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Published on Saturday, October 7, 2006 - 3:21am |
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Harry visits THE DEPARTED twice this week!
Finally! Finally a remake that doesn’t make me think of the original classic upon which it was based. Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED is to INFERNAL AFFAIRS what THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN is to SEVEN SAMURAI. It is its own film, in its own culture, time and period. The characters are not English speaking substitutes for the original brilliant Hong Kong cast, they are their own characters. That said – INFERNAL AFFAIRS was never on the level with SEVEN SAMURAI – and THE DEPARTED, while absolutely wonderful… is not THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN – didn’t have to be, it’s THE DEPARTED.
Now – I’m not going to regurgitate the plot and the twists. Anyone that spoils that sort of thing on this film should have their kneecaps blown out. I’ve seen the film twice now, once at a press screening… and tonight, opening night, with a packed Austin audience at the Galaxy Highland 10. I was taking Yoko, as she didn’t make the earlier screening and frankly – I was just using her as my excuse to see it again. I think next, I’ll take my sister – cuz I know she hasn’t seen it yet and this is a “must see” film.
This isn’t a GOODFELLAS or a CASINO. Nor is this a MEAN STREETS type of Scorsese. In an odd way… I saw it as his ANGELS WITH DIRTY FACES. His Michael Curtiz Pop Americana Cops and Robbers flick. This is Scorsese, not ripping open the soul of crime to show the moral decay eating away at the criminal’s conscience. Rather, this is the game. The Game of Cops & Robbers. The back and forth. As the film goes on, you can see Scorsese throwing his hands up in the air and screaming, “What the fuck, Let’s have some Bloody Fucking Fun!”
I haven’t seen Scorsese having this much fun since Deniro’s Max Cady hit the screen with Juliette Lewis. And this time out, it’s Nicholson doing his take on the Cagney-esque madman / genius crook. Literally, “the rock star” as Alec Baldwin calls his character. This is Scorsese’s Big Top. Three Rings. The Cops, The Robbers and The Rats. All performing magnificently. In an odd way, this is the perfect capper for Scorsese’s DiCaprio trilogy of GANGS OF NEW YORK, THE AVIATOR and now this film.
It’s the best of those three, by leaps and bounds. Gangs never worked for me, AVIATOR dazzled but was in the end, it was missing something. Something Scorsese was missing. It was a great film, just not a great Scorsese film. Cinematically it was flat out a marvel, but it was always a fantasy to me, never fully anchored to our reality. In fact, that was the point of the film. Very much a confection.
With THE DEPARTED – it is not only a tasty film, but cinematically, aurally and performance wise it’s fantastic. It’s a heightened universe where cops and robbers have the most amazing personalities, charisma and poise. However, the nastiest of shit that can happen in the real world happens to them. It’s great. It’s the blending of the pop and the art into the showiest Scorsese, that still FEELS Scorsese that we’ve seen to date.
I’m gonna wrap this up, there’s been so much that’s been written on AICN about THE DEPARTED in the last few days, that to go on and on would seem like such a hard sale. But before I can go… I’ve got to point out one geek thing that Scorsese did that completely made me giddy. Marty did a couple of Iris outs and ins that – well… They were just absolutely awesome to see on the big screen in a modern film.
And... for this film, the title says it all... For the past year or so, I've hated the title. Having seen the film - It is absolutely the only title that would work.
Go see THE DEPARTED this weekend. It’s worth every penny.
