The Departed

[MOVIE STUNTS]

Ok I heard a rumor awhile ago about An American ripoff of Infernal Affairs. Is this it, I wonder? The story smells the same, though the title has changed. Watching the trailer that's how I felt. For shame!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thedeparted/hd/

What do those of you who have seen Infernal Affairs think?

[Staven]

Yes it is.

The basic premise of Infernal Affairs is very cool. I personally didn't think the movie translated over to a North American audience that well, thus it's a suitable movie to be redone.(whereas a movie like Oldboy translates well and doesn't need to be redone for a N.A. audience.)

With the cast is boasts and Scorsese at the helm, this film should rock!

[Gohanto]

For shame?

What percent of people have watched more then 3 foreign movies in their life time?

Personally, i don't know a single person.

Tarantino made a career out of ripping off foreign films or films people had forgotten about.

[theAlchemist]

For shame?

What percent of people have watched more then 3 foreign movies in their life time?

Personally, i don't know a single person.

Tarantino made a career out of ripping off foreign films or films people had forgotten about.
Really that many people in the USA that don't watch foreign movies? :huh:
Personally I think there is no reason to remake a movie that was made only 4 years ago. Infernal Affairs is a great movie and I expect the departed won't come close of being great. And Leo feels like a total miscast.


Yes it is.

The basic premise of Infernal Affairs is very cool. I personally didn't think the movie translated over to a North American audience that well, thus it's a suitable movie to be redone.(whereas a movie like Oldboy translates well and doesn't need to be redone for a N.A. audience.)

With the cast is boasts and Scorsese at the helm, this film should rock!

What part of Infernal Affairs doesn't translate to north american audiences if I may ask?

[ZFarms Productions]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=62458&highlight=Departed


UTFS
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/filmdirector1986/noob.jpg

[spidey]

yeah i still dunno how to feel about it anyway.... noob.. heh.

[MOVIE STUNTS]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=62458&highlight=Departed


UTFS
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/filmdirector1986/noob.jpg
Interesting... A self portrait huh? Anyway, the trailer was just posted a few days ago, I didn't realise there would have been talk about it already.

[Filmjunkie677]

I didn't realise there would have been talk about it already.

That's why we have a wonderful feature called the search function.

NOOB.

:furious3:

[ZFarms Productions]

Interesting... A self portrait huh? Anyway, the trailer was just posted a few days ago, I didn't realise there would have been talk about it already.


WTF? why the personal attack?

[MOVIE STUNTS]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=62458&highlight=Departed


UTFS
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b76/filmdirector1986/noob.jpg
Yeah, Really.

[ZFarms Productions]

it wasnt a personal attack... its lighthearted fun. it wasnt done to offend you... just a fun way to ask you to use the search function

[MOVIE STUNTS]

UTFS... If you say so, let's just keep it at that.

[MOVIE STUNTS]

FYI when i typed in the departed your thread was 4 down, maybe you shouldn't have called it martin scorsese's the departed... Especially because it is obviously not his but a rip off.

[The Machinist]

Dude you need to chill.

You made a noob blunder and thus deserve the treatment that all the rest of us get whenever we make noob mistakes.

So lay off ravinesedge.

And maybe you shouldn't call it a rip off since it took the original story and adapted it to a different setting and different characters. Last i checked this has been going on for years and some amazing films have been produced as a result.

and it should be called Martin Scorsese's The Departed because he is Martin Scorsese and deserves some god damn respect.

NOOB

[MOVIE STUNTS]

Scorsese huh... I don't care if it was Hitchcock. No respect should be given to people who take credit for other peoples ideas and try to sell it as their own. (FYI I don't think Hitchcock would do such a thing.)
P.S. Don't defend a rip off artist. Peace.

[Blaine]

This movie puts Scorsese back in his element. I fucking can't wait to see it!!!!!

[CallaghanFilms]

Ok I heard a rumor awhile ago about An American ripoff of Infernal Affairs. Is this it, I wonder? The story smells the same, though the title has changed. Watching the trailer that's how I felt. For shame!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thedeparted/hd/

What do those of you who have seen Infernal Affairs think? So let me get this straight:

Nicholson is playing the Richard Gere part...
DiCaprio is taking on the part of Andy Garcia...
Martin Sheen is taking over for William Baldwin...

:huh: WTF?! At this point you lose me...

So Matt Damon...is he Laurie Metcalf or Nancy Travis in this version?




http://images.allposters.com/images/MG/195451.jpg
http://imdb.com/title/tt0099850/










Oh, and next time,
http://www.geocities.com/the_callaghans/11111noob.jpg

[MOVIE STUNTS]

BLAINE, I'm sure I'll see it too... I'm sure his spin will be interesting.
l CallaghanFilms, LOL, The movie is actually InFernal Affairs.
Edit- though Matt Damon would probably be Nancy (boy) Travis

[The Machinist]

No respect should be given to people who take credit for other peoples ideas and try to sell it as their own.

I totally agree with that point.

But i disagree that that's what's going on here.

You haven't seen the movie yet. For all you know its completely different. So before you go on some flaming fanboy rampage calling one of the greatest directors of American Cinema:


a rip off artist

At least wait to see if that's the case, Nooblar.

[MOVIE STUNTS]

I'm sure i'll see it, it's got alot of peolple i like in it.

[ZFarms Productions]

watch the trailer for the movie. at the end when they show they credits the original is credited there. if he was ripping it off i dont think he'd credit the original.

[Filmjunkie677]

This is an American remake of an Asian film.

This isn't something new. Hollywood has been doing this for years. I don't understand why people are getting all bent out of shape about it.

Blashpemy.:kali:

[MOVIE STUNTS]

Ok I heard a rumor awhile ago about An American ripoff of Infernal Affairs. Is this it, I wonder? The story smells the same, though the title has changed. Watching the trailer that's how I felt. For shame!

