Saw Departed last night. A great film with a poorly written, badly
constructed last act. It’s one of those movies that doesn’t know how
to end, so it keeps going and going, resolving things with poorly
conceived bursts of inappropriateness.
So it’s a rough final twenty minutes. But until then it borders on the
sublime Scorcese experience everyone always says they’re waiting for.
I liked both Gangs of NY and especially Aviator. But those films took
there time to get going, Departed drops you right in, Scorsese hits
the ground running from frame one, making it his own. Dicaprio, Marky
Mark, Damon give three great performances. I’m not going to look up her
name but the lead actress was really good as well. She was also in a
pretty good exploitation flick this year called Running Scared which I
recommend. Definitely an up and comer.
Nicholson is the weak link in the cast. He’s a cartoon. The film calls
for comedy sometimes but he’s too much. A sledge hammer instead of a
chisel. He recalls the joker at the worst times. But he can’t ruin the
film. Scorsese brings some touches of brilliance, there’s wall to wall
pop music, I couldn’t even identify a score. The screenplay is full of
awesome character moments, bits of dialogue. It takes a confusing plot
and makes it fun instead of a chore.

I guess Scorsese is doomed to make these uneven films from now on.
Films that are 2/3 masterpieces. Films as technically astounding as
anyone but Spielberg is capable of, but seem disconnected from the
apex of his career. Films that are shadows and memories of what they
should be.

But all of that’s meta. The bottom line is it’s a good film and solid investment of time.

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