The Departed

I saw The Departed a couple of weeks a go now and keep recommending it to everyone I know.

Yes, it is based on a previous film but the script has been rearranged to the point that only the original, labyrinthian story of “bad guys” vs “good guys” remains. Everything else has been transposed and adapted to a whole different culture and ethnicity and the dialogue reflects that brilliantly in my opinion. There’s
something to be said about Scorcese’s ability to turn this story into something that reflects so deeply and tragically a part of American subculture. In that sense it is not just a re-make.

Without spoiling it to those who have not seen it, in true Scorcese fashion it’s one of those movies where there are no heroes so the plot just keeps on twisting and surprising you until the end. The dialogue is full of defiant and brilliant lines. It’s bold and refreshingly un-PC…. One of those films where you find yourself shocked and laughing at the absurdity of the scenes at the same time. The cast is so cohesive that it is impossible to single anyone out… although I would say this is Di Caprio’s coming of age film…

Definitely a film to be mentioned along side films like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull in Scorcese’s body of works…

~ by Restless Soul on November 22, 2006.