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/thedeparted/hd/

What do those of you who have seen Infernal Affairs think?
I'm not bent out of shape per se, as much as dissapointed. I'm just trying to figure out why the name change?

[J.R. Hudson]

LMAO Awesome Blaine


What percent of people have watched more then 3 foreign movies in their life time?
Personally, i don't know a single person.
Tarantino made a career out of ripping off foreign films or films people had forgotten about.

I suspect one major reason is simply exposure. We're lucky to get a shelf at the local Blockbuster or god forbid, an arthouse in town that showcases foreign film. Admittedly, I am not a big fan of 'reading movies'.

As far as Tarantino making a career out of ripping off foriegn art films? YOU havent a clue what you're talking about do you ?


anyways ...

Chill with the bullshit and repect Scorsese

http://www.funfry.com/data/512/dog_loud_bark_stfu_noob_funfry_resize.jpg

[Evan S]

Hey guys, I've seen over 2 dozen foreign films. . . and I'm american.

[MOVIE STUNTS]

Sorry I'll try to REPECT Scorsese:)

[J.R. Hudson]

Oh now you're an english professor ?

[MOVIE STUNTS]

Doubt it, i can't spill either... see what i mean.

[The Machinist]

I'm just trying to figure out why the name change?

Maybe he changed the story and invested enough of his own style that he felt it warranted a new title more appropriate to his telling of the story?

You just won't know until you see it.

[J.R. Hudson]

It's kind of a lame name though isn'it it ?

Infernal Affairs

It sounds more like a comedy than a serious film.

-

Not sure how cool the name The Departed is.

[The Machinist]

true not the greatest title.

but then again i'm not a fan of the titles "alice doesn't live here anymore", "boxcar bertha", or "taxi driver" to be honest.

But i do think he has 3 movie titles with a divinical badass quotient:

Brining out the Dead

Raging Bull


and one of my all time favs:

Mean Streets

[Blaine]

It's kind of a lame name though isn'it it ?

Infernal Affairs

It sounds more like a comedy than a serious film.

-

Not sure how cool the name The Departed is.
Shouldn't we get foreign movies with the original title: Mou gaan dou? Putting the name in English is misleading since the language in the movie is Cantonese.

Where are the purists, now? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[theAlchemist]

Shouldn't we get foreign movies with the original title: Mou gaan dou? Putting the name in English is misleading since the language in the movie is Cantonese.

Where are the purists, now? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
Both English and Chinese (Cantonese) are official languages in Hong Kong.
It's common to have an english and cantonese title. No misleading in that:)

[Blaine]

http://www.billmon.org/archives/emily.jpg

[chromeboy007]

This is an American remake of an Asian film.

This isn't something new. Hollywood has been doing this for years. I don't understand why people are getting all bent out of shape about it.

Blashpemy.:kali:

because they should push the original Asian movie here in North America, and not to do a remake.

the best way, and the only way, to truly appreciate somebody's work is to let people see it. not to make a remake. even if you give credit to the original artist, it's not the same.

And yes it is a remake, not a rip off, as the original screenwriters are given credit for it. There even is a scene in Infernal Affairs where the mole gets his cast (sp?) broken to see if there is a wire (or something) inside.

It doesn't even make economic sense to do a remake... spend half the production/marketing cost of The Departed onto promoting Infernal Affairs and the distributor will get there money back plus profit.

[Blaine]

And what kind of box office do you REALLY think the Asian original is going to get. For the wider audience they did what they had to do to get it, at the same time crediting the original for those who might be interested in seeing the original.

There are a couple of instances where I saw the American remake and enjoyed it enough that I searched out the foreign original to make my comparison. Only in one case did I actually prefer the foreign version. But if I hadn't seen the American version I probably would have never gone to the trouble to search out the foreign version.

[Filmjunkie677]

because they should push the original Asian movie here in North America, and not to do a remake.


Um, they did.

Miramax (The Weinstein company) had the rights and released it last year in a limited theatrical release. If you go to your local dvd shop and look around you'll see it with a ridiculous cover with a girl on it who's not even in the film.

Hey, I'm all for foreign films, I love em, but unfortunately the truth is most American audiences don't like them (for one reason or another) and no matter how hard a studio "pushes" the film, people aren't going to see it.

Look at Hero. Even with Tarantino's name above the title, it still didn't make any money.

In the end, who really cares?

I love Infernal Affairs and I'm all for the"reimagining" by scorsese. Bring em' all on.

[J.R. Hudson]

It doesn't even make economic sense to do a remake...

It'll Gross over 150 Million.

Why complain about it ? Who cares ? If anything, it'll turn some onto the source material.

This looks badass; looks better than the other one.

[Blaine]

spend half the production/marketing cost of The Departed onto promoting Infernal Affairs and the distributor will get there money back plus profit.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pollyanna/homeimages/pollyanna_left01.jpg

[J.R. Hudson]

chromeboy007

Are you high on something ?

http://www.cinemorgue.com/jewelshepard1.jpg

[spidey]

my fear is that it wil either fail or suceed the source matieral and when people talk about this version the other will go unspoken about. and if is worse than that turn away other who may have wanted to see the other one.

fear....

plus does that mean they will continue the trilogy here? doubt it, but there are great story lines and the second one is my fav for some reason, i guess cause you learn so muh about these characters, plus i like this scene....

http://bustedbubble.entopia2002.com/ia2burn.jpg

[J.R. Hudson]

Those are interesting points Spidey; but unfortunately we are talking a foriegn flick. Whereas there is a small nmiche market for Asian Cinema, let us be honest:

It aint that big. It's a niche market probably less than that of the zombie fan market.

A film like this is in good hands: Scorsese, Jack, Leo ....

It's gonna be oTay

http://www.politicaldogs.org/uploaded_images/buckwheat-707165.jpg

[spidey]

awwww john. lol thats f'd up lol

leo is the only person im worried about he playing the most important role if he messes it up.... well ill be mad.
i know the forgein film thing is hard for people man if it does suck then i will hate MS after this. i havent liked a movie of his in a while. he need to quit working with his god son and go back to basics Bobby D.

