100 Films of the 2000s
Martin Scorsese's return to the volatile world of crime fiction is perhaps one of the best remakes available. Adapted from the Hong Kong police drama Infernal Affairs (2002) Scorsese's movie lifts the conflict from Hong Kong and places it in Boston. Two stories surrounding separate police officers run parallel, one an undercover cop, Billy Costigan, played by Leonardo DiCaprio infiltrating the Boston mafia and the other, Collin Sullivan, played by Matt Damon who acts as mole for the mob, as a man inside the police department.Scorsese's crime movies have always done a fine job with walking between the conflicting morality of a life in crime opposed to its allure and benefits and The Departed is no different. Sullivan's ambitions take control over his character. With political aspirations he feels little remorse hurdling over the justice system for personal gain. Sullivan and Costigan's stories run as juxtaposed tragedies showing the cost and loss of both sides of crime. Like stated at the beginning of the film, one of it's strongest themes is that of survival, but the priced payed for that survival and ability to thrive in such an environment is one's own honor and loyalty, that or their life.
The film also boasts a terrific cast of household names with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, and Martin Sheen joining Damon and DiCaprio. Also, the rest of the players from Ray Winston, Mark Wahlberg, Vera Farmiga, to Anthony Anderson are all in great form as well. It's superb cast elevates the drama and urgency of a picture that already has career topping turns from Damon and DiCaprio. Also accentuating the drama is Martin Scorsese's well known skill for constructing a great accompanying soundtrack. The director really knows his music and The Departed's soundtrack is more proof to that claim, adding excitement and improving emotion when the need arrises. This isn't a movie to be dismissed purely because it's another American remake, though it's understandable if that's an early thought considering what's been done to many foreign movies, especially in the last ten years. Nor would I suggest missing out on Infernal Affairs either (it does star one of my favorite actors, Tony Leung), both Infernal Affairs and The Departed are great pictures well worth seeing on their own.
10 Films of 2006:
7. The Departed (Martin Scorsese)
8. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (Tom Tykwer)
9. A Scanner Darkly (Richard Linklater)
10. The Host (Joon-Ho Bong)
Nice write-up. I feel like I need to give the Departed another chance. I meant to put more in this comment but I've just noticed you have an Ethan Hawke label and I just have to check it out. :P
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work! x
Yeah, I would think a music lover like you would at least appreciate most Scorsese movies for the music alone. He always has great soundtracks.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing this in theater when it first came out twice, the second to bring someone with me to see it, and I liked just paying attention to the audience's reaction to it. There were a few moments where there were like collective gasps from like 200 people. It was pretty amusing.
But yeah, I think it's one of the better cop movies you'll find. It's more than just shoot outs, it's very cerebral and strategic in nature. I also really need to see Infernal Affairs again, I haven't for some time and I do really like that Tony Leung (Psst, he's in In the Mood for Love).
Hah, that Ethan Hawke tag is for Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. There will probably be more for him sometime. I know I'll have another post for Before Sunset when it (hint) may or may not be on this list.
Just watched this again the other day, what a great movie.
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