The Departed

The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese

The Departed was released in 2006 and recently came to Aberyswyth students union in early 2007. I was highly anticpating this film, firstly because it has been nominated for the best picture oscar at the 2007 academy awards, and secondly it is directed by Martin Scorsese. Having watched Gangs of New York, I was immediately transfixed on Martin Scorsese`s directing and the intense portrayal of Leonardo DiCaprio's and Daniel Day Lewis`s `army`s`. So with The Departed, I was expecting something special and when the titles rolled, there was the introduction of Jack Nicholson's character, so i was immediately introduced to one of the protagonists. It was in such a way that gripped me as it is learnt that he is a robber, and the title montage opens with him carrying out his job, and the way he empowered the action shots immediately hooked me into another Martin Scorsese masterpiece. At the end of the action montage, Jack Nicholson comes across a young boy who he takes under his wing and this is where the complex, clever plot begins.


As the boy grows up, he turns into Matt Damon and his character enrols within the police force in order to infiltrate and report back to Jack Nicholson of any attempts by the police to stake him out. There is the binary opposition on the other side of the law as Harvey Keitel and Mark Walhberg get Leonardo DiCaprio to pose as a criminal within Jack Nicholson's gang. Coupled with high action, quick editing, a mix of low, medium and high angled shots juxtaposed with high intense music, the audience is drawn into a world of dodgy dealings and enigma which immediately hooked me.


The assembled cast is excellent and I was particularly amazed by Mark Walhberg's role because his previous parts had included Planet of the Apes (2001)and The Italian Job (2003) which did not really stretch his acting ability. But in this film his acting is in complete overhaul as he is one of the main contenders that commands the screen. His character does not trust Leonardo DiCaprio and relishes in winding people up and making peoples lives a misery. His portrayal is superb and it is a refreshing outlook on his acting ability.

Apart from Mark Walhberg, Jack Nicholson was a major surprise, he is a reliable and dependable actor and I have felt that his previous films have been just that, such as Anger Management and Somethings Gotta Give both made in 2003. But with this film he is on exceptional top form, firmly setting him as an established actor helping to carry the new and upcoming talents of Mark Walhberg, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio. With Leonardo DiCaprio he has gone from strength to strength, and his high powered performance has allowed me to respect him even more as an actor rather than a star.

So to sum up, if you want to see a high action, clever plot, twist and turn movie with cool acting, a sophisticated edge, and to top it all off a now oscar winning director (finally) for this film, then this movie is for you.