Scorsese's THE DEPARTED

[AboveAverage484 0]

The only reason I was weary of it at first is because the guy's reviews are usually pretty reflective of the national critical view. Obviously, this is a glaring exception.

[Hank Kingsley 0]

Actually Friday estimates are showing The Departed just on top of TCM, 8.5 to 7.2 mil. Not a bad start at all.

[Guest NYankees]

Actually Friday estimates are showing The Departed just on top of TCM, 8.5 to 7.2 mil. Not a bad start at all.

 

 

Thats a pretty good number for a rated r movie that runs over 2 hours. The theater that I went to was 98 percent sold out at 8 p.m. in NY when the Mets were playing on tv.

[Epic Reine 0]

This movie owned in every way possible. Nicholson was excellent as always, Damon and Dicaprio did good and even MARK FUCKING WAHLBERG was badass in the movie. Very well acted and great story.

[C Dubya 04 0]

Okay, I can't be the only one who thought that this movie completely falls apart right? I mean the last half an hour was a complete trainwreck, IMO.

 

The acting was incredible and the dialogue great, but the script had no direction for the last part. Ruined what would have been a great movie for me.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Casino was better, but this was still pretty enjoyable. Matt Damon was actually excellent, as was Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen. Marky Mark was hilarious. Worth watching for sure.

[cabbageboy 0]

Yeah critics are fawning all over DiCaprio and Nicholson here but I actually thought Damon was the standout here. He played that little weasel prick yuppie that I knew he had in him (much like Affleck in Changing Lanes). And yeah Wahlberg followed up on his hard edged Four Brothers effort with another vicious turn. It's odd to see Wahlberg show such charisma when you've seen his bland performances in Planet of the Apes or Italian Job.

 

The movie did lose some momentum after Nicholson dies. But then I thought it regained it with the rooftop scene and everyone getting wasted. I love it when major characters just get whacked out of nowhere like Leo in this. Then the final scene where Wahlberg is waiting for Damon to arrive.

 

Some things I didn't get though: Why would Damon's character try and erase DiCaprio's file? I don't see how doing this could be feasible since Dignam (Wahlberg) was still alive and certainly wouldn't have joined in a coverup.

 

A couple other things seemed pointless, like the subplot of DiCaprio banging Damon's girlfriend. They even toss in a pregnancy bit near the end which goes nowhere considering both guys end up dead.

 

I'm also not sure what the deal was with Nicholson being an FBI informant. Seems like it clouded the issue and added little.

 

 

Anyway I'd say this is Scorsese's 5th best movie behind Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Casino. Pretty good company though.

[C Dubya 04 0]

Yeah, I didn't understand the reasoning for the last two points of your spoilers CB. Also...

 

I agree that I like when major characters get wasted out of nowhere. I really liked Sheen getting whacked trying to protect Leo, but then it just went over the top. It was like he wrote himself into a corner and the only thing he could figure out to do was kill everyone off.

 

Also, I assumed that the Wet Blanket Girl was the one who told Marky Mark about Damon being a rat, but they could have at least implied this a little bit to show how he knew.

 

After Sheen got killed I was ready to declare this one of my favorite movies, and I liked Leo getting it, but that didn't make any sense either. Why not just go to the police? Why in the world would you have Damon meet you on the roof, and then call another cop in? That was borderline retarded.

[Molotov The Bear 0]

After Sheen got killed I was ready to declare this one of my favorite movies, and I liked Leo getting it, but that didn't make any sense either. Why not just go to the police? Why in the world would you have Damon meet you on the roof, and then call another cop in? That was borderline retarded.

 

He was desperate and didnt know who he could trust. Sullivan was right. "I'm a Boston State Trooper! Who, are they gonna believe me, or you?"

 

He called Anthony Anderson because they were old friends, and knew each other from the cop school. People do stupid things when their desperate.

 

Yeah, I agree though that they couldve given something to hint at whatsername hiring Dignam to kill Sullivan.

 

All in all, despite some plot confusion..I still loved it.

[cabbageboy 0]

Here is what I thought might happen, though it didn't:

 

I thought they would go for an ultra ironic ending. After the Capt. gets whacked I thought somehow that Sullivan would kill Dignam or Dignam would do something stupid to get himself disgraced. From there, Sullivan could erase Costigan's file.

