The Departed

Martin Scorsese, US, 2006, 151 minutes

It is now impossible to review The Departed without referring to the Oscars. The Best Picture award, combined with the accompanying Best Director Oscar, finally righted one of the great injustices in Oscar history, the repeated failure of Martin Scorsese to be recognised despite producing many of the greatest films of the last 30 years. However, the immensity of the occasion should not be allowed to overshadow the film itself. While never quite reaching the heights of Scorsese’s very best work, The Departed remains a noteworthy return to form.

The film sees a return to territory Scorsese knows like the back of his hand: the gangland thriller. The high concept plot sees Leonardo Di Caprio’s cop infiltrating the ranks of the Irish gang running the Boston criminal underground. However, as he becomes increasingly involved in the gang’s activities, he hears rumours of a mole within the police department. This mole, played by Matt Damon, has had a career running parallel to Di Caprio and is now rising up the ranks of the police force. When Damon discovers the presence of a mole within the gang, the film becomes a complex game of hide and seek, with both characters racing to discover the identity of the mole before losing their cover.

Both Di Caprio and Damon give typically reliable performances, while the likes of Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg steal every scene available in supporting roles. Despite this, the film belongs to Jack Nicholson. After a decade of comic performances in the likes of As Good As It Gets and Something’s Gotta Give, it initially comes as a shock to see Nicholson re-embrace his dark side. As the leader of Di Caprio’s gang, the actor drips with menace whilst retaining enough charisma to power most of Hollywood single-handedly. It is a performance impossible to ignore, and one which in a lesser film could overshadow its surroundings. However, the quality of the supporting cast ensure that the time spent away from Nicholson’s presence remains involving.

Scorsese propels the film at a heroic pace. In particular, the last 45 minutes of the film has a great deal of ground to cover and does so at breakneck speed. Despite this, the director is far too experienced to let the story run away from him, and the impression remains of a master in total control of the art of filmmaking. The Departed may not be the most original film Scorsese has yet produced. However, as a film entirely content to operate within its narrow genre, it remains a hugely enjoyable cinematic experience.

Review by Neil Henry
Written for EUFS Programme Spring 2008