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Movie: The Departed
Director: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin
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The Departed is based on Andy Lau's fascinating cop thriller Infernal Affairs. The American version isn't exactly a remake, screenwriter William Monahan uses the core of the 2002 Hong Kong film and sets the story in Boston, heart of the Irish mob.
Just like in the original, the story revolves around two moles, one of them is undercover cop Billy Costigan played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who infiltrates the powerful organization of mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). The other mole is Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a corrupt cop who works closely with Costello. Both parties provide crucial information but no one knows who's the rat within the unit.
Martin Scorsese, one of the great heroes of American movie history, returns to his roots. The Departed is in the vein of Mean Streets, Taxi Driver and Goodfellas, an ultra-violent flick about the mafia, this time not the Italian but the Irish one. The impressive cast includes DiCaprio, teaming-up again with Scorsese after Gangs of New York and The Aviator. DiCaprio and Damon are the driving force of the story and deliver a powerful performance. Important supporting roles are being provided by Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg, who portray the tough Boston cops. Baldwin's and Wahlberg's performance is explosive, loaded with cool dialogs that starts and ends with the nastiest lines and f-words. The icing on the cake, Jack Nicholson, the role of superbaddie, who once again delivers legendary 'Nicholson-moments'.
The Departed goes beyond Infernal Affairs. Writer William Monahan explores the characters and pushes the concept of the two moles to the limit. Scorsese slams the pedal to the metal, delivering an overwhelming, in-your-face powerhouse about the Irish mob and Boston cops.
Written by Reggy 05/11/06
© wb 2006
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