Awesome.

This is wonderful.

I would love nothing more than for Scorcese to finally be rewarded for his excellence. I love Sorcese. I can't wait to see this film.

And DiCaprio is getting true out and out RAVES for his performance. Another possible Oscar nom for DiCaprio.

PEACE, Mike.

Kris continues to rave about <b>The Departed</b>

More "Departed" dishing... I can't get this thing out of my mind. It's interesting that I love this film so much, and still recognize the visible stitches that keep it around the fourth or fifth best film of the year in my current perspective, rather than the second or third. "The Last King of Scotland" is a better film, for instance, and as much as I love Kevin Macdonald's work, given a choice of the year's cinematic output so far, "The Departed" will be the film I will watch over and over and over and over again.

<b>And "Scorsese's best since 'Goodfellas'" will be the ubiquitous pull-quote on this film throughout the fall. However, what many will fail to comment on amongst the jubilation of the director's return to form is the fact that "The Departed" is Scorsese's most violent, darkest immersion in 30 years. It is his most cynical and blood-letting effort since "Taxi Driver," and that's a story unto itself. It would be like Francis Coppola coughing up something approaching the epic, sinister majesty of "The Godfather" today, or if Woody Allen crafted something approaching the intellect and sophistication of "Annie Hall." Better yet, imagine William Friedkin turning genre on its ear again as he did with "The French Connection," or Sidney Lumet knocking something out of the park with the consistency of "Dog Day Afternoon" and "Network." That's the kind of return to form we're talking about here.</b>

Also, this isn't just the ravings of someone who has been fed up with what Scorsese has had to offer the last 16 years. You're talking to a guy who considered "Gangs of New York" and "The Aviator" to be top ten qualifiers in 2002 and 2004 respectively. And I LOVE 1999's "Bringing Out the Dead." I can't get on the buses for "The Age of Innocence" or "Kundun," but I certainly haven't been aching for quality Marty for nearly two decades.

Oscar talk is what it is - a bunch of hype that means nothing until people start seeing the film and talking about it. A lot of viewers out there think maybe this will give the Academy reason to finally hand Marty an Oscar for Best Director. That is so doubtful that I remain happy to expect nothing of this film's award prospects, because "The Departed" is the kind of movie that finds a place in history despite a lack of prestigious rememberance. Can William Monahan grab a win for his stunning screenplay? There are those who think a case is there. I am not one of them. Can Leonardo DiCaprio snag a nomination for what is perhaps his best performance to date? Another turn in Ed Zwick's "Blood Diamond" can help matters, but again, I doubt it. And that simply doesn't bother me in the least.

The reaction to the film so far is overwhelmingly positive, so much so that the praise might become boring by the time the film releases in a few weeks. Jeff Wells is on board. David Poland is so giddy he can't stop writing about it. And you're currently reading my third posting on the film in less than 24 hours. People are going to want to talk about this film, and people are going to want to leave analysis out of the picture. Wells mentions four times in his review that the film doesn't have thematic resilience, but that it doesn't have to have as much. I don't think the matter even needs to be qualified, because "The Departed" is just too damn good on its own terms to be judged on any other terms.

I'm unravelling again and running out of gas, but I'm sure something will spark my mind where this flick is concerned and I'll find myself writing about it yet again. I can't wait to take it in again next week, and I'll likely buy ticket after ticket when it releases.<b> I can't stop telling people how much ass it kicks and how much they should see it. My 50 year old mother who isn't exactly into blood and violence? I still couldn't refrain from telling her to see it. It's a movie I want EVERYONE to see, because it's just "one of those." One of those films that commands a place as a definitive example of an auteur's talent.</b>

And I'm so happy Jack waited over 30 years to finally partner up with Marty on a project, because the resulting performance is epic and so much more than "Jack doing his thing." If "his thing" is being brilliant and carrying across a character like no other actor alive or dead could dream of accomplishing, then yeah, it's "Jack doing his thing."

Whew.

Thats not a good thing in terms of BO and awards, but it sure is gonna kick major ass.

After the indie and message Oscars of last year, I am so so happy to see The Departed headlining like this. Fantastic.

Haven't seen the other films in Raging Bull's year, but that must have been a pretty bad ne if Raging Bull is supposedly the best in that year. I really see nothing great about it except De Niro

Goodfellas, however...I need to rewatch it, but what I remember is excellent.

My thoughts exactly

At this point, only Killuminati seems to be going against the film (in terms of awards, that is, not the film itself I mean).

The box-office WILL be there. The marketing is at the very least decent so far and Nicholson/DiCaprio/Damon/Wahlberg altogether will work as a draw. Also, its genre is at least more mainstream than GONY. Should open around $20 million and definitely finish with $60+ million ($70+ million more likely).

At this point, I'd say it's a lock for a SAG Best Ensemble nomination.

At the Oscars, Leo and Jack should both get noms, Nicholson might even win. The screenplay is certainly in play as well.

If this film can open in the $25m range - then I see no reason why it wont make $100m.

<b>Ty Burr of The Boston Globe says</b>

<b>I had a chance to catch an early screening of Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" yesterday, and my senses are so fried I'm going to have to go back next week for another look. Oh. My. God.</b> A remake of the Hong Kong action film "Infernal Affairs" retooled for the Boston mob landscape, "Departed" shows everyone involved working at the absolute top of their games: Scorsese, Jack Nicholson (Oh. My. God.), Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Vera Farmiga, especially little Leo DiCaprio, who gives the most emotionally complicated performance of his career. Editor Thelma Schoonmaker and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus aren't exactly slacking either, and the howlingly profane script by local boy William Monahan is an immediate Oscar contender.

Perfect? Not quite -- it's not up there with "Goodfellas," and while the first act offers a brutally honest take on Boston's sorry racial/class history, the film ultimately lets the larger picture slip. Bloody? Almost more than you can bear -- the violence in this movie hurts. The energy of the filmmaking feels like that of a filmmaker half Scorsese's age. After "Gangs of New York" and "The Aviator" -- fine, flawed movies both -- you realize with a vicious thrill that Marty's back on the block.

"The Departed" opens here October 6; a full review will run in the paper that day.

You're dreaming. According to the reviews it's a violent, blood-soaked popcorn thriller with about as much depth as a puddle. A BD nom is one thing but a BP nomination is, I think, extremely unlikely.

Most reviews mention how complex TD is, as in this mini review from the Miami Herald which said:

<b>The Departed is class-A pulp - grave, resonant, psychologically complex and acted to the skies.</b>

Gee, did I say it will? Did I even say it's likely? Anywhere? It's this kind of replies that test my patience. I merely mentioned it's the only film that can possibly do a mini-sweep, regardless how small that possibility is. If its chance is 1%, which is where I'd put it right now, then the next best possibility is at 0.1%. I'm very much willing to bet no other film can win BP, BD, and Screenplay all together this year.

Yes, when you wrote - 'The Departed is a film, unlike a few other contenders, that can win both BP and BD.'



Yes, when you wrote - 'The Departed is a film, unlike a few other contenders, that can win both BP and BD.'



Yes, when you wrote - 'The Departed is a film, unlike a few other contenders, that can win both BP and BD.'



Boy, you can say that again.

I have to agree with Xiayun on this one. I can't see a film other than The Departed sweeping. And I also agree that a sweep is highly unlikely.

Limey, you're coming off like a rabid Eastwood fanboy. Your type doesn't last long in this forum.

Loyal, go fuck yourself.

Actually, not that Xiayun needs defending or anything, but there is a difference, you know, between "can" and "will". Dontcha think?

Although I can´t personally see "The departed" mini-sweeping (I wish). Academy likes (mostly) to send messages with their BP winners, and this one just doesn´t look like that type of movie. Scorsese BD? That would be fucking amazing. And I hope It becomes more likely as Oscar night approaches

Limey, it's doubtful that you're going to find a bigger Clint Eastwood fan than me, and you need to chill out, because you're giving the rest of us a bad name. There is no need for you to attack everybody that doesn't think Flags will win or be nominated, and you certainly don't need to tear down every movie in competition with Flags like you've been doing. That's not building Flags up, it's only making you look like somebody who's opinion is too biased to even consider. Flags has plenty of power on it's own.

Just enjoy the awards season without feeling like you have some obligation to protect your favorite film.

The words "could" and "potentially" don't mean "IT WILL DO THIS AND THAT."

Since we're getting into small details, limey.

Mav, Loyal went over the top in calling me a rabid Eastwood fanboy. It simply isn't true (you won't catch me defending the likes of Firefox, The Rookie or Any Which Way You Can) & then saying 'your type doesn't last long.' In the circumstances telling this pompous prat to go fuck himself was an appropriate response. Nowhere have I ever said Flags is going to win everthing or indeed anything at all. All I've said is that I think it'll be nominated. Granted, I've posted a lot about the film but then so what? Obviously I'm looking forward to it & given the pedigree of the movie & the footage we've seen it clearly is a frontrunner. There's nothing fanboy-ish about saying that & what's especially strange is that Loyal called me a Flags fanboy in a thread about The Departed. I mean I hadn't mentioned Flags at all & my comments about The Departed weren't driven by a wish to see every rival to Flags stomped into the dust. But Loyal evidently assumed that they were - which frankly says more about him than it does about me.

In fact I suspect Loyal's touchy response stems from his barely disguised irritation everytime Flags Of Our Fathers is mentioned. That's understandable given that his condescending attitude towards Eastwood's directorial talents & the movie itself is evident in nearly everything he posts (as witness his comical assertion that Eastwood can't direct battle scenes). But, hey, that's okay. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, right? If Loyal doesn't like Eastwood movies - that's cool but he really must get over assuming that everytime I criticise some Oscar contender it's out of love for Flags. It isn't.

Oh, & Loyal - I shall take some mischievous pleasure in knowing that everytime Flags Of Our Fathers gets mentioned in approving terms on this forum it will wind you up no end.

Everyone is a fanboy of something, you can tell by there posts and favoritism, I dont know whats the big deal? Almost everyone is blindly rooting for a specific film, things will change once the films actually come out probably, but now people are just anticipating and hoping for the best and in the process having biased opinion towards specific films they want to see win and want to see fail.

Theres no denying that this IS fanboyism.

Well, I think opinions vary on that & calling somebody on the net a fanboy is usually meant as a pejorative - the implication being that the person is so carried away by their enthusiasm that they've lost all sense of proportion. It's certainly not meant as a compliment. In any case I don't think Flags is a sure bet to win & I think Dreamgirls is also a formidable contender, as is The Departed in some categories. Enthusiasm is one thing & I happily plead guilty to that but Loyal was accusing me of something else ... & he's wrong.

No, telling somebody "go fuck yourself" because they said you're coming off like a rabid fanboy isn't an appropriate response. Your reply to me was appropriate, and I assumed the same thing. It's the impression you're giving off, and I doubt loyal and I are the only ones that are getting that vibe. If you asked him who the biggest rabid Eastwood fanboy here was, I'm sure he'd say me, and I've lasted pretty long in this forum. It was a JOKE!



His dislike of Eastwood and Haggis isn't barely disguised. It's not disguised at all. He and I had a year long war that originated in a thread about Million Dollar Baby, so I should know. He didn't like Crash at all. I recall him having Flags in his top 5, so it's not like he's saying it'll suck or won't make it into the top 5. He's allowed to not like it and even root against it, just like you and I can not like or root against anything we wish to. Like I said, if you don't want people assuming you're just a fanboy, you've got to at least talk about more things, and more importantly, talk positive about other things. I'm an Eastwood fanboy, and I am not embarrassed to be or to be called that. Everybody knows it, but they also know that I talk about all the films and talk positively about most. That's where you're giving off the wrong message.



I took pleasure in the Million Dollar Baby and Crash sour grapes that he was fed, so I know how it feels to enjoy the burn, but I contribute many hours to this forum first and foremost. If you try to contribute MORE than just your attitude, it'll be a lot more fun for you, as well as for everybody else. Giving attitude when you don't do a thing around here that's a positive isn't going to come off good to anybody. Is that what you want?

And the award for the Oscar forum's least favorite poster goes to...