The Departed - Reviews

[JLBats]

I was a little iffy myself. Especially since one of the other films I had been geared up to see, The Black Dahlia, turned out to be crap. But then I remembered the magic word:

Scorsese.

Alls I got left is The Prestige, since apparently the Fountain got booed

 

[ultimatefan]

Alls I got left is The Prestige, since apparently the Fountain got booed

When did The Fountain get booed? The first couple reviews I saw online were enthusiastic.

 

[JLBats]

When did The Fountain get booed? The first couple reviews I saw online were enthusiastic.

It was shown at several film festivals and most of the reviews so far have been "WTF was that ****?!".

 

[The Chairman]

The Good Shepherd and Conversations With God look to be quite promising IMO.

 

[ultimatefan]

It was shown at several film festivals and most of the reviews so far have been "WTF was that ****?!".

Sometimes that´s the sign of a great film that´s ahead of its time... And sometimes it means it´s a pretentious pile of ****... We´ll see...

 

[Master Chief]

This flick was amazing. I knew about the ending, but damn, still startled me when it happened. Crazy s**t.

 

[The Chairman]

I knew about the ending

I didn't, so I was all the more shocked.

Spoiler

I felt incredibly bad for Costigan. I really wanted him to make it out after all he'd been through.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

I just want to thank God that so many people on here seem to have liked it. So far this has been a shockingly bad year for North American movie goers.

Understatement. It's been terrible. The Departed was a great movie though. If you looking for completely explanatory closure, or an exposition-heavy finale, you might not like it, but it's intricate web is what makes it great. It's got the same lay-out as 'IA', but the ending is more concrete.

Still, Scorcese's the best at crime-drama.

The Prestige, Science of Sleep, and The Blood Diamond, are the only ones I'm looking forward to seeing. Movies in the States at this time of year are hit or miss (well, in hollywood period), and it's hard to find a good one. Don't listen to the reviews about the departed. If you enjoyed Goodfellas, you'll enjoy the storytelling in this one.

 

[Master Chief]

Spoiler

I felt incredibly bad for Costigan. I really wanted him to make it out after all he'd been through.

Same here.

Spoiler

I knew it was going to happen sometime in that building when Anthony Anderson popped up, but it came out of nowhere. After the shot, when it cuts to the close up of him I sunk in my seat.

 

[Alpha and Omega]

Same here.

Spoiler

I knew it was going to happen sometime in that building when Anthony Anderson popped up, but it came out of nowhere. After the shot, when it cuts to the close up of him I sunk in my seat.

Spoiler

That's the only one that I didn't see coming. Usually, Scorcese films work on the 'reap what you sow' principle, but I didn't see it coming. I did like how Costigan gave Sullivan's girlfriend the envelope; she gave it to (Wahlberg's character, can't remember the name), and he shot Sullivan. I anticipated that, but it was still nice to see.

 

[porchmonkey408]

Spoiler

That's the only one that I didn't see coming. Usually, Scorcese films work on the 'reap what you sow' principle, but I didn't see it coming. I did like how Costigan gave Sullivan's girlfriend the envelope; she gave it to (Wahlberg's character, can't remember the name), and he shot Sullivan. I anticipated that, but it was still nice to see.

Spoiler

I NEED THE ENDING EXPLAINED! WHEN DID DIGNAM GET THE ENVELOPE!? WTF!? WHY WAS SULLIVAN KILLED!?

I LOVED THE FILM. Thats how you edit movies my friends. Thats how.

 

[ToddIsDead]

Just got back. Incredible movie. Brilliant ending. I knew it was going to happen at one point or another, but still, absolutely shocking.

 

[porchmonkey408]

EXPLAIN THE ENDING.

Oh, and 300...those images with the magic of Trent Reznor made my night. Who knew The Departed would end up so potent?

 

[Obsidian]

Just got back. Incredible movie. Brilliant ending. I knew it was going to happen at one point or another, but still, absolutely shocking.

took the words right out of my mouth

brilliant film and on my best list of 2006...it's close to #1, but i'm still debating if it's better than "Tsotsi"

 

[porchmonkey408]

Explain...the...ending.

That is all I ask of you people.

 

[Obsidian]

Ummm....**** happens. What's there to explain?

 

[BeserkerHilf]

Were you paying attention AT ALL? The guy was a cop. There was an entire 5 minute sequence afterwards in which Nicholson's character was pissed off about it.

Spoiler

and i'm pretty sure you weren't paying much attention either. because in that scene where he's fuming, jack clearly explains, and i quote, "the cops said he was a cop so I would stop looking for the rat."

you're another reason i hate america. can't understand a simple ****ing movie.


pardon me, watching the departed in a movie theatre filled with simpletons has made me bitter tonight.

 

[Master Chief]

Explain...the...ending.

