Hola all. Massawyrm here.
Well, it’s about fucking time Scorsese got back to modern gangster flicks. It’s only been, you know, over a decade. But all is forgiven, because in returning to form, he made one hell of a film. Now I haven’t seen the original this film is based off of, Infernal Affairs, as it was one of those films that got passed around but I never got around to. But there’re about fifty other guys around here who have. So this is the review for you folks who like me just haven’t gotten around to seeing it, and will know this story as Scorsese tells it, rather than how it was originally told.
Of course, it does bear mentioning that it is a sad fact that this country has little respect for foreign language films (especially since two of the best films made yet this year by American filmmakers are in foreign languages), but what are you gonna do? I mean, if you’re gonna remake what is referred to as a brilliant film (rather than just releasing it here in this country) you might as well get an uber-genius like Scorsese to take a crack at it. Especially when it’s a modern crime drama. There’s no one who does it better over here. And this is a prime example of that.
The movie is pretty freaking spectacular. Exactly the type of film you expect out of Scorsese. Bloody and raw with well drawn characters who often blur the lines between right and wrong. It’s a dangerous film, with characters you find it hard to decide between who to root for. The undercover cop betraying the crooks he falls in with or the crook who becomes a cop to help out the crooks who brought him up? Either way there are shades of gray, but as the story gives you a definitive hero and a definitive villain, it does a great job of making you still feel for both.
Each and every performance is top notch, I mean really top shelf stuff, with many of the actors turning in their best performances in years, if not their entire careers. Once again Scorsese turns to DiCaprio for his lead, and once again DiCaprio convinces us why he’s one of the best young big time actors out there. He’s absolutely riveting in the role of Billy Costigan, the undercover cop scared to death that he’s going to be discovered at any moment. While this is a character we’ve seen many times before, DiCaprio breathes new life into it, giving us one hell of a haggard, worn to the nub character who seems like he’s gonna snap at any moment.
Opposite him is Matt Damon, who gives his all - being equal parts charming and sleazy as the underworld mole rising through the ranks of the police force to keep his buddies out of trouble. Easily one of the most powerful performances in his career, Damon forges a character for which he will be long remembered for. What he does with the little moments he’s given, especially towards the end of the film, are magic. Anyone who’s yet to acknowledge Damon’s talent need look no further than The Departed to be convinced otherwise.
And the rest of the cast is simply magnificent, with Scorsese turning to a host of extremely reliable actors to pay off in big ways. Nicholson is Nicholson at his best. He’s one of those guys you just can’t believe hasn’t done a Scorsese film before, but feels very much like he’s always belonged in his universe. Alec Baldwin simply kills as the moderately competent head of special investigations. Ray Winstone turns in a great supporting role as thug Mr. French. And both Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg play off of each other beautifully as the two cops who convince DiCaprio to go undercover – their scenes in particular are things of both heavy pathos and intentional biting humor.
While the story is great here, I have to say the dialog and character moments are even better. This movie is seriously funny – with a witty, finely honed script that never, ever betrays the dark mood of the material. Much like Goodfellas, this film makes you laugh out loud without ever letting you think you’re watching a comedy. Scorsese’s ability to sell these moments hasn’t faltered, and to many, his work here is going to be heralded as his best in over a decade.
I absolutely loved this film, and not having see the original, was absolutely entranced by every single aspect of it. Despite its two and a half hour running time, this movie flies by without a moment of drag. Every character’s story is rich, detailed and something you want to know more and more about. Every plot twist ratchets up the tension even further. Nothing feels cheap or been-there-done-that. It’s a classically told crime film with one hell of a payoff.
However, all of my buddies who have seen Infernal Affairs really liked it, but felt that it falls short of the original. There was a clear delineation after the screening between those who had seen it and those who hadn’t, with those unfamiliar with it absolutely loving it. So it really seems like one of those films that is going to rest upon your knowledge of the original. Either way, there’s going to be plenty of Oscar talk with this one, and I would be shocked if this doesn’t emerge as one of the front runners this year in the acting, writing and of course directing categories. This one is good enough to earn Marty that Oscar everyone really wishes he had, although I’m not convinced it’s going to be considered nearly as classic as his De Nero Trifecta (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas.) I’m calling this one on about the same level as Gangs of New York. Really great, easily 2006 Top 10 material, but probably not ALL TIME material. Highly Recommended.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em. I know I will.
