The Departed - review thread
 

It's got 100% on RT right now, though it's only out of about 10 reviews, it still bodes well.

The only thing I'm worried about is that all the reviews agree that the movie "drops the ball" in it's final act - whatever that means.

Equally positive review at CHUD: http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=reviews&id=7778

Wow. He only gives four stars to about one or two movies a year.



Richard Roeper and Kevin Smith gave it great reviews, too.
http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/eber...per/today.html

Nice. Seems like Marty's got a strong winner on his hands.

I wonder if this will be the sort of flick that can get him Oscar nods - not that he needs it.

The Oscars don't tend to reward these sorts of crime-genre pictures, but that's what they also said of fantasy films before LOTR.

Very encouraging. This makes me all the more eager to see this film.

Scorsese will eventually get a sympathy Oscar. Whether this is the film in which he'll get it or it's a future film of his, I don't know.

Jimmy B's review definitely caught me off guard. I may have to see this in the theater now. But I still can't help but feel this is all pointless. Infernal Affairs was a great flick, and not only that, I'll know all the twists that are coming when I see The Departed.

Here are some interesting observations from D.K. Holm:

The rash of promotional magazine articles has also filled in some details about this most anticipated of movies. Among them is the American Cinematographer interview with DP Michael Ballhaus. It’s a weird interview because Bauhaus admits to abhorring violence, and only consents to doing Scorsese’s films because, vaguely, “the way he plays those scenes tells you something about the characters.” Ballhaus is one of the few collaborators who will admit to having seen the source film (Scorsese and the screenwriter say they have avoided it) — and I wish he hadn’t. Everything he says about Infernal Affairs is wrong. Ballhaus says he enjoyed Lau’s movie, but adds that ” Infernal Affairs is a very fast-moving and stylish picture, but it has a very different style than The Departed. Marty’s version is much more character-driven, whereas the Chinese version [sic; it’s not a ‘version,’ it is the actual movie, of which ‘Marty’s’ is the version], while very good, doesn’t have the same depth. It was good for me to see Internal Affairs because it helped me learn what to do and not to do in our film. The original is lit very darkly in places and is rather mysterious, which is sometimes good. However, it’s occasionally a bit difficult to see the characters, and it’s also primarily action-driven. Ours also has a lot of action, but we took a more American approach to the material.” To paraphrase Peter Gallagher in the great Malice, all due respect, Mr. Ballhaus, but knock it off. Everything you say is wrong. Infernal Affairs is well lit. If there are parts of the film so dark you can’t see the characters I’d like to know where they are. Does he mean the movie theater scene? And what does he mean by “mysterious”? What does that mean? On the subject of action, the reverse of what Ballhaus says is true. Infernal Affairs is character driven, not action driven. That is perfectly obvious. I suspect he saw Hard-Boiled and thought it was Infernal Affairs. How condescending of Ballhaus to say that viewing the source taught him what not to do. And what is this more “American” approach to the material”? What does that mean? Based on what American films in general do lately I would guess it means drain it of all interest and importance. It’s American movies that can’t develop characters of late, and it is HK films that have out-Hollywooded Hollywood when it comes to coherent, suspenseful, and amusing action. Infernal Affairs also showed that HK films have greater, not lesser, depth of character in their films. What a string of ridiculous, inaccurate, embarrassing, condescending, self-serving, and ignorant statements.

The interview with Scorsese in Entertainment Weekly also bothered me. Scorsese seemed disengaged. When reminded that he is using the Rolling Stones’s “Gimmee Shelter” yet again to kick off a film, lamely replied that, “I guess I’m repeating myself.”

I'm just wondering where Scorcese thought Infernal Affairs needed nearly 50 minutes of fleshing out to get to the Departed's running time.

I haven't seen Departed yet, but I thought that it was supposed to contain portions of Internal Affairs and the sequel. That explains why it's about an hour longer. Even at 152 minutes (according to filmjerk.com), it's still quite a bit shorter than Marty's recent flicks. I was kinda hoping this would be three hours like Casino, but 152 minutes isn't bad.

I saw a sneak preview last night.

It is definitely Scorsese in fine form. For my money - it would rank between Goodfellas and Casino in his mob filmography and Nicholson gives a great performance. It reminded me a bit of "Heat" with DiCaprio and Damon playing the Pacino/DeNiro roles.

My main complaint would be that I always have a hard time buying Mark Wahlberg playing a "smart" guy. He does get some funny lines - but I just don't buy him as someone who could progress to a high level in his job.

I also felt the wrap-up of the plot drops the ball from the very high level the film playes with up to that point.

This is definitely one that I will rush to see - loved the original, this has a cast of actors that I always appreciate watching, and it's SCORSESE!

Wow. I'm thinking this movie may get Best Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Nicholson), Editing, and maybe even Actor (DiCaprio) Oscar nods. I'm sure hoping it takes out at least Supporting Actor and Director.

Well it was at 100% on RT with 20 reviews, but some jackass at Village Voice gave it a rotten, even though he praises the film for most of his review...

Still, 95% out of 21 reviews (most of them legit reviewer) aint bad at all.

Jim Hoberman isn't a jackass...usually.

Very thrilled to watch this film. Great cast and it seems all the critics are liking it.

I will finally make my return to the cinema for this one on Friday. Haven't been there since The New World.

Can't wait, i'm catching this tomorrow morning as part of a work event :D

Saw it, loved it. Don't know why anyone would complain about this movie. Like a good movie, it sucks you in and never gets boring. Intense from start to finish. I thought the Aviator was boring and Gangs of New York felt sort of off-kilter. A fine movie and the cast was excellent.

I definitely got a "Heat" vibe from Infernal Affairs with the way it makes you sympathize with both the crook and the cop. Nice to hear The Departed recaptures that feeling.

For those who have seen both films, how similar is The Departed to Infernal Affairs?

Not a fan of Scorsese, really not a fan of unnecessary and categorically inferior American remakes, but I might make an exception if it isn't an embarrassment.

95% with 86 reviews :banana:

Can't wait to see this flick.

It's the 3rd Scorsese picture to feature the Stones' Gimme Shelter (behind Goodfellas & Casino). That alone is enough to get me to go see this. :D

Infernal Affairs was one of my favorite Asian flicks ( I am Asian myself)' it's stylish, intense and has great characters.

I am not a fan of Scorsese as well, but wow...this movie is even better than the original! It's just a fantastic movie all around...It is definately one of the movie I will be watching again and again and again in the future.

cheers -)

I don't know, I didn't really sympathize with the rat at all. I enjoyed this movie up until the end, which left me dissapointed. I guess I was expecting a better resolution to all the lies and deceit.

Edit: Er... not rat. The mole :p