Scorsese Scores with 'The Departed'
Kick off your shoes and grab some popcorn. Welcome to the Review Lounge.
Our first review is of the film, “The Departed,” which has just been released on DVD.
It’s no surprise “The Departed” won 4 Oscars. This movie is all around great, starting with the script and continuing all the way through the acting.
“The Departed” is directed by Oscar winner Martin Scorsese. In it, Scorsese stays true to his trademark style of film making, beginning the film with a look into his main character’s childhood. That gives the viewer an instant connection to the character, as well as an understanding of what may happen later.
The movie is set in present day Boston, with Jack Nicholson playing Francis Costello, the most feared — and wanted — organized crime boss in the city. Costello owns Boston, and some of the Massachusetts State Police as well. One of them is Special Investigations Unit Detective Colin Sullivan, played by Matt Damon.
With Sullivan giving his boss inside information, such as the timing of police raids and when the big man has cops on his tail, Costello is able to commit crimes and escape unscathed.
But the police suspect they’ve got a mole and respond in kind. Detective Billy Costigan, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, goes undercover to get some answers. Working for Costello, Costigan hopes to build a case against the boss that will get him locked up once and for all, and track down Costello’s man on the inside at the same time.
Scorsese is known around the movie industry as the King of the tracking shot. In “The Departed” he uses a full array of camera angles and movements to enhance action sequences and highlight character interaction.
The director is also known for his ear for music, and in the score of this film includes everything from orchestral pieces to Rolling Stones songs. Scene after scene, Scorsese chooses just the right music to keep the pace moving and viewers on the edge of their seats.
Beyond the powerful vision and direction given by Scorsese, the strength of this film lies in its cast. “The Departed” has more superstars than the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. The headliners get superb support from Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, and Mark Wahlberg who also play significant roles.
In the spirit of the movie, I’ll rate “The Departed” in police badges.
The Rating: 4 out of a possible 5:
