“The Departed” (Warner Brothers)
Above Average, But Below Expectations
Any time you have a film directed by Martin Scorcese the expectations for the film are sky high. After all this is the man who crafted such classics as “Raging Bull,” “Taxi Driver,” and “Mean Streets.” So moviegoers attending showings of his new film “The Departed” expect to be blown away. Sadly what they get is a movie above average in the acting department but below expectations on an overall level.
“The Departed” is chock full of brilliant acting performances. Jack Nicholson leads the pack with his evil portrait of Frank Costello, an Irish mob boss in Boston. Nicholson still has the ability to get inside the skin of his characters and make them one hundred per cent believable. Costello is a foul-mouthed, greasy-haired, cold-blooded maniac who rules by murder, torture and humiliation. He has no redeeming qualities yet Nicholson gives him a sense of charm.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also at his best as Billy Costigan, a member of the state police who goes undercover to try to get the goods on Costello. DiCaprio has matured into his looks and his talent has also expanded. He still has a squeaky voice that makes him sound younger than his years. In this movie fear and anticipation are constantly in his character’s makeup, and he lets us see the desperation that totally engulfs him.
Matt Damon is the surprise in the movie. He plays Colin Sullivan, another member of the State Police. He is Costello’s man and helps protect him from the police. Damon makes Colin a blustering type of over achiever who is constantly jeopardizing his life and his career. He appears to be a man with serious issues about who and what he is. Damon captures all these nuances and makes the role more than it should be.
Mark Wahlberg has a smaller role as the person to whom Billy Costigan reports. Wahlberg is so explosive and so dynamic that you wish he had more on-screen time. Martin Sheen is also solid as another member of the police force who manages Costigan.
The main female role is played by Vera Farmiga. She is Madolyn, a woman who is involved with both DiCaprio’s and Damon’s characters. She is a psychiatrist for the State Police and therefore comes into contact with both men. With both men romancing her you would expect her to have some essence of charm and appeal, but none is found. Farmiga plays the role at low key and that is not what is needed to explain both men being passionately involved with her.
There is a lot of action in the movie and quite a few surprises as the story unfolds. Still what hurts the film is the lack of explanation as to what makes these characters tick. Billy Costigan is a brilliant young man so why is he compelled to risk his life to be a mole in Costello’s mob And why does the politically aspiring Sullivan risk everything to play spy for Costello Neither of these questions is answered fully by the film.
The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and crude humor and situations.
Martin Scorcese ambitiously tackles a sprawling story of violence, greed and power in “The Departed.” He knows how to pick and guide his actors but he should have had more focus on the shortcomings of the script. Once the film has ended you realize you never knew who these people were or what motivated them, and that makes the aftertaste of the film bitter.
I scored “The Departed” a great expectations 6 out of 10.