 

From here, Costigan has nowhere to go. Costello is now dead. Queenan is dead. Dignam is dead. Nobody knows he is a cop and he has no way of proving who he is. So he looks at the situation, says fuck it, and takes over Costello's mob.

 

Sullivan now is the Golden Boy of the Dept. He ends up getting promoted, ends up eventually being on top of the police dept. by killing and deceiving. So basically you end up with Costigan taking Costello's place, Sullivan taking Queenan's place, and essentially things end up worse all around. The gang is still intact and Sullivan is a much more corrupt captain than Queenan.

 

What do you guys think?

[C Dubya 04 0]

I would have liked that better.

[Ravenbomb 0]

I fucking loved this movie. Best movie of the past 5 years

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Yeah, I didn't understand the reasoning for the last two points of your spoilers CB. Also...

 

Also, I assumed that the Wet Blanket Girl was the one who told Marky Mark about Damon being a rat, but they could have at least implied this a little bit to show how he knew.

 

DiCaprio gave blondie that package, and said not to open it unless he died. I guess that package is along the lines of "Matt Damon is evil! Here's evidence! Tell Marky Mark." It would have been nice if they actually showed her opening the package etc.

 

The pregnancy bit, I think we're supposed to assume it's DiCaprio's kid. Sullivan was impotent anyways, and she was fucking Castigan on the side. I also wonder why they didn't do anything with that though.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Awesome fucking movie. But I really do feel that the last part of the film will turn a lot of the general public (particularly American) off.

 

It's somehow hit 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, though. Just an all-around excellent film, with excellent performances. You can't pick a best actor out of the whole crowd. But I think DiCaprio is really solidifying himself as one of the better actors out there in Hollywood, especially with this movie and his Oscar-worthy performance in The Aviator.

 

If this doesn't win Scorsese and DiCaprio dual Oscars, then maybe the Teddy Roosevelt movie the two are making together will. These guys are like best pals, aren't they?

[Ravenbomb 0]

as long as they keep putting out the caliber of movies they have been, they can get BFF necklaces for all I care

[cabbageboy 0]

Wait up, what? Is Leo DiCaprio actually playing Teddy Roosevelt? Sounds like horrible casting to me, unless it something when he's younger.

 

There's something unconvincing to me about DiCaprio in this sort of role. I mean he didn't weaken the movie exactly but imagine a younger De Niro or Pacino in a similar role. DiCaprio comes off like a pretty boy playing tough guy, whereas someone like De Niro or Pacino would have simply seemed like tough guys.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

I can't believe so many people love this movie.

 

Well I can, but they shouldn't. The ending was way too convoluted and nonsensical for me to approve. Also, alot of the stuff didn't really connect well. Why did Leo and the Psych all of a sudden fuck? There was not really any chemistry and nothing really built up between them. Also, why was Sullivan's buddy a Costello stooge? That didn't make sense at all. It is like they just threw that in there to mess things up and find a way to kill off Leo. The ending was almost comical, and after the elevator scene of doom I just knew that Dignam would come around to off Sullivan, in the lamest way possible.

 

Once again Scorcese has his trademark all over this; well-built plot falls apart in the end, and he also needs a fucking editor.

[The Niggardly King 0]

One of my favorites this year... had me cracking up throughout, especially when Martin Sheen gets thrown of the building.

 

Leo fucking the Psych really sucked as a subplot. Matt Damon can't get it up a few times, so she spreads them for someone she only knows as a loser junkie? WEAK.... FUCKING WEAK.

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

One of my favorites this year... had me cracking up throughout, especially when Martin Sheen gets thrown of the building.

 

I don't think that was intended to get some laughs.

 

Although Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg had me laughing everytime they were on screen.

 

"You wanna cigarette? You smoke? You don't smoke? You sure you don't wanna smoke? You one of those fitness freaks? Fuck off."

[muzz 0]

Seeing the add for it on TV, my interest was mostly peaked when the Instrumental version of "Cells" played, the song in the Sin City Trailer. And Damon is honestly one of my favourite people in Hollywood.

[cabbageboy 0]

Yeah the shrink stuff sucked for the most part. It's like Leo just bangs her really out of nowhere (after being ultra rude and bitter during most of the sessions). I didn't even think about Matt Damon being impotent or anything....maybe there was one scene where he felt stressed or something.

