A Review I Didn't Write- The Departed

I saw The Departed this weekend. It was a tight enjoyable thriller, that brought about deeper issues of trust, truth, and death to the surface, for us to ponder while watching a fairly complex story unfold. Yes, as you would expect the acting is phenominal, with Damon and Leo playing opposite each other from the moment the film begins. Every performance in this movie is steller, yes Nicholson is great but he's great in everything the does. At this point Nicholson being a great actor is NOT a surprise. Every character is vital to the story, and every actor in the film brings his A game. There is not a flaw in casting or acting in this film.

Another thing I really like about this movie is the "twists and turns" are not forced (a la The Black Daliah), they are genuine. I hope it's not a spoiler that there are twists and turns. Did you expect anything less?

I don't have any issues with the film. I really really really love it. It's likely the best theatrical release this month though I haven't seen Jet Li's Fearless. And though I really liked Little Miss Sunshine and World Trade Center, The Departed is a slightly better movie than those two.

So I was all set. I had just seen a movie I really LOVED with great acting, execellent writing and non-forced twists and turns. What a great day, until I read this... on IMDB.com

Best Scorsese Film. Period., 3 October 2006
10/10
Author: fburke69 from United States

Oh my God.

I can say without overstatement that I just saw the most gripping and entertaining American film to come out in at least the past ten years.

I was lucky enough to get a pass to an advance screening of The Departed this past weekend in Boston. I wasn't sure what to expect and actually planned on being a little disappointed with all the expectations and hype of such an all-star cast.

From the moment the opening credits came up, the movie grabbed me by the neck, ripped me out of my seat and didn't let go until the final scene.

Each performance is more masterful than the next. Damon was a tour de force as the lead, tapping every ounce of his acting reservoir for this role. Nicholson creates another classic role to add to his already sterling resume. His mob boss would almost steal every scene he was in, if it not for every other actor being so fantastic However, the biggest surprise for me personally came from Leonardo DeCaprio.

Having never warmed up to any of his roles or movies, I found myself blown away by him in this. I'm not sure if it was the material he was given, or if DeCaprio has grown this much as an actor, or a combination of both, but he finally won me over with his role in this instant Scorsese classic. Every character is pitch perfect, every scene is right on the money. The plot builds to a crescendo of such dynamic proportions rarely seen on film. I don't want to give too much away, but I'm still shaken from the ride I was taken on.

People go to the movies in the hopes that maybe once in a hundred times you get to experience storytelling so masterful and transcendent that it changes the way you view cinema. This is one of those spectacularly perfect times.

Forget Taxi Driver. Forget Raging Bull. Forget Goodfellas. As much as I LOVE those movies and as much as they have affected me in my lifetime, The Departed will hands down be Martin Scorsese's Master Work.

So I read this and agreed with a lot of it. (the Stuff about leo and all... and about going to the movies trying to feel something like this...) but the issue I'd like to bring up and discuss is, I know my Truth and Spectacle commrades haven't seen the movie yet, but can the world really be ready to call this movie better than Scorsese's best? Isn't that something that we're not fit to answer for many years? We can't just label stuff, for the heck of it. Doesn't it have to prove the test of time? I know winning an Oscar is the first step to creating a classic it's a way to insure that the future will look kindly upon you in years to come. But there are pleanty of movies (Oscar winners and nominees) that fade from our memory just a few weeks and months later. It would be a shame for The Departed to expeirence that, just because it's such a quality movie. However, I'm not savy enough to brand it a cornerstone of Scorsese's career or anything. Maybe fburke69 is more forward thinking than I will ever be. What do you think?