[Blaine]

awwww john. lol thats f'd up lol

leo is the only person im worried about he playing the most important role if he messes it up.... well ill be mad.
i know the forgein film thing is hard for people man if it does suck then i will hate MS after this. i havent liked a movie of his in a while. he need to quit working with his god son and go back to basics Bobby D.
Hey, spidey, this IS back to Scosese's basics...American crime... :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[spidey]

its also got no bobby d and still has leo.... i still dont see the good yet... im just glad hes telling the story but leo could ruin it.

[Blaine]

its also got no bobby d and still has leo.... i still dont see the good yet... im just glad hes telling the story but leo could ruin it.
Yeah, I thought about appending my reply when I thought about Leo...not a fan...
re: DeNiro and Scorsese...has it really been since Casino (1995) that they worked together? :shocked:

[Filmjunkie677]

Dicaprio's got damn good acting chops. I think he's another example of his offscreen, pretty-boy, persona getting in the way of what he can do in front of the camera. Like Tom Cruise.

And yes, would've been great for a Bobby D/Scorsese reunion.

[spidey]

i just dont like leo compared to other male actors he could choose from. matt daemon good choice, he's well rounded, leo is mostly the one sided type.

[The Machinist]

I liked the Aviator. Not a fan of gangs though.




It'll Gross over 150 Million.

I hope so. If it does I think that'll make it his most successful film to date.

I think Aviator only pulled in somewhere around 110 million in the States and i believe thats his most commercially successful film to date. Also i believe its his most expensive film to produce with an estimated 116 million dollar budget.

anyone know how much the departed cost? I'm feeling to lazy to look it up.

[spidey]

i dunno.... lot of 20 million dollar actors a picture guys in it...

[Blaine]

The last movie Marty made that I really liked was Casino. Both Aviator and Kings of New York were watch-able but made no lasting impression on me.

[spidey]

last movie i really enjoyed of his was goodfellas. but movis i love of his are taxi driver and raging bull.

[The Machinist]

No love for Mean Streets spidey?

[spidey]

never seen it. :-o i know i know... i dunno really like those two though but i should check out his work more.

[Filmjunkie677]

I'm a big fan of After Hours. Love that flick.

[Blaine]

never seen it. :-o i know i know... i dunno really like those two though but i should check out his work more.
JAW DROPS!!!! (cracking chin painfully on the floor)

You need to take the time to watch that one, spidey. It's a GREAT indie movie.

[spidey]

yea i know.

[Filmjunkie677]

And the first time he uses classic rock in his films to perfection!!

Love Mean Streets.

Yeah, rent it ASAP, Spidey!!

[chromeboy007]

my numbers are arbitrary but my business point is, it costs alot of money to make a film, especially with that kind of personel. A limited release with no marketing will yield little income. Hero made 18M in the first weekend. How much did they spend on purchasing the rights and marketing? I don't know. Probably less than 18M.

But you are guys are right. I'm sure this remake will be entertaining.

[Blaine]

Yeah, rent it ASAP, Spidey!!
Fuck renting it!!! You gotta OWN it. :cool:

[Filmjunkie677]

Or better yet, buy this and get schooled....


http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/607592h.jpg

[Super Trooper]

great suggestion filmjunkie.

Man, I love the audio commentaries on those films. Very entertaining.

Call me a nancy boy, but one of my favorite from that set is "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore".

[The Machinist]

In addition to the DVDs:

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/9866/1156386885.jpg

This is a book that every lover of cinema (aspiring filmmaker or not) should own.

[Blaine]

You forgot the link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0571220029/sr=1-1/qid=1156386968/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-8816669-8593607?ie=UTF8&s=books

Ordered!

[The Machinist]

Excellent.

You won't be dissappointed.

I especially like the Last Temptation of Christ segment. Gives a real insight into being the focus of controversy.

[Blaine]

AND since they were sitting there in my cart, I also ordered Badlands and Rosemary's Baby.

[SPZ]

Scorcese bought the rights to Infernal Affairs, then changed the name to The Departed. While this could be interpreted as respect to the Original story, it can still be argued that Scorcese simply liked the story and wanted to shoot it his way- and distance himself from the original.

Lets see the results. I for one think the name change was a good move. This way both movies can survive independently. However, the reference to Infernal Affairs should be there for people to know where the story comes from.

[Blaine]

Just saw a television teaser for the film. If it's anything like the teaser, I gotta see this movie...:thumbsup:

[Billy Pilgrim]

Or better yet, buy this and get schooled....


http://images.dvdempire.com/gen/movies/607592h.jpg

Get that and also buy Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, Casino, and The King of Comedy on top of it.

[Tony D'Amato]

Scorcese bought the rights to Infernal Affairs, then changed the name to The Departed. While this could be interpreted as respect to the Original story, it can still be argued that Scorcese simply liked the story and wanted to shoot it his way- and distance himself from the original.




Bull$hit!

[SPZ]

Bull$hit!

? Why?

[Blaine]

Bull$hit!
Perhaps you'd like to elaborate...

[hvxabuser]

The look looks like a replica of the original source. someof the same camera moves and shots are the say.

[SPZ]

Just saw the trailer. There's a glimpse of someone falling from a building. Looks like a major plot point copy from the original. Many rooftop shots too, another characteristic from Infernal Affairs. let's see if there's something original in it, and not only location and actor's race swap. I haven't got high hopes for this one (but some of the best movies I saw I had the exact same feeling prior viewing)

[hvxabuser]

I just hope its good.

[Filmjunkie677]

wow, 95% on Rotten Tomotoes!!

Everyone seems to agree, this is Scorsese's best since Gooodfellas. At the top of his game.

Can this be his oscar picture?

Cannot wait to see this tonight!

