JohnDoe
Bryn
BrentonThe Departed (2006) - Trailer Included
May 1st 2007 09:41
The Departed
Single Disc & 2 Disc Editions
Director:Martin Scorsese
Writer:William Monohan
Starring:Jack Nicholson, Ray Winstone, Martin Sheen, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon
“When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?” - Frank Costello
Leaving his native New York locations to tackle the mean streets of Boston, this epic Cops versus Gangsters thriller is a remake of the tightly wound Asian hit film Infernal Affairs.
A low life mob boss Frank Costello (Jack), places a spy Colin (Matt Damon) in the Boston P.D. Simultaneously the Boston P.D has an undercover agent Billy (Leonardo Di Caprio) in the criminal’s ranks, its like Trading Places only no one bet a dollar.
“Exactly. You're nobody. You signed the papers, remember? Now we're the only two people on the face of this earth that even know you're a cop. How about we just erase your file, huh? How 'bout that? How about we erase your file and then bang, you're just another soldier for Costello open to arrest for I don't know how many felonies. Huh? What do you say we do that, Captain?” - Dignam
The plot is only a mechanism though, for the complex trifecta, character study of a crook, a cop and a traitor. Which is which? That’s where the twists, turns and introspective examination of a three sided coin begin.
“I can't wait to see you explain this one to a fucking Suffolk County jury you fucking cocksucker. This is gonna be fucking fun!” – Colin
Thats better. Now do it again, this time with feeling.
John Doe says:
Grandiose but flawed, the film is an uneven exercise in cinematic style that blends verite images with comic book dialogue and conflicting actor eccentricities. Despite its flaws The Departed engages, entertains and dazzles because of the faultless technical prowess of the crew and their leader.
Filmmaker Martin Scorsese has no problem placing us in detailed realities that feel visually authentic. However, in The Departed, this gritty, atmospheric style used so well in Goodfellas often conflicts with the verbose script and theatrical acting.
The dialogue is rich and memorable, like an Elmore Leonard novel meshing laughs with exposition and reintegrating threads of simple stories for added intricacy. Sometimes the tough guy screenplay shifts suddenly and takes itself seriously, this is where the suspense wanes.
The hunter is hunted scenario, the drifting between characters, the too cool for real life interplay with scripted lines all moving along to a rockin soundtrack mean that anytime the drama deepens it slows the momentum.
The deft cinematography feels instinctual as if Lee Marvin were doing Shakespeare it adds a tough edge to the atmosphere. The editing at times, especially when dealing with snappy flashbacks that only last a few moments feel cramped, out of place in a film that runs 151 minutes.
The legendary Jack Nicholson (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Carnal Knowledge, The Last Detail, Prizzi’s Honour) goes au natural, looking like his wardrobe and makeup are gauged to resemble a man who has just got out of bed. A brave choice that works care of an over the top performance to rival the Joker, you can’t help but laugh anytime he is onscreen, digging deep and blustering over his co stars.
Leonardo Dicaprio (Basketball Diaries, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape) takes a while to accept as a tough guy, his angry eyes amuse as he grits his teeth to push a jawline out. JD doesn't mind Leo in the right role, here he seems out of his league.
Matt Damon (Syriana, Dogma) pulls a Ryan Phillippe with an Irish accent that drifts in and out, at times an indefinable geographical mix. His cold stare and stone serious delivery make his bad guy/good guy into just another Bourne.
Ray Winstone (The War Zone, Sexy Beast) stands out as usual in another low life portrayal.
Vera Fagima (Running Scared, Dummy) as the women bouncing between Leonardo and Matt seems under written but she holds her own in this testosterone drenched affair.
Alec Baldwin (Glengarry Glenross) and Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now, Badlands) both act their age and it is fun to watch Sheen show a softer side.
John Doe enjoyed the film despite the haphazard conflicting tones. The Departed is not a bad film, it’s just not one of Scorsese’s most focused works. When compared to Goodfellas, Mean Streets, Bringing out The Dead, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Last Temptation etc it just doesn’t live up to the accolades heaped upon it.
