Whenever Martin Scorsese releases a film, expectations are high -- especially when there's an all-star ensemble of actors in tow. Does The Departed live up to the standards of its legendary director and big name cast? Yes, it absolutely does.
Fans of Scorsese will most likely recognize The Departed as a return to the violent subject matter of his so-called "mafia trilogy," comprised of Mean Streets, Goodfellas and Casino; however, unlike Scorsese's previous gangster films, The Departed divides its attention equally between cops and robbers. Its basic plot, which is borrowed largely from the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, simultaneously follows Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), an undercover cop posing as a gangster, and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), an undercover gangster posing as a cop. In one way or another, both men answer to the psychotically menacing Irish mobster Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Costigan wants to arrest Costello, Sullivan wants to protect him. Needless to say, this leads to a conflict of interest that, along with the violent disposition of Costello, forces Sullivan and Costello into increasingly volatile situations.
The plot of The Departed certainly isn't bad -- it has more than enough twists and turns to keep things interesting -- but it's not what makes the movie special. What sets The Departed apart is the near-flawless execution of all its other elements. First and foremost is Scorsese's direction. Scorsese is known for keeping things moving, and in The Departed, he significantly amps up the speed of his camerawork and editing. The long tracking wide angle shots Scorsese is famous for are few and far between, but thankfully, this deviation from his usual style pays off. The rapid fire style of direction combined with Scorsese's careful and experienced touch keeps the film both intense and controlled.
The actors' performances in The Departed are also all on point. Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson and Mark Walberg (he'll always be Marky Mark to me) all do a stellar job in their supporting roles. The showcase actors here, however, are Damon, DiCaprio and Nicholson. All three offer some of the best performances of their careers. Damon plays his dirty cop character with a boyish innocence and eagerness that makes his devotion to Costigan uniquely disturbing. DiCaprio's performance is slightly more nuanced. He portrays a careful mix of vulnerability and recklessness as his character unravels under the stress being deep undercover. I liked DiCaprio in The Aviator, but his character here is both more accessible and believable. The wildest and most immediately memorable performance comes from Nicholson. Think of a more graphically violent version of his 1989 Joker sans the makeup. Some will probably find Nicholson's Costigan to be a bit (or very) over the top, but for my money it plays nicely. At the very least he radiates a menace and unpredictability that makes you fear for the life of any character he shares a scene with.
Scorsese's return to criminal drama may be lamented by some as a departure from the heavier historical material that he's explored over the past few years. Whatever. If you like Scorsese's other gangster films then you'll love The Departed. Even it you don't like Scorsese or if you've never heard of him, I still think you should see it. It's the most roundly satisfying experience I've had at the movies this year. Go see The Departed.
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