I'm not going to write too much with this review as all of you have seen the movie before me and provided great comments that I agree with.
But suffice to say, The Departed will be in my year end Top 10 list. This is a movie about cops, gangsters, allegiance, deception and how everything is not as it seems.
As Laura said, it ranks up there with the best Scorcese movies of all time, including ... it may be heresy to say so ... Goodfellas. Where I think it exceeds Goodfellas is in it's darkly comic tone. It's no less violent than that movie but I think it's dialogue is sharper and wittier. Some movies use violence and foul language arbitrarily but, in this movie, they are both so integral to establishing the environment of these characters.
The performances are universally outstanding, especially DiCaprio. Particularly notable in the humor of their roles were Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg. I just about lost it every time these two opened their mouths.
One feels guilty for enjoying and laughing at scenes of such rawness but I think the mind can understand the difference between what is real and what is escapism. It's enjoyable because we are maybe just a little bit envious of those people that don't have to or choose not to live by the rules that we all live by. A primal way of living that is perhaps animalistic and instinctual.
But in any event, I don't want to overthink it. It's just good clean fun. Grade: A+
Your guys' takes on the movie:
Sadie (with help from Laura, JA, Reel Fanatic)
Vancouver Calling
5 comments:
I'm almost ashamed to say it, well no I'm not, but I never liked any of the gangster/Mafia movies. Goodfellas, The Godfather, Scarface... they all pretty much bored me.
I do like DiCaprio quite a bit so maybe I'll rent this one. We'll see.
Scott,
In general, I'd agree with you. I hate to admit it, but I've never seen the Godfather or Scarface. But I did see Casino and Goodfellas and liked both of them immensely.
I think DiCaprio is very underrated. I think he got pegged as a young pretty boy early on but he has a very impressive body of work (... Gilbert Grape, Basketball Diaries, Gangs of New York, Catch Me If You Can, Aviator).
It was a really funny movie, considering the genre. There is something viscerally enjoyable about watching men be evil alpha males.
dback--
you know how I feel about Leo. It bugs me to no end when critics sing his praises now because of this film. Now it's "cool" to like him and say he's good where as before, it wasn't.
He's always been exceptional.
He was absolutely brilliant in Gilbert Grape. What about This Boy's Life? He held up against the power house Robert DeNiro, what more do people want?
Gah.
You're right, this movie is stellar. It deserves all kinds of Oscars.
Don't tell anyone ... but I liked him in Titanic and I liked the movie too. That doesn't make me gay, does it? lol
Post a Comment