A good movie, not a great movie

Rating: 7/10 (27 March 2007)

Pretty much as I'd heard, this is a good movie, in fact a very good movie, but not a *great* movie. The script is pretty good and it's a TENSE ride along - you will be riveted simply to see what happens. Acting is good all-round, with the slight exception of Jack Nicholson (yes, he's better than in his usual roles, but that's not saying much for someone who hasn't shown any great range in, well, decades). The performances that stand out are Leonardo DiCaprio - MAN, does he capture the intensity of this character - and Mark Wahlberg. Where does the movie fall flat? Well, it's nothing special... nothing all that new. Undercover cops, one who's a double agent, who'll-find-who first, etc etc. I didn't find the direction to be particularly amazing at all - Scorsese has done much better. I'd definitely say it's worth watching, but don't expect it to be the best thing you've seen all year.