Ah, thanks.

I finally saw this last night and really enjoyed it. I was expecting to be let down and instead it exceeded my expectations. Very good to great movie all around.

I'm re-watching it now...I don't remember what the recordings were of specifically, but in the movie Damon's friend never does anything outright. I mean, I'm sure he must have, otherwise he'd be kind of useless -- or perhaps just a backup -- but I guess if the guy never speaks up then there's no way to be caught.

I don't know what that other rat did or didn't do - I'm just going off of what Billy says to Damon: "Costello recorded everything". Based on that, all his work was done for him, and he didn't need to apprehend Damon the way he did.

Well, Damon had told him that Dignam was gone and no one could find him.

Thus in that case Damon was the only person who know his identity, knew he had been undercover, could get his identity back and get him his money etc.

Maybe he thought confronting him the way he did was the only way to get his identity back and that if he turned the stuff in the cops would just think he was one of Costello's grunts turned snitch and Damon would have no reason to tell them otherwise?

Still a stretch, and it is a bit of a plot hole. The reality is its just there to lead to a more dramatic conclusion.

pretty much sums up how I felt watching this movie

good but nothing I haven't see him or others already do better

picked up the BB version blind today but rented the movie to make sure I liked it before opening

the rental goes back tomorrow on its due date as does the sealed dvd to BB
glad I watched it but don't need to own it

I enjoyed this movie, but feel that it is not the film that Marty should win the Oscar for. He should have won it before now for either Taxi Driver, Ragin Bull or Goodfellas. It just feels that the the Oscar is being pushed on him this year rather than his film truly deserving it. The film is very good, but compared to some of his other efforts its somewhere in the middle. I felt that Jack was a tad wasted in the role, i prefered Infernal Affairs to this movie and the Boston accents got a little grating after a while. Added to which the performance by the actress playing the shrink just annoyed the hell out of me. When i rewatched the movie i just flicked past every scene with her in. I don't mind the music being repeated from some of Scorsese' other work, and i love Gimme Shelter.....but i prefered the Irish backing track...it brought more atmosphere to the movie.

The DVD itself is excellent. I watched the very interesting documentary on the true life Boston Crime syndicates and also am half way through the Scorses on Scorses documentary which appears to run for at least maybe an hour and a half. I really appreciate seeing this kind of reflection by a director on the movies that they make.

Both of those are sort of the "expected" versions of the characters. When has Leary not played a smart-ass? Plus, he looks a bit too old. Wahlberg gives off the aura of a smart-ass that's done well and moved up quickly. (I know he's not in his 20s but he looks much younger than Leary). And after Analyze This and Meet the Cash-Ins I can take a long break from DeNiro.

I loved the movie on its theatrical viewing. Can't wait to revisit this.

I know a lot of people complaining about Jack (some say DeNiro should've been casted) and the second time "Gimme Shelter" was played (Marty's 3rd use for it), but maybe we've been too spoiled on his amazing filmography? I love Scorsese, so I might be a Scorsese apoligist, but this film is really good, smart, and doesnt warrant the planned sequels.

If he wins Best Director, he does deserve it. Not for the missed opportunities the Academy missed, but he was the best director of 2006 (and yes, I've seen all the other nominee's films). Case closed.

Can't wait to see his next...

The Oscar goes to "Best Achievement in Directing" for the year 2006, not "Best Achievement in Directing in your 38-year career, 2006 or no." The Departed is the best directed film on 2006. He deserves it.

when are the oscars?

Gee, I'm still not sure how you stand on the Departed from your signature.

I would say Marty's directing job on the Departed was probably top 5 for last year, but because no one completely blew the field away (not that Alfonso or Guillermo were even nominated) they're going to give him the award, for justifiably a job well done, just not the best he's ever done.

Sunday the 25th.

I wish DiCaprio had been nominated for this, he was brilliant. I really feel like I could watch this film everyday.

That's the breaks for having two great acting performances in a year. Don't cry for him too much, he was nominated for Blood Diamond.

Oh come on. The Oscars have always given out the award to people they snubbed before. Do you really think Paul Newman deserved Best Actor for The Color of Money? And Denzel Washington was much more deserving for The Hurricane than Training Day.

I thought some of you guys might be interested in seeing this...
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1802/dscn2562bl0.jpg
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/2149/dscn2564dk1.jpg
It's the trailer.

This isn't the first time DiCaprio has shot himself in the foot with two great performances in one Oscar season:

1993:
1) This Boy's Life
2) What's Eating Gilbert Grape

Loved it and just finished. Came in here to try and get some answers about what exactally Nicholson's character was doing for the FBI. I saw somewhere that someone thought that he was stealing those chips or something like that. But got a little lost through all the loved-it-hated-it posts. Any quick answer out there?

frank's character was based on whitey bulger (a south boston irish mob boss), who, in fact, was a long time FBI informant and used his position as an informant to gain power within the crime world. IIRC, no specifics are described in the film.

just re-visited this opus last night and wow! is this a great flick.

the only thing i found cheesy and didn't notice it in the theater was:


did anyone notice this in theaters or on dvd and has some comments? it seems like a cheap trick that MS doesn't usually resort to. i don't know about it...

I noticed it on the DVD, but thought it was just ironic because the . I thought, at first, it was Dignam who left it, but now I think it was just there.

I thought it was ironic, not so much cheesy.

yeah, that is obviously what Martin was going for, but i just thought it didn't work and kinda took away a bit from the end. plus. i thought it looked cg'd.

Just watched it last night. Great movie. Fantastic performances. Really enjoyed the plot.

Leo's best performance in ages (although I hear he's good in Blood Diamond). It really pisses me off that he wastes his talent making C-D-F grade movies most of the time.

Jack's improv leeway in this movie led to some great scenes with honest reaction shots from the actors.