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Reader Talkback
first by babyAlligators | Oct 7th, 2006 03:35:02 AM | my first first ever by babyAlligators | Oct 7th, 2006 03:36:55 AM | "I think next, I’ll take my
sister" by Windowlicker74 | Oct 7th, 2006 03:42:32 AM | Film of the year - hands down by kwisatzhaderach | Oct 7th, 2006 03:44:27 AM | It kicked my ass once and I'm
going back for more by antonphd | Oct 7th, 2006 03:49:28 AM | Film of the year - hands down by kwisatzhaderach | Oct 7th, 2006 03:50:03 AM | This film had so many problems by mpfanatic | Oct 7th, 2006 04:03:09 AM | No lover of cinema has any
excuse to miss this by IndustryKiller! | Oct 7th, 2006 04:08:41 AM | No lover of cinema has any
excuse to miss this by IndustryKiller! | Oct 7th, 2006 04:09:08 AM | No lover of cinema has any
excuse to miss this by IndustryKiller! | Oct 7th, 2006 04:09:42 AM | Blame my dumbass computer for
the triple post by IndustryKiller! | Oct 7th, 2006 04:11:47 AM | The fire alarm went off about
a 3rd into the flick... by donkeypark | Oct 7th, 2006 04:38:36 AM | The fire alarm went off about
a 3rd into the flick... by donkeypark | Oct 7th, 2006 04:38:45 AM | Brilliant film by Dickie Greenleaf | Oct 7th, 2006 05:12:09 AM | It's not "The Departed"! by JackPumpkinhead | Oct 7th, 2006 05:24:27 AM | I would see it but by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:24:21 AM | Yeah, I'm seeing it again
tonight too... by DanielKurland | Oct 7th, 2006 06:31:01 AM | I would see this film but.... by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:35:06 AM | I would see this film but.... by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:35:56 AM | kwisatzhaderach, since you
mentioned Miami Vice... by DanielKurland | Oct 7th, 2006 06:36:09 AM | I would see this film but.... by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:36:45 AM | was the 300 trailer attached? by c4andmore | Oct 7th, 2006 06:44:20 AM | According to Ch4 news last
night by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:49:45 AM | According to Ch4 news last
night by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:50:25 AM | According to Ch4 news last
night by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:50:43 AM | According to Ch4 news last
night by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 06:50:44 AM | Yes, the 300 trailer was
attached... by DanielKurland | Oct 7th, 2006 08:00:18 AM | emeraldboy: Easy on the
"enter" key, my friend. by CreasyBear | Oct 7th, 2006 08:39:28 AM | Saw it last night, best film
I've seen all year by Da Coach | Oct 7th, 2006 08:53:13 AM | emeraldboy: Easy on the
"enter" key, my friend. by CreasyBear | Oct 7th, 2006 09:00:16 AM | Great until the end
**SPOILERS** by Ace Hunter | Oct 7th, 2006 09:03:56 AM | Ah, the irony is thick. by CreasyBear | Oct 7th, 2006 09:04:29 AM | But did you buy any gum on the
way to the theater? by JohnGalt06 | Oct 7th, 2006 09:07:18 AM | really liked the ending --
best remake ever??? by reckni | Oct 7th, 2006 10:15:45 AM | This is scorsese's heater
but...... by samuraiyao | Oct 7th, 2006 10:19:07 AM | will scorsese finally get his
oscar? by OhDaesu | Oct 7th, 2006 10:56:48 AM | Brilliant performances and
dialogue but by pandamaster83 | Oct 7th, 2006 01:05:57 PM | too mich c-cider...oh shit by SuperJAMF | Oct 7th, 2006 02:04:50 PM | Entertaining but overall too
cartoony and nihilistic by BillEmic | Oct 7th, 2006 02:25:37 PM | Should have called this movie
"The Retarded" by Mr. Waturi | Oct 7th, 2006 02:41:10 PM | Allow me to correct earlier