This is after all the film that won cinephile Director Marty Scorsese his first Best Director Oscar. The Departed also won Best Picture, Best Editing and Best Screenplay last year.
From a different perspective, it is one of the better remakes released in the last decade. The opening with the stones Gimme Shelter playing while Jack sprouts some subjective philosophies is reason enough to give it a chance.
The DVD:
Transfer: Widescreen/5.1 Dolby Digital
Extras: Nine additional scenes with introductions by Martin Scorsese, Feature-length TCM profile "Scorsese on Scorsese", The Story of the Boston Mob: the real-life gangster behind Jack Nicholson's character,
Crossing Criminal Cultures: how Little Italy's crime and violence influence Scorsese's work.
The Trailer
Here is the kinetic opening 4 minutes with Jack doing what he does best, monologue........oh sister, its just a shot away..
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Comment by Filmpeeker
Film Peek
Gizmo Peek
Film Peek Forum
I liked the story but it never reached klimax, I thought. Also, I never felt for Damon's character, didn't care.
Good remake but not what "they" say it is (a masterpiece).
Cheers,
filmpeeker
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
I vewed this film on the big screen and even then I felt it wasn't worth all the hype..
When I watched it again at home on DVD, I wasn't imprssed either..The plot was too confusing, too jumpy and unsettling..
I suppose they wanted to glean tension and white knuckling from the audience, but all it gleaned from me was a yawn and another trip to the fridge for beer..
It was so over hyped by the media, I expected so much more than it actualy delivered..I did like Nicholson, but after awhile even HE started getting on my nerves!
Great review!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The Departed was a return to form, sure its not an original piece, but then Scorsese very rarely works from a wholly original screenplay.
I thought DeCaprio was the best I've seen him, or at least one of the more interesting characters I've seen him play. I even enjoyed Matt Damon, whom normally irritates the pants off of me.
I like the shift from the Asian underworld to the Irish and Italian in Boston.
Stil, I don't reckon Scorsese should've got the director for this movie. He should've got it for Taxi Driver, then Raging Bull and then Goodfellas.
Some observations though JD.
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Not quite as tense as the original Hong Kong flick, I found. Also, the female role was almost tacked on and felt unnatural.
Read my Review!
Was Damon's accent slipping?
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I agree with Bryn, the Academy just felt it was time to give Scorsese an Academy. Some of his other stuff was way more worthy.
Still an enjoyable movie though.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Hi Filmpeek,
I totally didnt care about Damon's character either, but it was his unfocused performance rather than script I think.
Hi Nick of Time...,
The media is all ways 10 steps behind arent they?
I thought the script structure added much needed tension to a often told story and the dialogue was catchy, just didnt match the editing, cinematography and sound design.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
There is no argument the Departed is vastly superior to The Aviator and Gangs of New York, but it still felt like Scorsese never made his mind up about what he was trying to accomplish.
It works as popcorn entertainment, but you can tell he was trying for a deeper psychological and sociological study of a life of crime.
As I said I enjoyed the film, but its is an average entry into the cop vs Gangster genre rather than top shelf. In the Boston setting I preffered Boondock Saints myself.
Dicaprio for me is much more suited to The Basketball Diaries, Gilbert Grape type roles IMO. He just has no menace, threat or presence to pull off a demanding part like this.
Matt Damon is bland, and his inconsistent delivery worked against the grain for me...I did think he was worthwhile in Syriana though.
We can agree though it has its moments and is not a horrible film, just doesnt make it into my top 10 for the Director or the style.
Lost your "Goodness" makes me laugh.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I found the film thrilling in parts and contrived in others. As a cops vs gangster story its not a bad effort, but as a Scorsese film....well you saw my top 10 of the Directors and it didnt make the cut...Still I can see myself watching it again sometime in the future.
I agree completly that the original version was better, admittedly also very different.
You didn't notice damon's accent fluctuations...one second its broad strokes Irish, the next its Boston Irish, then it slips into a brooklyn type thing where he puffs his cheeks out. There were also some other tinges and twangs that I couldnt even guess what they were meant to be. Still I didnt mind him in The Talented Mr Ripley
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD