Definite A. Great film. Bradley will not like it.

How did you see it?

Screening on Tuesday.

You will not see a better movie this year.

A

I'm so inclined to say it was one of the best films I have ever seen. There is no hyperbole - Scorsese delivers the goods. You will not find a better, flawless ensemble. You will not find better writing, or direction. I'm also calling this a lock for a cinematography nomination. It absolutely deserves it. See spoilers for that:

[spoil]The scene where DiCaprio chases Damon through Chinatown, anyone? It's been a long time since the way in which a seen was shot has made such an impact. It was one of the most thrilling scenes I've seen in a very, very long time. I didn't expect the ending to play out as it did, though I was sure Damon was going to be paid back in full. Talk about fucking awesome film![/spoil]

I can't wait to see the reactions. I mean, it clocks in at over 2 and a half hours, but not a minute is wasted! Marty has really made every shot - every bit of dialogue count - and it shows. This is his best film in decades. You need to see it!

That review makes me extremely happy!!!!

Im hoping I have that exact same reaction!! (didnt read spoiler though).

oh and zennier - what was the crowd reaction like?

It was one of my managers, a critic (and his boyfriend) and myself. Just a private screening.

You have no idea where my mind just went.

Ahahahahaha.

Yes, a private, erm, screening.

From the opening voice by Jack, I was hooked. The Departed is one of the more enjoyable Scorcese films, with great performances from top to bottom. I would expect awards nominations across the board. (Jack's role is big enough to be considered a lead role, which makes his 3rd billing confusing. DiCaprio and Damon do have parts that are a little bigger, but not significantly or anything.

The script was very tight, and all of the characters were interesting. The film was beautifully shot, and I enjoyed the soundtrack with the Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Patsy Cline, and The Human Beingz doing Nobody But Me in the arrangement that they got from my uncle and dad. Tarantino dug that song up for Kill Bill, and it's been in commercials and now The Departed since.

Very enjoyable. Not quite enough to bounce the masterpiece United 93 from the #1 spot, but #2 of the year isn't too bad.

A

I haven't seen this much winking and camera mugging since the first Austin Powers film. Don't get me wrong, this film is bloody brill, emphasis on the bloody. But it's almost as if all the characters knew to ham it up for the cameras.

The crowd loved it. The audience cross section was wide (literally 17-80), the widest since Saving Private Ryan.

Marty certainly cut loose on this film.

B+

Oh, I almost forgot. That Wolverine comic book that was given to Matt Damon's character when he was a boy by Jack was great attention to detail. I have that and remember when it came out in the late 80's. It was the first part of a six part story called The Gehenna Stone Affair, written by Peter David, pencilled by John Buscema, and inked by Bill Sienkiewicz. The cover was drawn by Kevin Nolan, if I recall correctly. Since that scene was a flashback, using an old comic like that gave the sequence an authentic touch, even though there aren't many people in this world who would have picked up on that.

I'm such a nerd to even know all that from memory!

Great f'in movie, Marty's best since Goodfellas? I dont know, loved Casino.

Not one dull moment in the whole film, they move from shot to shot in the blink of an eye, and while yes it makes it look like it's going at a faster pace it also jumps from scene to scene a bit too much at one point, Marty is known for doing this, but this time it doesnt click as much like in Casino or Goodfellas, still it keeps it moving so the good outweighs the bad.

Not one performance was short of solid (well Anthony Anderson I couldnt take that seriously at the end, but very very small role) Nobody really was perfect, or just gave you chills, but it doesnt mean they werent all damn good. If anyone was a bit dissapointing it would have to be Nicholson, sometimes he was nothing short of brilliant and hillarious at others it just got a bit too over the top and cartoony, so again the good outweighs the bad.

Marky mark probably surprised me the most, I knew DiCaprio and Damon were gonna be great, but Wahlberg I was a bit skeptical about, it was the perfect role for him, like Loyal said about the characters hamming it up, Wahlberg does alot of that but the character undoubtly calls for it and that really is his forte, playing these roles that would most likely be called bad acting in a film with a far less superior script and director, same with Boogie Nights.

DiCaprio im hesitant to call the standout because Damon was right behind his ass and DiCaprio's character was more meaty, i've never seen Damon like this before, one of his best. It's sad that one will get nominated while the other gets jack shit, neither would win though, nobody had enough screen time for that or really gave awe inspiring performance. Unless ofcourse Damon were to get nominated for supporting, he would be up there in the running.

What can you say about Marty S? He knows how to make a movie cool, great music, great shots, and a fucked up ending. I can see why people would have a problem with that ending, but I love it, unconventional, but at the sametime it might be the reason why it stops it from getting the oscar. Even though I love the film, im gonna repeat what i've been saying forever, it just isnt a film to cater to AMPAS nor did anyone once while working on this film go for gold, they were aiming for a great thrill ride that takes the crime genre out of medocritiy and shakes it up a bit, hopefully people learn from this film a thing or two about how to make a damn fine cops and robbers film.

Grade - A-

Oh one thing that REALLY pissed me off is how the spots and trailers all showed the shot where the guy is falling off the building, that scene could've been even better if it wasnt that obvious who it was from the spots.

I'm almost certain it won't win BP, though I'd be estatic about a BD win. It's so over the top, it borders ludacris. Come on, Jack wagging a huge black dildo around?

This movie is all piss and vinegar and a BP win would take away from what the filmmakers created.

Im curious to know how people who saw Infernal Affairs feel about this movie and what areas Departed was stronger and what areas Internal was stronger .

quote from Lecters review of internal affairs....



I think that was the weakest thing about this film, the relationship between the two leads and the woman. Didnt really get into much depth and it ended up making the female lead look like a whore.

Kil, did Marky Mark act out in revenge? Or was he another mole?

Ya know, thats a good question. Right after the scene happened, I thought it was more likely revenge because I cant really seem to think of any connections that would lead me to belive he was a mole. At the sametime, what about that rat on the balcony? Is Marty trying to symbolize something?

I automatically thought it was revenge. But if there were two moles, there could be three.

And yeah, the rat.

nvm

It's too good for Best Picture.

As far as Infernal Affairs, it's leagues ahead of that film, but to be fair, that film was B at best. Infernal Affairs I found to be much harder to follow and even when I DID finally figure it out it was still sort of a mess.

This film is anything but a mess.

Glad to see the positive reception. Not that I expected otherwise.

I feel like I just snorted all that blow Jack was dancing around in. Exhilarating.

The ending brought to mind what Hitchcock later said about his 'bomb-on-a-bus-scene' from SABOTAGE. Scorcese, apparently, does not agree with Hitch's conclusions.

This is one of those intoxicating "oh, THAT'S why I love movies" movies.

Just a short notes......

From what I get from many sources, THE DEPARTED is getting generally negative response from general audience in Hong Kong. (Most Hong Kong audience love Hollywood movies and has a bias against Hong Kong movies)

By the way, I'm seeing THE DEPARTED this week, so I will share my thought on it.

PS: Some people said that Martin Scorsese hadn't seen INFERNAL AFFAIRS before making THE DEPARTED. In fact, Martin Scorsese had seen INFERNAL AFFAIRS before making THE DEPARTED. (The screenwriter had never seen INFERNAL AFFAIRS, though.