[ZFarms Productions]

it wont be his Oscar picture... Flags of Our Fathers is going to take Best Picture this year.... going to see Departed in a couple hours, i'll let everyone know what i thought when i get back

[Filmjunkie677]

I meant the oscar for Best director.... No way, Clint is getting it again. Anyway, he'll be competing against himself because he made two films about Iwo Jima and it will cancel him out.

[ZFarms Productions]

the other Iwo Jima film isnt getting released till Feb... it won't be a contender for this years Oscars... best Director? idk, we'll see

[c.g._eads]

Uh oh, here comes the critics' praise! Wait a minute, could it be true that the critics are gettng overly excited about a Scorcese film and that it's skewing their opinion? No, not possible. Especially when we look back at the RT meter for Gangs of New York (77%). Or The Aviator (89%). I challenge anybody to watch these movies now and get excited about them. They are sub-par mediocre films given high grades because of what? Critics getting overly excited about a Scorcese film.

Now I'm not saying this movie is good or bad. I haven't seen it. But please go in with a realistic frame of mind. The original version of this movie doesn't bring anything new to the table - so it's not like they're working with all-star material. Everybody just CALLLLLM DOWWWWN. You might actually enjoy the movie.

[ZFarms Productions]

the movie was great. a bit long, but enjoyable. DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson, Wahlberg, Sheen, even Alec Baldwin give great performances. The action was great, the story was great, the directing was great, editing was great. Very enjoyable film, highly recommend it, go out and see it.

[J.R. Hudson]

Uh oh, here comes the critics' praise! Wait a minute, could it be true that the critics are gettng overly excited about a Scorcese film and that it's skewing their opinion? No, not possible. Especially when we look back at the RT meter for Gangs of New York (77%). Or The Aviator (89%). I challenge anybody to watch these movies now and get excited about them. They are sub-par mediocre films given high grades because of what? Critics getting overly excited about a Scorcese film.

Now I'm not saying this movie is good or bad. I haven't seen it. But please go in with a realistic frame of mind. The original version of this movie doesn't bring anything new to the table - so it's not like they're working with all-star material. Everybody just CALLLLLM DOWWWWN. You might actually enjoy the movie.

I find those 2 films some of the better films made in the last few years; they're on my list. Scorsese makes movies with ambition; that is something we don't see too often these days.

The RT Meters; they have actually seen the film you know

[Blaine]

I find those 2 films some of the better films made in the last few years; they're on my list. Scorsese makes movies with ambition; that is something we don't see too often these days.

The RT Meters; they have actually seen the film you know
Personally, neither Gangs nor Aviator were among my favorites, though I think I liked Gangs a little better. I'm not saying these weren't good movies, they just weren't MY favorites by him.

From ALL the reviews and clips I've seen of The Departed, I think it could well be amongst the best things Scorsese has done. I have heard that both Damon and DiCarpio have career performances in this movie. That, along with all the other actors involved, not to mention Scorsese, make this a MUST SEE for me...:thumbsup:

[ZFarms Productions]

Personally, neither Gangs nor Aviator were among my favorites, though I think I liked Gangs a little better. I'm not saying these weren't good movies, they just weren't MY favorites by him.

From ALL the reviews and clips I've seen of The Departed, I think it could well be among the best things Scorsese has done. I have heard that both Damon and DiCarpio have career performances in this movie. That, along with all the other actors involved, not to mention Scorsese, make this a MUST SEE for me...:thumbsup:

i really dont think you'd be dissappointed Blaine, it was a very good movie. DiCaprio and Damon are in top form in the film.

[J.R. Hudson]

DiCaprio is a stud and Damon has really really grown on me as he has matured ...

Is this possibly Scorseses first BEST DIRECTOR WIN ?

(I have not seen it)

[Blaine]

Is this possibly Scorseses first BEST DIRECTOR WIN ?
At some point the members of the DGA are going to feel they "owe" him one (isn't that the way these things work?:huh: ). I just hope it's for a good one.

[ZFarms Productions]

it may be his time as Best Director. he did a great job with the film

[dmc]

He has most certainly deserved it many times before but if the academy's memory is still stuck on his association with Elia Kazan - then sadly probably not.


Scorsese, (IMO) is one of the most gifted directors still alive.

(I'm getting ready to go see it in 1/2 hr.)


dmc

[Billy Pilgrim]

Kubrick never won an award for directing, so who knows what'll happen. It'd be nice to see him win one, but even if he never wins an academy award for best director, he's still made an immensely important body of work. I'm going to try and see The Departed this weekend.

[Barth Gimble]

The local paper said Wahlberg stole every scene he was in.....

[dustino]

Saw it today and loved it. Looking forward to seeing it again soon. The best performances by ALL of the actors respectively in recent memory (for Nicholson - probably the best in 15-20 years.)

I was a little worried when I saw the running time is almost 3 hrs. - I think this film warranted it, though, and I was definitely never bored. I saw the movie by myself and was damn temped to just stay in the theater for a second viewing but couldn't bring myself to waste the entire day. The play between Wahlberg, Damon, and DiCaprio is great; Baldwin had a couple of small but brilliant scenes that were perfect for him, and DiCaprio solidified his versatility and overall chops. Sheen was more of the stabilizing straight man for all of the banter between the young guns which worked really well. Nicholson teetered just on the edge of over-the-top, but never crossed that line and was spectacular throughout. Highly recommended.

[ZFarms Productions]

MAYBE SPOILER?

was it just me or was Baldwin sweating A LOT, in the warehouse scene where they're survelling Costello?

[Billy Pilgrim]

The local paper said Wahlberg stole every scene he was in.....

I'm not surprised to see that at all. He's great in Boogie Nights.

[c.g._eads]

Take this review with a grain of salt, cause I walked out 75 minutes into the film. And that's when I thought the movie was two hours! Now I'm hearing it's three?? Thank god I left. (Two walkouts before me by the way).

This movie was boring. Plain and simple. People talk about the story. What story? Unless Scorcese decided to add a story after the 75th minute, the only story I saw was that two internal affairs cops were being trained and getting their experience on the job. I think S.W.A.T. had a better story than that.