 

I liked the movie but it has enough flaws to where I rank it behind Goodfellas, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Casino. I actually didn't have a problem with the ending, though I did mention my alternate ending above. I had more of a problem with the midsection, where it was just "Costigan is undercover with Costello, Sullivan is a fink" and it was repeated ad nauseum.

[The Niggardly King 0]

One of my favorites this year... had me cracking up throughout, especially when Martin Sheen gets thrown of the building.

 

I don't think that was intended to get some laughs.

 

Although Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg had me laughing everytime they were on screen.

 

"You wanna cigarette? You smoke? You don't smoke? You sure you don't wanna smoke? You one of those fitness freaks? Fuck off."

 

Yeah, Baldwin was pretty good, and I found myself actually liking Wahlberg.

 

I guess the humor I found in Sheen getting thrown off the building is the fact all the henchmen rush him, and I was like, "Oh... he's going to get shot/stabbed". Then a few seconds later, here comes a lifeless Sheen freefalling from the building... maybe I just have fucked up sense of humor?

[Your Paragon of Virtue 0]

Well it was pretty random, so I see your point about it coming out of nowhere.

 

Also, if I saw an old guy falling off of a building top during Jackass 2 out of nowhere, I'd laugh my ass off. I guess I just kept it in context for this movie.

[AboveAverage484 0]

Saw, loved it, might go see it again. Additionally, did the ending remind anybody else of

that one episode of South Park where all the cops kill each other because they can't trust one another?

[Vyce 0]

Saw it and loved it. IMO, it's the best film Scorcese's done since Goodfellas.

 

I have to ask how many of you have seen the original film, "Infernal Affairs", because some of your questions about the film might be answered if you see both.

 

Let me see if I can address some things.

 

Some things I didn't get though: Why would Damon's character try and erase DiCaprio's file? I don't see how doing this could be feasible since Dignam (Wahlberg) was still alive and certainly wouldn't have joined in a coverup.

 

A couple other things seemed pointless, like the subplot of DiCaprio banging Damon's girlfriend. They even toss in a pregnancy bit near the end which goes nowhere considering both guys end up dead.

 

I'm also not sure what the deal was with Nicholson being an FBI informant. Seems like it clouded the issue and added little.

 

1. Initially, Damon's character did NOT erase DiCaprio's file. He actually was going to give him his money & identity back. If you remember / noticed, he had the papers in his hand. However, once he re-entered his office, he saw the envelope had been moved / looked at by DiCaprio, so he knew that Leo was on to him as the real spy in the department. At THAT point, Damon tried to cover his ass by deleting Leo's file so that if Leo tried to reveal the info, there'd be no record that he was the actual undercover officer. As for Wahlberg, it was said that he had resigned - so I assume Damon, who was sort of being sloppy here trying to cover his ass, just figured that Wahlberg wouldn't come back to clear Leo (or if he did, he'd have no proof) and figured he'd deal with it later. Discrediting Leo by erasing his files was an immediate priority.

 

2. Having Leo have an affair with Damon's fiancee was added for dramatic effect (and to progress certain storyline aspects), as there wasn't that relationship between the undercover cop and the psychologist in Infernal Affairs. I think it was added partially to provide an interesting dichotomy, as Damon could provide the psych with love and stability, but he was emotionally closed to her and physically unable to love her; whereas Damon provided her with passion (and sex), and vulnerability, someone who was totally open to her as in the end she was the only person he could really trust. That's the other aspect of that relationship - his trust in her was what allowed him to give her the goods on Damon (the envelope). Her listening to the CD was accidental, as Leo had no clue she was dating Damon, that was ironically coincidental. Adding the fact that she was pregnant (presumably by Leo) was just another aspect of Leo vs. Damon, which was the whole true theme of the film, as Leo could give her something that Damon could not.

 

3. Jack being an FBI informant was not quite a McGuffin, but it was the plot device used to allow Damon to turn on Jack, and for the other spy in the department to have justification to kill Leo and Anthony Anderson, as that corrupt cop was there to save Damon because Jimmy was allegedly going to rat them out (or at least that's what the cop thought). It was also done as an interesting parallel, as the whole film was Jack and the cops trying to root out each other's rats, when Jack himself was a rat as well.