That is all I ask of you people.

Spoiler

Chase from 24 shoots guy from Titanic. Frees Jason Bourne. Chase then shoots funny man Anthony Anderson. Jason Bourne shoots Chase. Marky Mark shoots Jason Bourne.

lol. K. that's a bulls**t explanation but I'm tired and.

 

[The Chairman]

Spoiler

Chase from 24 shoots guy from Titanic. Frees Jason Bourne. Chase then shoots funny man Anthony Anderson. Jason Bourne shoots Chase. Marky Mark shoots Jason Bourne.

lol. K. that's a bulls**t explanation but I'm tired and.

That was him?

 

[MulligaN Stew]

Explain...the...ending.

That is all I ask of you people.

Spoiler

In the end, well, the beginning of the end starts with Martin Sheen's character risking his life to save Costigan. In return, Sheen's character is thrown off of the roof only to land right in front of a stunned, fearful, and disheveled Costigan. Costigan looks at the body, freaks, and regroups with the people (Costello's other henchmen) who did it.

While in the Bar with the man who was shot, Costigan learns that the terminal man knows that he's the rat. The man dies, so Costigan is saved. Long story short, Sullivan learns that Costello is an FBI informant (can't remember exactly when), but it compels him to allow Frank to embark on a very 'hot' or incriminating situation. (his vehicles were loaded w/ coke I think. . .can't remember)

Costello and his men are confronted by Sullivan/a State trooper task force; Costigan felt suspicious about the meeting, so he fled immediately prior to the invasive raid that happens. It's a classic Scorcese blood-bath, and every bad guy tastes some steel vengeance. There's a scene where Sullivan[Damon's character] confronts Costello[Nicholson], and is infuriated at the old man for not divulging that he is a rat.

[Apparently, Costello had been an FBI informant for years, and it was the major reason why he never saw any jail time. The respective law-enforcement agencies do not communicate thoroughly, so no person in the Boston SIU knew about this. It also keyed the viewer in to the reason why Costello - not only Costigan - was afraid{although Costello showed his fear through irrational violence}, and starting to unravel. He knew that he was also a 'rat'.]

Sullivan shoots Costello, and the officers assume that it was in self-defense. The spotless kid, who's been groomed to be a mole, is promoted.

Now, Costigan knows that 1 of the 2 men, who were aware of his circumstances, is dead, so he's in a bad state of mind. I can't remember exactly how Costigan gets in contact with Sullivan, other than the cell face-off, and going to the Police station to get his story straight. In there, he actually is speaking to Sullivan, who's been appointed as an incumbent replacement for the late character of Sheen. Remember the envelope with the census of Costello's men, that everyone including Costigan filled out? Costigan sees that exact envelope on the table of Sullivan's desk. He flees the police station yet again, as Sullivan (knows of Costigan at this point) is erasing Costigan's police records.

Costigan goes to Sullivan's gf and entrusts her with the official documents that prove who he is. Then, Costigan calls Sullivan and arranges a meeting. When Sullivan shows up(same place where Sheen was killed), Costigan draws his weapon, and attempts to arrest Sullivan. Another officer arrives and there is a face-off - a 2nd arrives - all in all, Costigan is shot, the 1st officer who arrived is shot, and we discover that the 2nd officer was another mole of Frank Costellos.{This man had more workers then a sweat shop} The 2nd officer who arrived, beseeches Sullivan, and tells him that they have to stick together. Sullivan shoots him on sight, and uses him as a scapegoat.

Sullivan ostensibly has remorse for the way Costigan dies, so he goes ahead with his initial plan of recommending the late insurgent for a prestigious honor. At Costigan's funeral, it is mentioned, and Sullivan is sitting across from a painfully, tearful girlfriend who knows everything. (remember the papers that Costigan gave her to open, should anything happen to him?) What would happen next was clearly indicated by her brushing off her boyfriend (potentially the father of her kid/although, it was never specified as to whether it was Costigan's or not). A remorseful/instrospective Costigan returns to his apartment with groceries.

Wahlberg's character received the papers from Sullivan's girlfriend, although, that wasn't shown. He probably gained easy access to the apartment by even taking her key. . .though that was never explained. Sullivan comes home to a bullet in the head. That's the ending. It's not as complete as Infernal Affairs, but it's the most faithful remake that I've ever seen, and had it's own creatively efficient prescence. It's a solid film. I hope that I explained what you were missing. If not, what do you want from me? [Costigan]DO YOU WANT TO CHOP ME UP AND FEED ME TO THE POOR?!?!?![/Costigan]

It's a summation; a paper thin summation, but it should work.

 

[DACrowe]

I would NOT call this the best movie of the year. Have people already forgotten Little Miss Sunshine?