The acting. Acting?? What acting?? Unless you get a hard on for Hollywood actors trying to act cool and playing pretend tough, there was no acting here. I mean I guess DiCaprio did a good job. Mainly cause he just used that cold steely glare a lot, and he looks cool when he uses that cold steely glare. But Matt Damon?? Talk about an actor who tries too hard. Every single scene he's in I say: "acting." "acting." "acting." Never once did he convince me he was that character. When he tries to woo what's her name in the elevator with his fake laughs and fake charm? Ahhh! ACCCTTTIIING! Acting acting acting.

Then we have what's his name. Nicholson. What did he do in this film that was so amazing? Be boring and predictable? I mean I guess when he sings that little Irish song it's kinda sorta cool. But it seemed like postering. It seemed like "this is my moment to make that scene that people will remember." Boring.

Mark Wahlberg was funny. I mean I chuckled when he said "erection". But give him an Oscar for that? Give me a break.

Directing: Scorcese can direct the camera and is a good editor but he definitely should not get an Oscar nod for this.

Now I'll be the first to admit I'm not a fan of this genre, but I believe Goodfellas is a masterpiece, and whereas that movie will be remembered for centuries to come, this one will be lucky to be remembered a week after it comes out on DVD. And when did it become okay to make 3 hour movies that could easily be contained in 2 hours? I thought that Monahen writer would've learned his lesson after writing that 4 hour script for Kingdom of Heaven. Remember how that movie came out, was the most boring movie ever, and then they started claiming "yeah yeah, but that's cause the studio cut out an hour of the movie and that hour made it great." And then I rented that to see if it indeed made the movie great, and all it did was make the movie an hour more boring. I mean I'm sure The Departed had many twists and turns along the way, stuff that made the movie cooler and more neato. But I wouldn't have cared because those characters were boring. What, do DiCaprio and Damon face off or something? Is that what happens? Whoa, Pacino and DiNero/Heat part 2!

What nobody wants to admit is that Scorcese made this film so that he can make other films. The crime genre is his genre. He knows where the well is. He was even too lazy to come up with an original script. He had to resort to exploiting Asian cinema just like everybody else in Hollywood. So this gives him a couple of films that he wants to make. I guess there's something noble in that.

[Blaine]

Not at all surprised to see this review from you, based on your earlier post. In fact, I'd have been shocked if you had said anything good about it. I haven't seen it, but I will definitely go and make up my own mind about it.

[dvpixl]

well, i certainly enjoyed it. I'm glad it was remade. I thought it was a freakin good movie too. I liked it better than the original.

[DavidBeier]

Man was that bleak! Well directed. Well written. Fantastically acted. Certainly a downer of a movie though. I was really into it but I'm not sure if I like how quickly the bodies piled up in the last few scenes. I'll have to watch it again (when I'm ready) to see if I think it was warrented or just un-neccesarily bleak.


DiCaprio is a stud and Damon has really really grown on me as he has matured ...

Is this possibly Scorseses first BEST DIRECTOR WIN ?

Don't count on it. Scorseses says he thinks the reasons his films don't win Oscars is because they are so violent and depressing. If that's true then the Academy sure as hell isn't gonna like this. LA insiders suggest the reason he never wins is simple East coast vs West coast rivalry. Scorseses will always be a New York guy to them. Either way, he's screwed.

[c.g._eads]

Scorseses says he thinks the reasons his films don't win Oscars is because they are so violent and depressing.

Yes, Braveheart was violence-free and had a hell of an upbeat ending.

Blaine, I did say I liked the cinematography and the editing. :)

I just think this guy gets a free pass no matter what he makes. And everybody assumes that whatever he does is genius because he's Scorcese. I'm saying if you take the name away, the movie falls apart at the seams, like a lot of his films.

[Cheesesailor77]

saw it tonight and really liked it. I haven't enjoyed Scorsese last few movies so I'm glad I wasn't disappointed yet again.

I do agree that the begining is kinda weak though. I'm not sure if it was necessary for set up or not, but i wasn't sure where it was going for probably an hour. That said once they get to the chip trade, I really started to get into it. From there the movie seems to just gain momentum all the way to the end, getting better and better.

I thought the 3 leads (Jack, Leo, and Matt) I thought were all really great.

That said, I still don't think this comes close to any of the Scorsese classics. Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino are movies that I enjoyed a LOT more than this. I can't imagine him winning best director for this. I love the guy, but c'mon.

[DavidBeier]

Yes, Braveheart was violence-free and had a hell of an upbeat ending.

Blaine, I did say I liked the cinematography and the editing. :)

I just think this guy gets a free pass no matter what he makes. And everybody assumes that whatever he does is genius because he's Scorcese. I'm saying if you take the name away, the movie falls apart at the seams, like a lot of his films.

Sorry but untill you actually sit through the whole movie then please refrain from commenting on stuff you don't understand.

[c.g._eads]

If you can't entertain me an hour into your movie, you can't entertain me.

[Cheesesailor77]

thats probably true. Oh well, i liked it :)

[Yas Kassana]

Scorcese is back! Better than the OTT original. Loved this flick.

[thartley]

Loved this flick!

Before anyone goes calling me a fanboy, I've felt Scorsese can be hit and miss. This one , however, was right outta the ballpark.

First off, I have an affinity for Boston, and this guy got the Boston vibe perfect. Also, I have an affinity for cop work, from the beat all the way to the NSA. Scorsese got that vibe right too, which is freakin' rare in movies nowadays - which takes me out of movie where convienient procedure is involved...I know, who gives a sh*t about procedure ?, but i appreciate the versimillitude.

Secondly, besides the occasional Nicholson dancing on the tabletops, acting-wise, this cast was superb. Particularly, Leo seems to be getting better with each Scorsese flick, and if it were my vote, he'd be a leading contender for an Oscar nom with this role. The guy nails undercover like a mofo, and makes Damon's performance (of whom I'm a fan since Bourne) seem like he was standing still.

