Mixed bag--Enjoyable but too many questions

Rating: 6/10 (12 April 2007)

I share a lot of the same frustration with this film that others have expressed. A little too much gore, a little spare on the plot, and too abrupt an ending.
Deeper still are a few things that bother me. Would love others to weigh in on these.
1) Am I to believe that modern day, 2006 Boston is still ruled by cheap thugs extorting money from the neighborhood little shop keepers? Is this 1940? You mean you can't open a motorcycle shop without paying "protection"? If this still happens, why does anyone open up a shop? It's not like they are naive people just off the boat in New York trying to make a living! The shakedown scenes seemed like they belonged in another decade. Maybe I am wrong, but does that still go on?
2) Who would work for Nicholson? He doesn't possess any even slimy charm and I can't imagine the young Damon character staying involved with him for years. The guy is like someone's perverted grandad and inspires 0 confidence as a leader.
3) No police department anywhere would tolerate wide open disrespect and constant F-word. I mean, in the middle of a briefing! Come on. A little f here and there sure. But PDs are highly political animals, and the Marky Mark character would have been off the force quicker than anyone, despite how well he supposedly does his job. The rapport may have been humorous, but it made the film like a comic book.
4) Was every single officer either on the take, a mole, profane or all of the above? There didn't seem like one balanced officer was in the department.
5) After the captain was thrown from the roof, it's hard to believe that the guys in the van got away. In downtown Boston, in a van with broken out windows, in daylight, after shooting up a bunch of cops--and no one pursues. No how no way.
6) Do cell phones survive a 6 story drop? Heck, I dropped mine from 3 feet and it broke.
I can't say I didn't enjoy the movie, but it was pretty much a formula thing. I saw the Marky Mark thing coming, I know others did too. This is quite a fall from the likes of Casino and especially Goodfellas as far as crime films from this great director.
For a Scorcese film, a disappointment. In a land of filled with the likes of Sin City, Devil's Rejects, and Quentin Tarentino, this is a jewel!