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David Jones · 10-06-2006, 04:26 PM

Just finished seeing the movie.

Here's the plot (from the SF Chronicle):

"In the police department, there is a spy working for a gang leader. And in the gang leader's crew, there's a spy working for the police department. Early on, both sides know they've been infiltrated, and each side is looking for the mole in its organization. Each mole is looking for the other mole, and that's the story."

I have the greatest respect for Martin Scorsese's films. I've seen them all. This is no Goodfellas but it does score at the gut level. Marty Sheen, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Jack Nicholson and Vera Farmiga pulled me into their roles.

But Jack! He is nearly over the top as the psychopathic, paranoid, demented crime boss. He stops just short of caricature...barely. Remember his disheveled, eyes-rolled-up close-ups as the murderous, crazed, father in the Shining? Well, he's back recreating the same, riveting, closeups which had us believing pure evil does exist. Only here it's not a man infected by evil but a man who is evil.

At 2 hours 29 minutes it seems longer than it need be to tell the story. It does pick up in the last hour or so, where it appears most of the budget on bullets, gunfire, and simulated blood was spent. The ending appears tacked on...like someone said "we've had the audience for two-and-half-hours so lets end it, NOW."...somewhat of a surprise ending, but not surprising. Maybe that's what the Director intended...I dunno.

So overall, I'm glad I saw it...Mr Scorsese can still draw me down and into the world of petty mob bosses, sleezy hit men, and moral men swimming upstream in a river of immorality.

Not a great movie for me, but a good movie.

10-06-2006, 04:26 PM	#39 of 223
David Jones Member Join Date: Aug 1999 Local Time: 07:45 AM Local Date: 01-09-2009 Posts: 51	Re: * Official The Departed Discussion Thread** Just finished seeing the movie. Here's the plot (from the SF Chronicle): "In the police department, there is a spy working for a gang leader. And in the gang leader's crew, there's a spy working for the police department. Early on, both sides know they've been infiltrated, and each side is looking for the mole in its organization. Each mole is looking for the other mole, and that's the story." I have the greatest respect for Martin Scorsese's films. I've seen them all. This is no Goodfellas but it does score at the gut level. Marty Sheen, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Jack Nicholson and Vera Farmiga pulled me into their roles. But Jack! He is nearly over the top as the psychopathic, paranoid, demented crime boss. He stops just short of caricature...barely. Remember his disheveled, eyes-rolled-up close-ups as the murderous, crazed, father in the Shining? Well, he's back recreating the same, riveting, closeups which had us believing pure evil does exist. Only here it's not a man infected by evil but a man who is evil. At 2 hours 29 minutes it seems longer than it need be to tell the story. It does pick up in the last hour or so, where it appears most of the budget on bullets, gunfire, and simulated blood was spent. The ending appears tacked on...like someone said "we've had the audience for two-and-half-hours so lets end it, NOW."...somewhat of a surprise ending, but not surprising. Maybe that's what the Director intended...I dunno. So overall, I'm glad I saw it...Mr Scorsese can still draw me down and into the world of petty mob bosses, sleezy hit men, and moral men swimming upstream in a river of immorality. Not a great movie for me, but a good movie. Last edited by David Jones : 10-06-2006 at 04:29 PM.