Thirdly, this story felt real to me, and I gave a sh*t about the characters. Unlike "Infernal Affairs", this was more than a cool directed action/thriller. This had the element of character study, while IA just had gloss appeal.



I absolutely 100% agree with just about everything said here in this post. Particularly about Leo's portrayal. I have never been a fan of his, ever, and he had me speechless, like I'd never seen him in my life before. It was almost like this was the only role that it was so evident he really worked his ass off to get right. And he nailed it. Never saw a movie where I didnt like Damon's character, and I really didnt like Sullivan. Jack was Jack...could have been more something and less something else, but it worked okay. The movie was heart-stopping in some places.

Loved it. :thumbup:

[DavidBeier]

^
I agree, Leo was excellent. I've always felt that he's a gifted actor who often isn't used properly. In Gangs of New York, I felt he was the weak link that ended up stopping the film from being terrific. This however is the performance he SHOULD have given in Gangs. Seriously, powerful, and controlled.

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The fact that he gets killed off was easily the most painful part of the film. If anyone in the film earns a little happiness at the end it's him. I really need to see it again to decide if that was really neccesary or just unfairly depressing.

[dvpixl]

Mark Wahlberg was a funny mudder fudder.

[Cheesesailor77]

^

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The fact that he gets killed off was easily the most painful part of the film. If anyone in the film earns a little happiness at the end it's him. I really need to see it again to decide if that was really neccesary or just unfairly depressing.

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When that part happened i immediatly thought the same thing. like, oh great, it plays into the theme of the movie but it also take away any investment we had in the last 2 hours. Great, I dont care what happens now. But i believe it WAS neccesary because it not only "realistictly" (i dont think thats the word I'm looking for) depicts the double/triple crosses in the force (quadruple cross by Damon) but it sets up the whole finale, which looking back doesn't feel cheap to me because Leo KNOWS he's in deep shit when he gives the chick the sealed envelope. In the end Leo's final act was still carried through Dignum (is that his name?), who was one of the only guys who told it straight through the entire movie.

[thartley]

I know what you mean...the female side of me was trying to convince myself that there were two tickets to Tahiti in that envelope and Leo and the doc would go off somewhere for the rest of their lives...all William wanted was his identity back. That was all. All the double-cross and extra players were revealed so quickly, my mind was hardpressed to catch up to it, but that is exactly how I think Sullivan was feeling in that elevator: convinced he knew the outcome and then blindsided by people and events he could not have forseen. That's how I felt...but true to his rat-like instincts, he did what he had to do. No honor among thugs, I guess.

Great movie... I'll probably see it again. I wonder what the BTS will be like on the disc. :)

[thartley]

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I wanted to follow these characters longer. So much for a sequel. :( :beer:

I would TOTALLY be up for a prequel. Give me some epic backstory pieces on all the parts this one flew over in the first 30 - 45 minutes! The roles in this were so intense, I would LOVE to see the lives they lived before this and really get the skinny on their present motivations.

Terri
(praying for a prequel)

[meta4]

I just saw the departed this last weekend and while the movie itself was GREAT.

I found myself suddenly saying "I could shoot that quality with a Canon A1!"

Pretty crazy stuff.

[-zach-]

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=68143

[Blaine]

http://www.ambrosiasw.com/~andrew/funny/noob.jpg

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=68143

[Pale Rider]

I went into this one with low expectations, and I have to say that I was impressed. The ENTIRE cast turned in top-notch performances. Wahlberg had me in stitches, and he really stole the scenes he was in. Very solid film. Go watch it. :beer:

[meta4]

I eat dog stuff

[J.R. Hudson]

I found myself suddenly saying "I could shoot that quality with a Canon A1!"

Riiiighhttt

[Cheesesailor77]

I found myself suddenly saying "I could shoot that quality with a Canon A1!"


what?

[J.R. Hudson]

I rode 4 miles today and built a scarecrow and filed for dissolution in the state of California today; not too mention worked my day job

:Drogar-Evil(DBG):

[J.R. Hudson]

Damn it Cheese

You edited!

[Cheesesailor77]

hahahaha, you saw that?

lol I wrote in "reason for deletion": not funny enough

[DavidBeier]

I just saw the departed this last weekend and while the movie itself was GREAT.

I found myself suddenly saying "I could shoot that quality with a Canon A1!"


Ummm...aside from the fact that we havn't seen hardly any actual footage from the A1...huh? I mean seriously huh??? If we're lucky, the HVX200, XLH1, and HD100 can give us quality in the realm of Super 16mm, not Super 35mm. Not to mention all the vastly more expensive lenses, lights, trained cinematographers, ect. Oh, and Scorsese might just know a thing or two about directing...maybe.

[Cheesesailor77]

Oh, and Scorsese might just know a thing or two about directing...maybe.

i don't knooooow...

well, maybe.

[Charli]

I truly hated this movie. I hated how I felt at the end. And there is no way
a doc like that chic would go for a criminal. She just had too much class.

How many brains were blown out in the making of this film?

[Filmjunkie677]

I found myself suddenly saying "I could shoot that quality with a Canon A1!"

Pretty crazy stuff.

Can you elaborate. I'm confused.

[J.R. Hudson]

I truly hated this movie. I hated how I felt at the end. And there is no way
a doc like that chic would go for a criminal. She just had too much class.

How many brains were blown out in the making of this film?

Not a Scorsese fan I take it ? :huh: :(

[NO CA$H]

How many brains were blown out in the making of this film? I think I'm gunna see this movie a second time and count how many brains were blown out. Anybody wanna guess?

[Cheesesailor77]

specifically brains? or just bloody matter in general? if the latter, are we talkin' 1 count per person, or if a guy gets his leg or something blown off and THEN his brains blown out does that count as 2?

i mean, if i'm going to give an accurate estimate...

