THE DEPARTED thoughts
Oct. 26th, 2006 01:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thehefnerI read a review that called THE DEPARTED Martin Scorsese's best movie since GOODFELLAS. I took the review with a grain of salt because it was Devin on CHUD.com, a prick with thoroughly questionable taste half the time, but he's so entertaining that I read him anyway. So with his glowing review in mind, I went to go see THE DEPARTED with my brother, whom I recently learned also has questionable taste (he and his wife hated-- I'm using the word hate here, not disliked or were indifferent to, no, that I'd understand-- KISS KISS BANG BANG. Broke my fucking heart). After the movie, Edd and I shared the same opinion of the film. Is it Scorsese's best movie since GOODFELLAS?
Yes and no. Depends on what you consider quality.
I'm not even sure how to approach this exactly, so let me start by putting it this way. THE DEPARTED is a solid movie. Nothing brilliant. Nothing earth-shaking. Now, maybe I say this because I've seen the original Chinese movie upon which it's based, INFERNAL AFFAIRS, and I knew where the story was going, with the exception of one character who was added to the American version. The original movie was fairly American-style as it was, but this brand new character served to seal this movie as pure Hollywood.
It's so hard to explain without going into spoilers, I apologize. The thing about THE DEPARTED is that I pretty well can't think of a single thing wrong with it. It's extraordinarily well made, written, and acted. Oh sure, the psychiatrist stuff is a little far-fetched, but if you start thinking that, you might as well condemn the whole movie as being far-fetched. It's pure escapist cops-and-robbers fun, but my point is that it's not much more than that. You can't liken it to GOODFELLAS because that movie had emotional weight, added by the fact that it was a true story, whereas THE DEPARTED is told with an ironic detachment that keeps you from getting into any real emotional heart.
It's a safe movie. It takes absolutely no risks. It stays perfectly within the realms of convention and does it very well. You know each and every one of these characters from the moment you see them, and the movie does nothing to flesh them out. Nor does it really need to, because it's entertaining enough on its own. Even their complexities are standard for those kinds of characters. THE DEPARTED is thoroughly nonthreatening, tying everything off with a neat little bow at the end, making it a perfect movie to see, enjoy, and forget.
And you know what? It's great for that. I know the vast majority of people don't obsess about film the way geeks like me do. Many people just want to go to a movie to escape, not to analyze it like a fucking James Joyce novel. They go to have a good time. And you know, in a world of Adam Sandler movies and GRUDGE sequels, I honestly wish more of "those kinds of movies" were as well made and entertaining as THE DEPARTED. No, it won't change your life, nor will it likely provoke any kind of discussion afterwards (unless you're one of those types who can't get symbolism or metaphor, even when it's hammered into your skull like at the end of this movie). It is an excellent way to kill a few hours.
But it's not a brilliant movie. It's certainly nowhere near the quality of GOODFELLAS. Let's go back to the whole "best movie since GOODFELLAS" thing. What movies has he made since then? CAPE FEAR, AGE OF INNOCENCE, CASINO, KUNDUN, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, GANGS OF NEW YORK, and THE AVIATOR. Now, I haven't seen CASINO or KUNDUN, but I've seen all the rest.
BRINGING OUT THE DEAD was bizarre, certainly unconventional, even if it failed to replicate the brilliant partnership of the TAXI DRIVER team. I admit, I haven't thought about it in years. Yet you can hardly say there was much anything like it out there.
GANGS OF NEW YORK is deeply flawed, mainly due to pretty much everything to do with Leo's character and storyline. And yet, that movie is strongly notable for two major reasons. The first is its depiction of a time and place that has been all but forgotten in American history, an absolutely fascinating period of tribal warfare in Victorian clothing at the very same time as AGE OF INNOCENCE. And the other reason, of course you have guessed, is Daniel Day Lewis as William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting. Both as a written character and as a performance, Bill was one of the most fascinating, compelling, complex characters in the history of cinema. Hyperbole, I know, but I stand by it (and so does Premiere Magazine, listing it in the 50 greatest performances of all time, for what it's worth). I adore this movie, huge nasty warts and all, and while I can't speak for everyone, I found it much more memorable and interesting than THE DEPARTED, even if it wasn't the "better" movie.
I honestly feel that AGE OF INNOCENCE or THE AVIATOR are, pound for pound, better movies than THE DEPARTED. Both are epic in very different ways, the latter also benefiting from the fact that it's more or less a true story. Both take numerous risks, like casting Leo (that was honestly the first time I have ever truly respected him as an actor. He blew me away) and the fact that Martin frickin' Scorsese actually made a movie of AGE OF INNOCENCE, for god's sake! Sometimes they failed, yes, but I think the successes paid off to the extent that they were ultimately the better films. It's probably also the reason why he didn't win any Oscars.
Will THE DEPARTED finally get him that precious little naked golden man? Based on the movie's huge critical success (93% on rottentomatoes last I checked), my suspicions that it's a totally safe crowd-pleaser are confirmed, so it could be a safe enough choice for Oscar voters. THE DEPARTED is a good movie, maybe even a great movie. But it's certainly not a Great Film.
Yes and no. Depends on what you consider quality.
