. Some old ladies coming out of the theater complained that there was too much unnecessary swearing, but really, consider the source.
Now back to the guy I don't like. The reason I don't like him is the same reason that I thought this was perfect casting. I kept hoping and hoping for other actors to take a swing at him. And I can tell you that this was the most fulfilling thing about the movie for me. I felt vindicated because someone saw what I've seen in him all this time to cast him in this role. And I got to see people I like much better beat him up a little bit. I may just by the DVD for that reason alone.
So I'm thinking this will get nominated for Best Picture. I personally would like Leo to win a cumulative Oscar with this one. I'm thinking the Scorsese fans might finally get their win in the Best Director category. And if they do, I'm cool with it. This was his best in my opinion since Taxi Driver.
edit: I have seen Infernal Affairs now and I thought they were equally good and different enough that The Departed still deserves the praise it's received.