In easily his best effort since CASINO, if not the masterpiece GOODFELLAS, Scorsese returns to the world of mobsters and whackings on the streets, this time in the Irish sphere in Boston.
INFERNAL AFFAIRS(****), the Hong Kong International sensation, was a pretty damn good movie. It took a great premise, and actually rocked the joint with pretty-well execution.
However, Scorsese actually improves upon the concept of INFERNAL AFFAIRS. Perhaps its the elaboration on the beginnings for Damon and DiCaprio, or Scorsese getting a hell of a cast together to kick ass. Hell, I still can't believe I saw Mark Whalberg ownining the joint in his scenes.
Then again, it could be that with THE DEPARTED, its ending, while quite similar to INFERNAL AFFAIRS, is very different in tone and mood. With IA, the ending is very solemn and of sorts, a happy ending that arises from the tragedy that occurs.
With THE DEPARTED, its not an audience pleasing ending, but more appropriate for the fate of certainly the last victim of this universe.
Jack Nicholson is a lock to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, and besides the usual technical noms expected for a multi-nom Scorsese movie(Schoonmaker for editing, etc.), I actually think Damon and DiCaprio each make a case for a nomination for Best Actor. Who knows, the Academy might give a mercy fuck to the great Martin fucking Sheen. Hell, they did it to Alan Alda for AVIATOR.
Most of all, of the last few years, this is Scorsese's best chance at winning the Best Director Oscar. This film isn't obvious Oscar baiting, but actually an entertaining drama that doesn't sacrifice its artistic merits to score big at the box-office(with Scorsese's biggest opening weekend in his career).