I'm not even sure how to approach this exactly, so let me start by putting it this way. THE DEPARTED is a solid movie. Nothing brilliant. Nothing earth-shaking. Now, maybe I say this because I've seen the original Chinese movie upon which it's based, INFERNAL AFFAIRS, and I knew where the story was going, with the exception of one character who was added to the American version. The original movie was fairly American-style as it was, but this brand new character served to seal this movie as pure Hollywood.
It's so hard to explain without going into spoilers, I apologize. The thing about THE DEPARTED is that I pretty well can't think of a single thing wrong with it. It's extraordinarily well made, written, and acted. Oh sure, the psychiatrist stuff is a little far-fetched, but if you start thinking that, you might as well condemn the whole movie as being far-fetched. It's pure escapist cops-and-robbers fun, but my point is that it's not much more than that. You can't liken it to GOODFELLAS because that movie had emotional weight, added by the fact that it was a true story, whereas THE DEPARTED is told with an ironic detachment that keeps you from getting into any real emotional heart.
It's a safe movie. It takes absolutely no risks. It stays perfectly within the realms of convention and does it very well. You know each and every one of these characters from the moment you see them, and the movie does nothing to flesh them out. Nor does it really need to, because it's entertaining enough on its own. Even their complexities are standard for those kinds of characters. THE DEPARTED is thoroughly nonthreatening, tying everything off with a neat little bow at the end, making it a perfect movie to see, enjoy, and forget.
And you know what? It's great for that. I know the vast majority of people don't obsess about film the way geeks like me do. Many people just want to go to a movie to escape, not to analyze it like a fucking James Joyce novel. They go to have a good time. And you know, in a world of Adam Sandler movies and GRUDGE sequels, I honestly wish more of "those kinds of movies" were as well made and entertaining as THE DEPARTED. No, it won't change your life, nor will it likely provoke any kind of discussion afterwards (unless you're one of those types who can't get symbolism or metaphor, even when it's hammered into your skull like at the end of this movie). It is an excellent way to kill a few hours.
But it's not a brilliant movie. It's certainly nowhere near the quality of GOODFELLAS. Let's go back to the whole "best movie since GOODFELLAS" thing. What movies has he made since then? CAPE FEAR, AGE OF INNOCENCE, CASINO, KUNDUN, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, GANGS OF NEW YORK, and THE AVIATOR. Now, I haven't seen CASINO or KUNDUN, but I've seen all the rest.
BRINGING OUT THE DEAD was bizarre, certainly unconventional, even if it failed to replicate the brilliant partnership of the TAXI DRIVER team. I admit, I haven't thought about it in years. Yet you can hardly say there was much anything like it out there.
GANGS OF NEW YORK is deeply flawed, mainly due to pretty much everything to do with Leo's character and storyline. And yet, that movie is strongly notable for two major reasons. The first is its depiction of a time and place that has been all but forgotten in American history, an absolutely fascinating period of tribal warfare in Victorian clothing at the very same time as AGE OF INNOCENCE. And the other reason, of course you have guessed, is Daniel Day Lewis as William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting. Both as a written character and as a performance, Bill was one of the most fascinating, compelling, complex characters in the history of cinema. Hyperbole, I know, but I stand by it (and so does Premiere Magazine, listing it in the 50 greatest performances of all time, for what it's worth). I adore this movie, huge nasty warts and all, and while I can't speak for everyone, I found it much more memorable and interesting than THE DEPARTED, even if it wasn't the "better" movie.
I honestly feel that AGE OF INNOCENCE or THE AVIATOR are, pound for pound, better movies than THE DEPARTED. Both are epic in very different ways, the latter also benefiting from the fact that it's more or less a true story. Both take numerous risks, like casting Leo (that was honestly the first time I have ever truly respected him as an actor. He blew me away) and the fact that Martin frickin' Scorsese actually made a movie of AGE OF INNOCENCE, for god's sake! Sometimes they failed, yes, but I think the successes paid off to the extent that they were ultimately the better films. It's probably also the reason why he didn't win any Oscars.
Will THE DEPARTED finally get him that precious little naked golden man? Based on the movie's huge critical success (93% on rottentomatoes last I checked), my suspicions that it's a totally safe crowd-pleaser are confirmed, so it could be a safe enough choice for Oscar voters. THE DEPARTED is a good movie, maybe even a great movie. But it's certainly not a Great Film.
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no subject
Date: 2006-10-26 02:41 am (UTC)Also, I'm an asshole and at the very end of the movie, I turned to Mel and said, "Oh, it's a rat, I get it." So...yeah.
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Date: 2006-10-26 02:45 am (UTC)I leaned over to my brother and said, ala Space Ghost "It's SYMBOLIC!"
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Date: 2006-10-26 10:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-26 01:28 pm (UTC)**spoilers for readers of comments**
I liked the mirror of both a prominient and a shadow character on both sides of the law. Star undercover cop, secrect undercover cop, Star corrupy cop, secret corrupt cop.
He, especially, was interesting to see. "Chase" (can't help it, he's Chase on 24 and that's how I remember him) was interesting in that they kept pointing him out, then "forgetting" about him, almost like a character who was a bigger part but ended up on the cutting room floor. Then BOOM! He's in on it too! ****
Oh, and the fact that Martin frickin' Scorsese actually made a movie of AGE OF INNOCENCE, for god's sake!
I remember being shocked and amazed that it was him directing....it's a beautiful film, and captures the bittersweet angst of Wharton's novels brilliantly.