[NO CA$H]

A bullet to the head is all. Just how many people get shot in the head.

[Cheesesailor77]

hmmmmmm

6?

[thartley]

A bullet to the head is all. Just how many people get shot in the head.

Are we including the flashbacks and set-up? :)

[NO CA$H]

Yup.

[thartley]

I truly hated this movie. I hated how I felt at the end. And there is no way
a doc like that chic would go for a criminal. She just had too much class.

How many brains were blown out in the making of this film?


I reserve "truly hate" for movies like 'XXX' :) If you hated the way you felt at the end, then this movie accomplished what it probably (in part) set out to do. Definitely not the typical Hollywood ending where everything wraps up real pretty. I knew I was rooting for certain characters, but I didnt realize how much I was actually invested in them until they were taken out of the equation so abruptly and I never saw it coming. That is so like life.

As for the doc having too much class...it proved she was human and susceptible to baser human drives than she learned about in psychology class. She was very clinical when she was dealing with Sullivan, asking if he wanted to "talk about it" the morning after, and he probably appealed to her more bookish and presentable public self. She was going on pure instinctual drive with Costigan and made the quick assertion to him that there was nothing inappropriate about him being at her place since he was no longer a patient. With that statement, she gave herself permission to morally look the other way within herself.

:)

[Blaine]

And people complaining about the violence ? My advice - Pick up a paper and check out the real world mob violence. Read a book called "Southies"... Or don't go see a movie about Irish gangsters directed by Scorsese and expect pansies and group hugs.
LMAO... How true...:thumbsup:

[DavidBeier]

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Definitely not the typical Hollywood ending where everything wraps up real pretty. I knew I was rooting for certain characters, but I didnt realize how much I was actually invested in them until they were taken out of the equation so abruptly and I never saw it coming. That is so like life.

Ditto. When Leo got shot in the head, I had a brief period of denial. "I didn't see that." "That couldn't have happened." "Maybe it's a trick?" "Some kind of double switch that'll someone give us a happy ending?" "Please." "DAMN YOU SCORSESE!!!"

[thartley]

I just checked out IMDB for this movie and maybe I just never paid much attention, but this movie has 379 registered comments!

I'll go see the movie again and see if my "head count" measures the same as anyone else's. :)

[thartley]

I dunno if *SPOILERS* are necessarily an issue with this thread anymore, but went to see it again tonight....

Nine or ten, depending if you count Officer Brown at the elevator. My daughter says he must have taken a shot to the head for him to drop like he did. I tend to agree, I guess. So, ten.

And, she said she hated me for taking her to see the movie. :Drogar-Evil(DBG): Perfection! :beer:

[sean90291]

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The movie rocks. And kicks a** (can you say a** on DVXuser?). Like many others who posted in the thread, I thought the final deaths were a bit of a rip off. Sometimes downers are earned, despite our pain. Not sure aobut this. Also didn't really see why critics are insisting that Marky Mark stole the show. He had some great lines. And they were written for him. His performance was great if one-note. Jack was great, and chewed a bit of scenery. Loved how the story made me work...kept me guessing. An outstanding script/story. Only hated two lines.

[bosindy]

I am a Scorsese fan and came into to the film with high hopes. I would give the film a solid B because it was really entertaining. I thought the acting was well done. I take a point off for Sheen's Jack Kennedy imitation. My only problem with the film was the screenplay, I thought the plot development was lazy. There were too many plot devices that seemed forced or irrational to me to move the story and to conceal the identity of the two leads.

SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

The idea that Damon would be able to pull off the final scene between him and Nicholson barely passes the laugh test. Dicaprio is in the warehouse using his cell and they couldn't figure out who it is among the six people there? Damon is from southie, he goes completely unchecked and promoted? Wahlbergs character disappears until the end? (he cared way too much for that as we can tell by his last actions.) The two fall for the same therapist and she goes for coffee after that therapy session? Dicaprio is able to get into the theatre and sit 6 rows behind Damon and nichalson? There are two other undercovers, 1 on each side, that have no affect on the story until the end. Nicholson being a rat himself who was going to give up the two cops he put in place????? I can handle a couple of these, but there is only so much suspension of disbelief.

If you contrast this film with Goodfellas and the story/character development, none of the actions of the characters felt contrived, here IMHO they did including the final executions in an attempt to create twists.

Having said all of that, I enjoyed the ride on the spectacle level. Just one man's opinion.

[Cheesesailor77]

i completely agree that this film doesn't stand a chance compared with a film like Goodfellas. However, I personally don't agree with any of the specific complaints you had. None of those events felt cotrived to me, at least not in THIS movie. But again, to me this felt like a "cops and robbers" movie. I guess i do agree that i felt it wasn't realistic, but i don't that was the point.

[bosindy]

Well what about the fact Damon with a "cosigner" is living in a $800k on the common overlooking the state house. No one figures out he can't afford that on his cops salary? The therapist doesn't ask?

Dicaprio gets the tape of the conversation and doesn't go to Internal Affairs, or the Boston Globe, or Wahlberg. But instead lets meet on a roof?

All of these points could have been well handled and made the film even more compelling but IMO it was easier to created conflict, tension and atmosphere by taking short cuts.

[sean90291]

WARNING: MORE DAMN SPOILERS!!!

Funny, when you guys point out the logical inconsistencies, I have to totally 100% agree they can question credulity. And I probably did pause for about one and a half seconds and question a couple of thse while I was watching, but it's just so damn compelling over all, I guess I didn't care. And now that I think about it even more, it's not like any of these items are IMPOSSIBLE. People are fallible and full of inconsistencies in real life. In movies, we can't expect everyone is going to be a superhero: so maybe it's impossible to check any cop's background completely, short of having a camera pointed at every one of us our entire lives (so the fact that Damon is a "southie" isn't enough to keep him from a promotion...the fact he's "bad" is...but hey, they didn't know that). The fact that the therapist goes for a coffee with a guy after a session shows she's not 100% good either. And that's sorta what the movie is about. Nothing, nobody, cops nor robbers, are 100% good or evil. The dying henchman who realizes that Leo is the rat even asks "why didn't I tell anybody I knew"? I'll tell you why: because he had an ounce of goodness. And so, back to the therapist, she's not a perfectly pious, by the book counsellor. She might be trying. But she's drawn to bad boys. How many stories do we hear in the news about a doctor/counsellor/therapist crossing the line and getting reprimanded/fired for such a short-sighted indiscretion? All the time! And think how many more incidents stay secret forever. So, yes, these things you point out do raise a question--would they happen--but I guess I bought them because every last one of them COULD happen.