[Vyce 0]

Here is what I thought might happen, though it didn't:

 

I thought they would go for an ultra ironic ending. After the Capt. gets whacked I thought somehow that Sullivan would kill Dignam or Dignam would do something stupid to get himself disgraced. From there, Sullivan could erase Costigan's file.

 

From here, Costigan has nowhere to go. Costello is now dead. Queenan is dead. Dignam is dead. Nobody knows he is a cop and he has no way of proving who he is. So he looks at the situation, says fuck it, and takes over Costello's mob.

 

Sullivan now is the Golden Boy of the Dept. He ends up getting promoted, ends up eventually being on top of the police dept. by killing and deceiving. So basically you end up with Costigan taking Costello's place, Sullivan taking Queenan's place, and essentially things end up worse all around. The gang is still intact and Sullivan is a much more corrupt captain than Queenan.

 

What do you guys think?

 

The original film, Infernal Affairs, didn't quite go that far, but it did end differently than this. In that movie, the Costigan / Leo character still died, but there was no Wahlberg character (this movie actually split the undercover director character, played by Anthony Wong, into two separate roles, Sheen and Wahlberg - there was no Wahlberg character in IA to shoot the Sullivan / Damon character).

 

So, in "Infernal Affairs", the Sullivan / Damon character actually lived, with the only person who knew that he was ever the police mole his wife (and it's not implied she's going to talk to anyone about it). The movie suggests that he is going to continue serving as a cop - he had recently been promoted - possibly now trying to make a straight life for himself.

 

I actually prefer that ending, as it's more dramatic, thought-provoking, and morally ambiguous. I didn't dislike this film's ending, though.

 

One thing that I preferred from the original film, that I thought was somewhat lacking from this remake, was there was more of an overt focus on the parallel between the undercover cop and the corrupt mole. At the beginning of "Infernal Affairs", when the undercover is 'kicked out' of the academy, the instructer chastises his remaining recruits not to wind up like him, asking them, Would you trade places with him? The corrupt mole - one of the other trainees - says to himself, "I would trade places with him."

 

And that was a recurring theme in Infernal Affairs. The undercover, who wanted more than anything to end the crime lifestyle and just be a regular police officer, and the corrupt mole, who hated to live a lie as an officer of the law while selling his soul to the crime boss. And at the end of the film, the corrupt mole seems to feel remorse or guilt over what's occurred, because he again thinks back to that moment as a trainee, and thinks again to himself, "I'd trade places with him."

 

There was some of that with this film, but I thought that whole aspect of the plot didn't get quite as much focus as it should have, when IMO, that is the TRUE core of this entire story. It's Leo and Damon, and how both are being ate up, how both are losing their souls over what the're doing, only from opposite perspectives.

[Vyce 0]

Yeah, I didn't understand the reasoning for the last two points of your spoilers CB. Also...

 

Also, I assumed that the Wet Blanket Girl was the one who told Marky Mark about Damon being a rat, but they could have at least implied this a little bit to show how he knew.

 

DiCaprio gave blondie that package, and said not to open it unless he died. I guess that package is along the lines of "Matt Damon is evil! Here's evidence! Tell Marky Mark." It would have been nice if they actually showed her opening the package etc.

 

Yes.

 

The package wasn't explicitly said to have been for Wahlberg, but he was the ONLY police officer, outside of Damon, who was still alive and who knew that he had really been a cop, so the package was almost certainly for him - likely an explanation of how Damon was the mole.

 

Seeing as Damon was, ultimately, responsible for Martin Sheen's death, I assume that Wahlberg decided to take matters into his own hands and instead of trying to nail Damon with a crooked cop rap (which probably wouldn't have stuck), he just decided to give him the ultimate payback, with a bullet through the head.

[Hank Kingsley 0]

DiCaprio's death was the most shocking (pretty much everyone in the theater jumped/cursed etc.), but my favorite was Damon's. By that point, with the body count, everyone in the theater expected Damon to be shot as soon as he opened the door. I love how Wahlberg gave him a moment to let it sink in, gave him a "You're mine, asshole," look, and then blow his brains out.

[dubq 0]

I loved this movie.

[bob_barron 0]

I loved every second of this movie. Just awesome.

 

Alec Baldwin, Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg, all deserve Oscars