The Departed

Category: Drama  |  Tags: better repeat viewings drama

posted by: John J. Ex 593 days ago          

When I first viewed this movie I must admit I didn't think much of it at the time. I was in a theater with bad sound and a noisy couple which ruied the experience of the film for me. I thought, 'this is it, so overrated', but since i've seen it again on DVD I have to say this is a very good film, deserving all the accolades and awards.
The film stars: Matt Damon, Leonardo Dicaprio, Mark Walberg, Alec Baldwin, and Jack Nicholson. With an all star stellar cast of actors like that, how can this not be a good Scorsese movie. The type of movie he used to direct in the70's, like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver.
The film is set in Boston sometime ago, with Jack Nicholson playing a gangster, Frank Costello, boss of the crime syndicate in the city. Even though I think Jack Nicholson is a great actor he might have put a little too much Jack Ncholson into the part of Frank Costello. But he still contributes a great preformance and is a joy to watch in the film. But what really makes this film a better than average crime/cop thriller is the dichotomy of its other stars, Matt Damon, and Leonardo Dicaprio. Each character pertending to be someone there not to survive. Leonardo Dicaprio especially is good in his performance as, Billy Costigan, an undercover cop trying to cope with his paranoia by talking drugs and seeing a court-ordered shrink.
The only thingwhich could be considerd sub-par would be,Vera Farmiga performance as the love interest of Matt damon's character.
Walberg also provides a great preformance and much the films more humors moments as Sargent Dignan. All in all this is a great film and gets better with repeat viewings. I would recommened this and another movie "Internal Affairs", the hong kong film from which this movie is based.