Hi Koose
Have you seen INFERNAL AFFAIRS, the film that this is 'based' on (although,
not a remake)? Just wondering! I thought it was excellent.
Am looking forward to THE DEPARTED.
Thanks for your impressions.
Shelly
----Original Message Follows----
From: David Kusumoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: David Kusumoto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Subject: [MOPO] Scorcese's "The Departed"
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2006 00:51:05 -0700
** Before people start falling over themselves proclaiming Martin Scorcese's
new film, "The Departed" as being his among his best, it isn't. But when
they say it's his best film since "Goodfellas" and "Casino," it's
true. After spending more than 10 years trying to "art" it up doing
hoity-toity stuff that's unfamiliar to his palate, it's clear Scorcese will
be to crime dramas what Alfred Hitchcock was to thrillers. And like
Hitchcock, he may never win an Oscar. So what.
** "The Departed" film rockets off the screen during its first 30 minutes,
then does a baffling stall for another 30, before zooming to a
blood-and-gore riveting finish during its last 90. Because of Taxi Driver,
Raging Bull, Goodfellas, e.g., Scorcese's best films -- you might say "The
Departed" falls short of greatness. But if you didn't know "The Departed"
was directed by Scorcese -- you "might" say it's one of the best pictures
released so far in 2006, with many more potentially great films to be
released before Dec. 31.
** People are talking about the stellar turns by Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon
and Alec Baldwin, but this picture belongs to Leonardo DiCaprio -- and, in
my mind, stolen -- by a surprisingly spectacular Mark Wahlberg, in a
secondary role I hope people won't forget. The writing and editing during
the film's last 90 minutes are vintage Scorcese.
** Since this isn't a review -- what follows is an impression. I had almost
forgotten what Scorcese violence is like on a big screen. This, you may
remember, was one of the major raps against "Goodfellas" when it lost the
Best Picture Oscar to the politically correct "Dances with Wolves" in 1990
-- and "Taxi Driver" when it lost the top prize to "Rocky" in 1976. In
1995, "Casino" got mixed reviews, with many noting that it was "the same old
Scorcese."
** Well "Casino" has become more fondly remembered over time because of what
Scorcese has directed since. It still holds up while the films he's done
since haven't. The body count and gore in "The Departed" is comparable to
"Goodfellas," "Casino" and "Taxi Driver." It's so gruesome that even the
most ardent Scorcese fans must still be warned in advance that what they're
about to see on the big screen, 11 years after "Casino" -- that is, the
stylish violence they "thought" they adored on the little screen (and I
still believe MOST people, judging by box office receipts, first saw
"Goodfellas" and "Casino" on video, not in theaters) -- that they could
still be in for a jolt with "The Departed."
** There's an "in-your-face, matter-of-fact-brutal-truth" feeling to the
violent images in "The Departed," and when you leave the theater --
(hopefully satisfied, which is unusual for most Scorcese films) -- those of
you who've followed his career may resign yourself to the fact that really,
after 35 years, urban crime dramas are what Scorcese does best. Hitchcock's
legend is similarly based on a single genre, and he was better than other
directors who have won Oscars. "The Departed" feels effortless because the
guy behind the camera know the landscape of rats, moles, guns and cops
better than anyone.
** You almost get the feeling that "The Departed" works for the very reason
that it's not aiming for the fences. Nothing fancy here, very few camera
tricks, just fabulous cinematic story telling, especially its convoluted
final 90 minutes. Don't bring the kids.
-koose.
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