Massawyrm
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Well, it’s about fucking time Scorsese got back to modern gangster flicks. It’s only been, you know, over a decade. But all is forgiven, because in returning to form, he made one hell of a film. Now I haven’t seen the original this film is based off of, Infernal Affairs, as it was one of those films that got passed around but I never got around to. But there’re about fifty other guys around here who have. So this is the review for you folks who like me just haven’t gotten around to seeing it, and will know this story as Scorsese tells it, rather than how it was originally told. Of course, it does bear mentioning that it is a sad fact that this country has little respect for foreign language films (especially since two of the best films made yet this year by American filmmakers are in foreign languages), but what are you gonna do? I mean, if you’re gonna remake what is referred to as a brilliant film (rather than just releasing it here in this country) you might as well get an uber-genius like Scorsese to take a crack at it. Especially when it’s a modern crime drama. There’s no one who does it better over here. And this is a prime example of that. The movie is pretty freaking spectacular. Exactly the type of film you expect out of Scorsese. Bloody and raw with well drawn characters who often blur the lines between right and wrong. It’s a dangerous film, with characters you find it hard to decide between who to root for. The undercover cop betraying the crooks he falls in with or the crook who becomes a cop to help out the crooks who brought him up? Either way there are shades of gray, but as the story gives you a definitive hero and a definitive villain, it does a great job of making you still feel for both. Each and every performance is top notch, I mean really top shelf stuff, with many of the actors turning in their best performances in years, if not their entire careers. Once again Scorsese turns to DiCaprio for his lead, and once again DiCaprio convinces us why he’s one of the best young big time actors out there. He’s absolutely riveting in the role of Billy Costigan, the undercover cop scared to death that he’s going to be discovered at any moment. While this is a character we’ve seen many times before, DiCaprio breathes new life into it, giving us one hell of a haggard, worn to the nub character who seems like he’s gonna snap at any moment. Opposite him is Matt Damon, who gives his all - being equal parts charming and sleazy as the underworld mole rising through the ranks of the police force to keep his buddies out of trouble. Easily one of the most powerful performances in his career, Damon forges a character for which he will be long remembered for. What he does with the little moments he’s given, especially towards the end of the film, are magic. Anyone who’s yet to acknowledge Damon’s talent need look no further than The Departed to be convinced otherwise. And the rest of the cast is simply magnificent, with Scorsese turning to a host of extremely reliable actors to pay off in big ways. Nicholson is Nicholson at his best. He’s one of those guys you just can’t believe hasn’t done a Scorsese film before, but feels very much like he’s always belonged in his universe. Alec Baldwin simply kills as the moderately competent head of special investigations. Ray Winstone turns in a great supporting role as thug Mr. French. And both Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg play off of each other beautifully as the two cops who convince DiCaprio to go undercover – their scenes in particular are things of both heavy pathos and intentional biting humor. While the story is great here, I have to say the dialog and character moments are even better. This movie is seriously funny – with a witty, finely honed script that never, ever betrays the dark mood of the material. Much like Goodfellas, this film makes you laugh out loud without ever letting you think you’re watching a comedy. Scorsese’s ability to sell these moments hasn’t faltered, and to many, his work here is going to be heralded as his best in over a decade. I absolutely loved this film, and not having see the original, was absolutely entranced by every single aspect of it. Despite its two and a half hour running time, this movie flies by without a moment of drag. Every character’s story is rich, detailed and something you want to know more and more about. Every plot twist ratchets up the tension even further. Nothing feels cheap or been-there-done-that. It’s a classically told crime film with one hell of a payoff. However, all of my buddies who have seen Infernal Affairs really liked it, but felt that it falls short of the original. There was a clear delineation after the screening between those who had seen it and those who hadn’t, with those unfamiliar with it absolutely loving it. So it really seems like one of those films that is going to rest upon your knowledge of the original. Either way, there’s going to be plenty of Oscar talk with this one, and I would be shocked if this doesn’t emerge as one of the front runners this year in the acting, writing and of course directing categories. This one is good enough to earn Marty that Oscar everyone really wishes he had, although I’m not convinced it’s going to be considered nearly as classic as his De Nero Trifecta (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas.) I’m calling this one on about the same level as Gangs of New York. Really great, easily 2006 Top 10 material, but probably not ALL TIME material. Highly Recommended. Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em. I know I will.
Massawyrm
