Martin Scorsese's strongest films—Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Mean Streets—followed a simple formula: cast Robert DeNiro, then surround him with talent. Scorsese has made some great movies that fall outside that vein (and didn't star DeNiro), but I always come back to those core movies as my favorites, which is probably why I enjoyed The Departed so much. As DeNiro has aged out of many leading roles, Scorsese has discovered a new leading man: Leonardo DiCaprio. The Departed is Leo's third collaboration with Scorsese (after Gangs of New York and The Aviator), and the formula still holds, just in this case with different pieces. DiCaprio is joined here by a stellar cast, beginning with Matt Damon, who does an excellent job playing DiCaprio's foil/mirror image. Also turning in strong showings are Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, and Jack Nicholson in a scenery-chewing performance as an Irish crime boss.The Departed is based on a Hong Kong film called Mou gaan dou (Infernal Affairs), but Scorsese very quickly makes this movie his own, changing the setting to Boston and introducing the rough dialogue, violence, and classic rock soundtrack which are so identified with his best work. The story follows two Massachusetts State Police officers (DiCaprio and Damon), one who has gone undercover to infiltrate the Irish mafia, and the other who is a mole inside the police for the mafia. The movie reveals the identity of the two moles from the very beginning, yet Scorsese keeps the plot twisting and turning enough to keep the audience surprised and on the edge of their seats. It's not perfect: there are nods to the original film that feel out of place, and a few missteps (including some choppy cuts and a oddly-placed Spanish guitar behind several key scenes), but overall, it's an incredibly enjoyable and powerful movie. It's been a long time since I've walked out of a theater feeling like I got my money's worth, but The Departed left me satisfied that my money was well-spent. I definitely would not recommend this movie if you're squeamish about violence, but if you're a fan of any of Scorsese's "gang" movies, this one ranks right up there with his best.
1 comment:
I am so glad to hear you liked this film. It is the first film in probably six months that I have been really excited to see.
Post a Comment