“The evil that men do goes on and on…”
- Iron Maiden

You know, there’s a reason I don’t watch mafia / organized crime movies.
They’re brutal examples of just how evil MAN can be.

Martin Scorcese’s The Departed has many scenes illustrating just that point, and though the movie isn’t particularly graphic, it’s still stomach wrenching and hard hitting. I think I literally felt empty inside by the time it was over.

I don’t wanna give anything away, even though nowadays ads, movie posters, and the gosh darn internets practically give you everything, so I’ll just say this movie is about cops, criminals, and undercover types. As directed by Scorsese from a script by William Monahan, this remake of a Hong Kong hit, The Departed features an incredible cast being, well, incredible.

Leonardo DiCaprio stars in his 3rd Scorcese flick in a row, GANGS OF NEW YORK and THE AVIATOR,and he is awesome. He’s a really great actor, and I think this is the best I’ve ever seen him. Matt Damon is for lack of better term, co-lead, and he’s amazing too. I loved his accent and totally bought it. In fact, I’m glad this movie was set in Boston, because agreeing to see a mob flick is one thing, but agreeing to seeing an Italian mob flick would be very hard for me to do. Uh, no offense or anything…

Jack Nicholson is good in The Departed, but I’ve heard the complaint that he’s being his typical character, and though I think he’s a little more subdued than usual, and more somber, I can see why people would say that. Still I liked him in it. I also really, really liked both Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg. Both had smaller roles, but both stole whatever scene they were in. Very, very good stuff. Martin Sheen is also very good in what is also a relatively small, but pivotal role. Also very good was an actor named Ray Winstone who played Mr French, one of Nicholson’s associates. Not very familiar with him, but he did a great job.
Finally, also doing a great job and looking very nice, I might add, is Vera Farmiga. She was on the short lived TV series Touching Evil and ha been in quite a few features. Great actress and very nice to look at…

There was a certain energy to this movie. It’s so intense, I think I was at the edge of my seat for most of the movie. At two and a half hours long, I never felt bored. Like I said before, the movie isn’t that graphic, but that doesn’t mean the violence isn’t shocking, at least to a wus like me. The world depicted in The Departed is absolutely frightening. I can’t fathom it existing “in real life”, but I guess it basically does. Not a happy little movie, not by a long shot, but I’m glad I saw it.
Great movie…