*** Official The Departed Discussion Thread (1 Viewer)

[Nathan V]

Yeah, it's use in the film is perfect on so many levels. I can't stop thinking about this movie. It's just a magical experience, to find youself so caught up in the world of a movie as to be completely unaware of anything else.

Regards,
Nathan

 

[JediFonger]

nathan,

have you seen infernal affairs? if you have, how does it compare?

 

[teapot2001]

Obviously, it's better than Infernal Affairs.

~T

 

[JediFonger]

how can it be? i think they should be 2 diff. animals.

 

[Nathan V]

JediFonger, I have. You can click on my full review on page 2- I mention it briefly.

The two are simply different types of movies- one is a good, solid, entertaining thriller, and the other is an impeccably crafted masterpiece with more layers than the onion in Goodfellas. The two share the same great story template- the difference is that Scorsese useds it as a launching point for exploring identity problems, small-neighborhood dynamics, sexual repression, and of course his usual themes of guilt and anxiety, all the while employing his unparalleled technique in editing, staging, his ability to coax out great performances, and maintaining a lightning-fast high-energy pace. Although it is technically both, this isn't so much a remake as it is a Scorsese movie. It's a window into the world he knows best, and it's a pleasure to look into that world, through his eyes. Know what I mean?

Regards,
Nathan

 

[teapot2001]

See JediFonger, one is a masterpiece while the other is just good.

~Thi

 

[Seth Paxton]

Sounds like they pulled off what I hoped for when I heard they were doing an American version of IA, which I was very happy to hear since I loved IA.

IA is great popcorn cinema, yet another example that dispells the "check your brain" theory about a good ride. In no way would I expect such a narrative to win major Oscars, but I would expect it to entertain the hell out of me. It is classic high concept - cop mole is in the mob, mob mole is in the force, they race to uncover each other in order to avoid being taken out themselves.

You just say that very brief description and you know what you have. IA as a film totally delivers on that, especially in the drug deal scene that EricW mentioned.

Sounds like Marty managed to capture that same high concept narrative complete with it's thriller intensity. Actually Nathan is implying that he took the whole thing into deeper dimensions at every step. If I have the same experience/reaction then maybe this film will be in the Oscar hunt. I thought IA was brilliant though lacking in true deeper themes.

Anyway, outstanding. I'm seeing it tomorrow for certain.

 

[JediFonger]

IA is one of the pinnacles of Asian cinema... in the East. but in the West it's just a "thriller" heheheh. very interesting.

anyway, the only acceptance the West has of Eastern cinema is Kurosawa in a big way. the rest... is harder? curious.

 

[Kyle_D]

Not true. Wong Kar-Wai, Ozu, Miyazaki, Mizoguchi, Suzuki Seijun, Park Chan-Wook, Kim Ki-Duk, Koreeda Hirokazu, Imamura Shohei, HK-era John Woo, Yimou Zhang, etc...Eastern cinema is very much appreciated in the West by those who seek it out.

Personally, I thought IA was a film with a very nifty plot and typically great performances for Leung and Lau that could have used further layers of characterization and theme, layers I'm excited to hear Scorsese has added in his version.

 

[Sam Favate]

Planning on seeing this tonight. A little concerned that the NYT review today suggests that Nicholson is over the top much of the time and undermines the movie.

 

[Robert Crawford]

This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "The Departed". Please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "The Departed should be posted to this thread.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.


Crawdaddy

 

[JediFonger]

note that phrase. that's why i mentioned 7 sam. even casual Western film goers that aren't interested in Eastern cinema have heard or know of 7 sam.


but this thread is about the departed. i'm very excited about this film because of Boston!!! i hope they do well on the accent.

 

[Shawn.F]

They do manage the accents quite well. And yeah, it was fun to see the various locations on the big screen. Scorsese and Monahan perfectly captured the Southie atmosphere, for better and for worse.

 

[Kyle_D]

Not really in my experience, though maybe that's just because I'm young and most people my age are pretty ignorant of foreign and especially classic cinema...I'd be surprised if 1 in 10 college students could tell you who Kurosawa was and recognize his body of work, or if 1 in 20 have seen one of his films -- Seven Samurai included. Most of us who get into Kurosawa eventually find our way deeper into Eastern Cinema, hence the "by those who seek it out" qualification, though I will concede that Kurosawa is usually the introduction. He just isn't the only Eastern Director whose films are accepted as masterpieces in the West, which is how I read your post. I apologize if I misinterpreted.

But yes, this thread is about The Departed. Hopefully I'll be able to catch an afternoon screening today. This is just about my most anticipated movie for the year and I can't wait!

Something does seem missing, though, to have a new Scorsese film come out without a review by Ebert...hopefully he gets a chance to see it in that hospital screening room of his!

 

[Shawn.F]

Yeah, it does seem a bit odd to not see an Ebert review for a new Scorsese flick. Knowing Marty, he probably brought Ebert a copy of the film himself to watch.

 

[teapot2001]

There isn't a review on Ebert's site from anyone, so there's still a chance he could review it.

~T

 

[teapot2001]

I've been thinking that Scorsese could have his biggest hit with this movie. What do you guys think?

~T

 

[Holadem]

My track record with Scorsese has been relatively mixed. I find his movies typically uninvolving and that includes the much acclaimed Raging Bull and Goodfellas (whose masterpiece status is frankly blaffling to me). Casino, Last temptation and The Aviator were good, not great IMO, and still feel characteristically hollow. Only Taxi Driver strikes me as a masterpiece, but it's been a while and I need to watch it again. But I am pretty pumped for this one, and even if it's only as good as the Aviator, it will be worth it.

--
H

 

[David Jones]

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.

 

[JonZ]

I may be the only one who says this but I liked Gangs of NY better. But I really liked that film.

I thought Jack was ok and the only scene where he seemed to really go over the top to me was the scene with the fly. Also thought the tension level was pretty high. I was never sure Will would make it through the film which is really a compliment since you usually know the good guy will survive.
There were lots of groans from the audience, which a mostly older crowd during some of the violent scenes.

A really good movie, not great.

3 out of 4 :star:s from me.