comments I have made by Harry Weinstein | Oct 7th, 2006 02:50:14 PM | I saw little miss sunshine... by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 03:09:34 PM | regarding Marty... by emeraldboy | Oct 7th, 2006 03:12:21 PM | I know why Franky does it... by BDT | Oct 7th, 2006 04:14:33 PM | Damn you Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI | Oct 7th, 2006 05:58:00 PM | Better than Infernal Affairs by barnaby jones | Oct 7th, 2006 07:12:57 PM | Yackbacker, I know what you
mean by BillEmic | Oct 7th, 2006 08:41:31 PM | Mark Whalberg by antonphd | Oct 7th, 2006 10:30:55 PM | I myself cannot see by Skankardly | Oct 7th, 2006 10:54:42 PM | The deceptions are so
two-faced by BDT | Oct 7th, 2006 11:35:29 PM | that's antidepressants by BDT | Oct 7th, 2006 11:37:41 PM | Did anyone else.. by CondomWrapper | Oct 8th, 2006 01:50:07 AM | There was a lot of laughter in
my theater too. by Orbots Commander | Oct 8th, 2006 02:36:04 AM | Good, not great. Gangsof New
York was better... by HappyHamster | Oct 8th, 2006 04:35:05 AM | Yep by pandamaster83 | Oct 8th, 2006 06:44:39 AM | Scorsese is overrated by Toby___Wong | Oct 8th, 2006 08:52:42 AM | Saw It Opening Night. Pretty
Good, But Way Over Rated by The Ender | Oct 8th, 2006 09:32:04 AM | Time will not be kind to this
movie by Riverman | Oct 8th, 2006 12:09:34 PM | When you have talkbackers
saying shit like..... by IndustryKiller! | Oct 8th, 2006 12:35:42 PM | Lots of fun, but fuck me what
a ridiculous last shot. by Fenton Meiks | Oct 8th, 2006 12:49:34 PM | I wanna know how zombie
solutions... by BDT | Oct 8th, 2006 02:09:32 PM | Too much"The Departed"on front
page=FLAMES ON OPTIMUS by GibsonUSA | Oct 8th, 2006 03:58:17 PM | It wasn't that the deaths were
sudden by pandamaster83 | Oct 8th, 2006 04:36:27 PM | Did you guys not lik the
ending to Resevior Dogs? by IndustryKiller! | Oct 8th, 2006 05:40:20 PM | Yackbacker by Fenton Meiks | Oct 8th, 2006 05:48:24 PM | I can't relax, it's genetic by Fenton Meiks | Oct 8th, 2006 06:08:58 PM | You're right, that is
hilarious now I think about
it. by Fenton Meiks | Oct 8th, 2006 06:42:41 PM | Actually, THE ISLAND is good
for about 1/2 its run. by Orbots Commander | Oct 8th, 2006 08:14:25 PM | THE ISLAND is cartoony
nihilism by BillEmic | Oct 8th, 2006 09:11:33 PM | Michael Bay Is The Suck by The Ender | Oct 8th, 2006 09:33:19 PM | Micheal Bay would make a great
2nd unit director by Orbots Commander | Oct 8th, 2006 09:43:48 PM | DEPARTED was a GOOD MOVIE by uberman | Oct 9th, 2006 01:09:36 AM | i almost barfed by Bob C. Cock | Oct 9th, 2006 02:04:32 AM | Oh please Snuffles. He's at
92% at rottentomatoes by IndustryKiller! | Oct 9th, 2006 02:46:09 AM | Did you guys not like Kill
Bill 2 or Inside Man? by pandamaster83 | Oct 9th, 2006 06:48:01 AM | A Couple of Issues by William Munny | Oct 9th, 2006 08:56:23 AM | Gangs of New York by Itchy | Oct 9th, 2006 09:57:21 AM | Wow Pandamaster by IndustryKiller! | Oct 9th, 2006 11:01:31 AM | Baldwin by GopherTrace | Oct 9th, 2006 11:03:19 AM | The Departed/Resevoir Dogs by BillEmic | Oct 9th, 2006 11:58:37 AM | IndustryKiller, don't be so
aggressive by pandamaster83 | Oct 9th, 2006 12:16:45 PM | Elevator Scene by SeanMiller | Oct 9th, 2006 01:01:05 PM | Wildly Overrated (SPOILERS) by Powers Boothe | Oct 9th, 2006 01:10:01 PM | ending question by sternumman | Oct 9th, 2006 02:51:02 PM | Thanks Harry Weinstein... by Childe Roland | Oct 9th, 2006 02:54:15 PM | Apparently I swear
gratuitously... by Childe Roland | Oct 9th, 2006 02:58:19 PM | It's a date, Snuffles. by Childe Roland | Oct 9th, 2006 04:01:24 PM | Powers Boothe is right. by Orbots Commander | Oct 9th, 2006 04:58:20 PM | Perfect Closing Song... by jazzbox2 | Oct 9th, 2006 05:11:21 PM | Why the elevator scene
