Archive for October 16, 2006

Monday Movie Review: The Departed

The Departed (2006) 9/10
Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) grows up under the tutelage of Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), ruthless boss of Boston’s Irish mob. Sullivan becomes a police detective, working as a mole to protect Costello. Meanwhile, Internal Affairs places Bill Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) as a mole in Costello’s mob, taking the trouble to first hide any evidence that he is still a police officer. The two moles come closer and closer to finding each other’s identity. Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Among other things, The Departed is a work of technical virtuosity. Here is a film in which all the pieces come together; it is brilliantly filmed, edited, performed, and scored (in Scorsese’s trademark pop/rock style). Scorsese has perhaps never been so confident as a director, so mature.

The movie reminds me, and many others, of Goodfellas, although I caught enticing whiffs of Taxi Driver. » Read more..