CULT DVD Review

 The Departed

 Overall: 82%

 Feature: 97%

 Extras: 53%

 Top 1000 Disc

The Departed (2006) (Blu-Ray) / DVD

Here at last was Scorsese’s first collaboration with Hollywood’s other big heavyweight, Jack Nicholson. Both the director and the star made quite a splash on American movies during the ‘70s and between them have garnered a huge amount of Academy Award nominations and a lot of their films have a cult following. So does this remake of the excellent Hong Kong thriller, Infernal Affairs, deserve to be up there with the best of their work? Hell yes!!!

They both play up to what they do best. Scorsese returns to the crime genre that he has made his own in stylish classics, Goodfellas, Casino and Mean Streets while Nicholson returns to the deliciously hammy but dangerous villains of The Shining, Batman and Witches of Eastwick.

Nicholson is great and he is a complete scene-stealer as the repulsive, murderous gang leader who rules Little Boston with a heavy hand. However this is an ensemble film and whilst Nicholson chews the scenery with glee, the main thrust of the film comes from the complex story that follows Leonardo DiCaprio’s undercover cop and Matt Damon’s corrupt cop. It’s a preposterous movie style plotline that is played completely stone cold straight and given credibility by the excellent cast and Scorsese’s absolute commitment to the film.

DiCaprio’s current rise to becoming one of Hollywood’s finest actors definitely started around here with this impressive performance as the troubled cop who is constantly having to look over his shoulder. Damon is impressive in a rare villain role and his handsome front covers up his deceit. Meanwhile Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga and Ray Winstone provide excellent sweaty support and bristle with energy whenever they are on screen. It’s like every actor has raised their game for Scorsese and they all get moments to shine. It was a surprise that Wahlberg was the only one who managed to snatch a nomination but it is well deserved and he performs with gusto as the hard-edged, take no nonsense and aggressive detective.

Scorsese is now so good at his game that he can completely nail this type of film. It’s an intense film that is full of intense set-pieces, stylish direction, hard-edged violence and of course a killer soundtrack. This was the film that finally got Scorsese the Oscar, whether it be his best film will certainly provoke debate but as I see it, it’s certainly Top 5.

EXTRAS:

Deleted Scenes: Intro from Martin Scorsese

Good to have Scorsese take us through each of the deleted scenes and giving reasons why he chose to take them out. Most interesting is a scene between a younger Nicholson and DiCaprio’s father.

Crossing Criminal Cultures:

A look into Scorsese’s work portraying underground characters. Scorsese is a huge film buff himself and talks in-depth about some influences on his work.

Stranger Than Fiction

This documentary follows the life of the real life gangster who was inspiration for Nicholson's character.

Trailer

 

A brilliant film; intense, well acted and from a director at the very top of his game. The extras aren't great but it's definitely a disc worth investing in.

Stewart McLaren

 

FEATURE: 97%

EXTRAS: 53%

 

OVERALL: 82%

 

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