works... by DanielKurland | Oct 9th, 2006 05:28:39 PM | It's like the south park
episode by pandamaster83 | Oct 9th, 2006 06:23:27 PM | Snuffles: Bob Butler is the
worst critic in the US by Barry Egan | Oct 9th, 2006 07:31:58 PM | 92% is great. But 95% is
better. by Garbageman33 | Oct 9th, 2006 08:29:38 PM | Saw it tonight. by mrfan | Oct 9th, 2006 10:36:06 PM | AWESOME BOSTON DRAMA by homemovies539x | Oct 10th, 2006 12:29:16 AM | Who's version of comfortably
numb was it? by pandamaster83 | Oct 10th, 2006 06:53:25 AM | Snuffles: I live in Kansas
City by Barry Egan | Oct 10th, 2006 09:20:06 AM | Slightly better than IA with a
worse ending by King_Midas | Oct 10th, 2006 09:59:29 AM | Dirk Digglah by GopherTrace | Oct 10th, 2006 10:48:21 AM | The Derparted is the no 1 film
this weekend and by emeraldboy | Oct 10th, 2006 11:45:09 AM | Comparing IA and The Departed
is futile by Garbageman33 | Oct 10th, 2006 11:49:32 AM | Spoilers My problem with the
ending by hammerbutt | Oct 10th, 2006 12:53:14 PM | Damn Hammerbutt *spoilers* by IndustryKiller! | Oct 11th, 2006 03:08:14 AM | Hammerbut by King_Midas | Oct 11th, 2006 08:07:11 AM | King_Midas by hammerbutt | Oct 11th, 2006 09:29:51 AM | YOU PEOLE ARE ASSHOLES!! by williamD | Oct 11th, 2006 08:35:41 PM | YOU PEOLE ARE ASSHOLES!! by williamD | Oct 11th, 2006 08:35:46 PM | Loved it, but... (SPOILERS) by PushTheButton | Oct 11th, 2006 10:30:24 PM | CF, Casino, AOI, Kundun, BOTD,
GONY, Aviator > by UnChienAndalou | Oct 11th, 2006 11:29:45 PM | Scorsese and Irises by Havok2000 | Oct 12th, 2006 08:11:01 AM | William Munny and
PushTheButton - by Moa Kaka | Oct 12th, 2006 06:01:21 PM | I need to see it again... by Chief Redcock | Oct 12th, 2006 06:08:56 PM | The Defarted Parody by JDP23 | Oct 12th, 2006 06:59:13 PM | Defarted link by JDP23 | Oct 12th, 2006 07:00:23 PM | Father? by NudeandAroused | Oct 12th, 2006 08:03:02 PM | *SPOILER* by Spuncho | Oct 13th, 2006 01:00:48 PM | THE INDEFENSIBLE! by GLADIATOR MONKEY | Oct 13th, 2006 05:03:45 PM | It's not that Amercians can't
handle endings... by readingwriter | Oct 13th, 2006 10:58:49 PM | not a great movie... by jinamina | Oct 14th, 2006 04:36:27 AM | Res Dogs wasn't a serious
examination of violence by readingwriter | Oct 15th, 2006 01:44:51 AM | The line that needs to be said
at every workplace... by DarthSnoogans | Oct 16th, 2006 11:43:58 AM | FINALLY!!! by MaulRat | Oct 16th, 2006 10:08:52 PM | Question about Scorsese vs.
Tarantino... by Garbageman33 | Oct 18th, 2006 09:49:57 AM | Losers by hugmeplease | Oct 19th, 2006 12:24:59 AM | Losers by hugmeplease | Oct 19th, 2006 12:25:21 AM | Always nice when the guy
insulting others by Garbageman33 | Oct 19th, 2006 01:15:06 PM | loved it by gleepglop | Oct 23rd, 2006 03:45:38 PM | loved it by gleepglop | Oct 23rd, 2006 03:53:49 PM | Next time share more by LustHog | Oct 25th, 2006 12:28:38 AM | Comfortably Numb by Kentucky Colonel | Oct 30th, 2006 09:28:32 AM | Vera Farminga by Kentucky Colonel | Oct 30th, 2006 09:29:26 AM | Comfortably Numb part II by Kentucky Colonel | Oct 30th, 2006 09:38:07 AM | It'll win Best Picture but
shouldn't by Lago | Nov 2nd, 2006 05:54:38 PM | My first posting by Chilly | Nov 3rd, 2006 04:54:07 AM | Great but would have loved to
have had Pesci as Frank - by workshed | Nov 10th, 2006 10:02:40 PM | Laughably Overrated by 2Utah2 | Feb 13th, 2007 03:05:47 AM | My favourite Scorcese film by emeraldboy | Mar 1st, 2007 07:29:16 AM | indeed... by Quintus_Arrius | Mar 9th, 2007 10:26:31 PM | IT'S ABOUT FUCKING TIME! by williamD | May 14th, 2007 07:54:55 PM | Last... by Quintus_Arrius | May 16th, 2007 06:25:24 AM |
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