Look I know it IS Scorcesse but while this was an immensley entertaining movie, it is not really the best picture of the year (in many respects I prefered Little Miss Sunshine). I thought the ending was just really POORLY done and a bit ridiculous.

As for Gangs of New York, it is all opinion and while the pacing was off in that movie and DiCaprio was indeed superior in The Departed, GONY had a brilliant performance from Daniel Day-Lewis (as opposed to Jack mostly playing himself in The Departed) and a storyline that while not as cleanly cut and crisp as The Departed, it didn't meander on needless scenes as much either (like the scene of Jack doing blow with his two ****es or holding a ***** to **** with Damon)....

and the ending to GONY did reach for operatic tragedy and it hit every note in the last half hour or 20 minutes (whenever the funeral procession began for Gleason to the end) while The Departed ended very off and in fact after

Spoiler

Nicholson dies in a very murky reason for betrayal

becomes far more uneven and unfocused than GONY ever was and definetly loses its narrative and never regains it. The scene in the elevator as I said in a previous post was ridiculous and a huge disappointment.


That is opinion.

As for The Aviator. It blowsw The Departed away in every sense of the word. Just because it wasn't a crime movie about bloodshed all over the place does not mean it is "unexciting and boring." It is merely a character driven movie. DiCaprio is better here, the storyline is better here, the screenplay is better here and it moves FLAWLESSLY from scene to scene and performance to performance. The ending is tragic and unforgettable and the film is just beautiful to look at and worthy of many repeat viewings.

The last Scorcesse movie to get that huge of a credit IMO was Goodfellas. The Departed almost had it, but dropped the ball in the end and while a good movie, it is far from a great one, which is probably the reason of my disappointment then.

 

[DACrowe]

I would NOT call this the best movie of the year. Have people already forgotten Little Miss Sunshine?

Look I know it IS Scorcesse but while this was an immensley entertaining movie, it is not really the best picture of the year (in many respects I prefered Little Miss Sunshine). I thought the ending was just really POORLY done and a bit ridiculous.

As for Gangs of New York, it is all opinion and while the pacing was off in that movie and DiCaprio was indeed superior in The Departed, GONY had a brilliant performance from Daniel Day-Lewis (as opposed to Jack mostly playing himself in The Departed) and a storyline that while not as cleanly cut and crisp as The Departed, it didn't meander on needless scenes as much either (like the scene of Jack doing blow with his two ****es or holding a ***** to **** with Damon)....

and the ending to GONY did reach for operatic tragedy and it hit every note in the last half hour or 20 minutes (whenever the funeral procession began for Gleason to the end) while The Departed ended very off and in fact after

Spoiler

Nicholson dies in a very murky reason for betrayal

becomes far more uneven and unfocused than GONY ever was and definetly loses its narrative and never regains it. The scene in the elevator as I said in a previous post was ridiculous and a huge disappointment.


That is opinion.

As for The Aviator. It blowsw The Departed away in every sense of the word. Just because it wasn't a crime movie about bloodshed all over the place does not mean it is "unexciting and boring." It is merely a character driven movie. DiCaprio is better here, the storyline is better here, the screenplay is better here and it moves FLAWLESSLY from scene to scene and performance to performance. The ending is tragic and unforgettable and the film is just beautiful to look at and worthy of many repeat viewings.

The last Scorcesse movie to get that huge of a credit IMO was Goodfellas. The Departed almost had it, but dropped the ball in the end and while a good movie, it is far from a great one, which is probably the reason of my disappointment then.

 

[MulligaN Stew]

I thought the ending was just really POORLY done and a bit ridiculous.

I agree with you in that respect, and although I do not fancy exposition-heavy finales, this one was too bare.

Aviator was a better overall feature. That's up to preference, but it was a more complete film, and Leo showed the same level of intensity in the Hughes biopic, but he was tackling different subject matter.

Usually, opinions are established based on a viewers understanding of the film, and if they missed certain key pieces or were inattentive, they often come with the 'it sucked', or 'like, omg that was terrible'. I'd like for them to bow to natural selection and not waste what's remaining of a terminal planet, but *sigh*. I'm not saying that every films is terrible, but film critics who bashed this film are probably comparing it to 'Goodfellas' or another film.{comparing a film isn't necessarily a good barometer for it's complete direction/fulfillment/intent.}

Yes, some of the 'Godfather' elements are present in this film, but it's still one of the best in this year. Considering the marginal amount of quality on the silver screen, we should appreciate this film. It was captivating imo.

 

[Kmack]

I've heard nothing but good things about this film. I'm definitely checking it out

 

[terry78]

Caught it tonight. Now this is vintage Scorsese right here. None of that Gangs of New York/Aviator bull****. Full on mafioso **** going on here. Informants all over the place, don't know who's getting in too deep, etc. Good choice as far as using Infernal Affairs as a template.