[thartley]

Some of you here have mentioned that the film had a few overused cliches. I was wondering if ya'll could name a few here. Are ya'll talking literal, verbal cliches, or are you talking about cinematic cliches?

[jpeck]

I saw the film for the second time yesterday. The biggest thing that hit me was the jokes. The first time I laughed a lot and it wasn't a problem. Yesterday I caught on to a few jokes I missed, but as for the whole movie, I think there were far too many silly jokes used. Maybe thats how they act in Boston :huh:, but I doubt it.

Another thing I didn't like was the rat that was on the window during the final shot, that was a bit much for me and I doubt Wahlberg's character put it out there, as a friend of mine thought.


While it wasn't as good as his earlier work, Scrosese delivered a great movie. I enjoyed the ending and had no problem with the quick kills. There is no honor when it comes to rats.

[Mason Gilligan]

This film does not deserve all the praise it is getting. Seriously, pretty much all of Scorsese's work has far surpassed this drawn out, over glossy p.o.s, such as Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, After Hours, Mean Streets, Casino, King of Comedy, Kundun, I'd even watch The Big Shave over this.

Where has Scorsese's originality gone with this film, first of all a recycled script from a successful foreign film. I guess it would be too much effort to write something new, so lets just go with more remakes. Scorsese hasnt made anything worth while since Casino, his efforts with Gangs of New York and Aviator were very lackluster.

This film was way two long, I was dissapointed by Thelma Schoonmaker's editing work, the film could have been tightened up and been alot more effective if about 25 minutes of pointless dialog had been excized. What happened to Scorsese's amazing fluid camera movements? this film cuts so fast from closeup to closup, the entire style and beauty of the long take is destroyed.

This is a good example of hollywood shoving a bunch of expensive actors in front of our face, forgetting about the craft of cinema , using a recycled script, cheap sets...back ally's and stereotypical bar and police station of pretty much all 'gangster' films. They must have blew most of the budget on the actors, because they could hardly afford to shoot many establishing master shots, because if they were to pan a little bit to the right you would be able to tell that it wasnt really a real location, but a cheaply constructed set.

I mean come-on the chinese original has more innovative cinematography with a miniscule budget compared. Nicholson tried but is left with a stale script with nothing really meaningful to say. Leo is still way two young to even be considered a hardcore gangster, and Damon was trying so hard to be serious, that I didn't even take him seriously, but rather saw him as an actor not a character.

I mean sure it is the best thing to come out in awhile in the America Cinema's but it is in no part up to par with the history of Scorsese's work. Face it he is past his prime, and hollywood has run dry of creativity and originality, it has become a cashflow business, as far as the producers in hollywood are concerned, the true art form of cinema is dead. This ends with extreme violence where all the character we have just watched for 2hrs and 40 minutes are killed, so after all did we learn or grow in anyway from this glossy overrated excuse for a film. The answer is no.

There are thousands of far better films, do some research and check your shelves at your local video store, dont waste $9.00 on this. :dankk2:

[specialed]

wow, um... i think i even disagree with your punctuation mason, but thanks for the effort.

[Cheesesailor77]

while i agree its not nearly as good as Scorsese's masterpieces, i'm not sure i agree with anything else you said. Oh well, to each there own.

[thartley]

I will have to agree with the editing comment. There were so many continuity errors that I began to wonder if they were done on purpose.

When Billy is at his mother's funeral and the camera pulls in close to the prayer card signed by F. Costello, there is a cutaway for a second before it goes back to the card. When it does, its a different card. The typeset is way different from the first shot.

When Billy is having his 'valium argument" with the doc and she runs out of her office, she is only wearing her dresshirt and vest, but when seh rounds the corner just steps behind him, she has her suit jacket on. I suppose she could have grabbed it on her way out, but it seems unlikely for someone so flustered and in a hurry.

The cafe/diner scene between Billy and Frank (where the nun and priests are present) are full of chopped continuity.

When Billy is waiting outside the doc's office bldg that night, he stubs out his cigarette as she approaches him. Its a very short scene. When she tells him she cant be a friend to him and walks away, he has a cigarette again that is half smoked down.

They are small things, but things that should not have made it to the final cut in such a movie. And I love the movie despite them all.

I've seen the movie, we'll say more than twice, and its encouraging that no matter if its a weekend night or a Wed early evening...the theater has been packed everytime I've gone. And people are sooo affected by the the story and how it plays out. I am amazed to hear people actually scream. :) Its a good movie that people will remember.

But someone needs to have Mr. French pay Thelma Schoonmaker a little visit. :-BlackEye(DBG

[thartley]

But someone needs to have Mr. French pay Thelma Schoonmaker a little visit. :-BlackEye(DBG


oops, that's right...he got shot. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

[Brandon Rice]

BTW: Saw the film...brilliant.

[spidey]

still trying to figure out which one i like best. i think the original had cooler locations and better character development. this one was just slw and you got in the head. I love the movie but compare to the other i dunno. still a great film.

[uhrgl]

I am a Scorsese fan and came into to the film with high hopes. I would give the film a solid B because it was really entertaining. I thought the acting was well done. I take a point off for Sheen's Jack Kennedy imitation. My only problem with the film was the screenplay, I thought the plot development was lazy. There were too many plot devices that seemed forced or irrational to me to move the story and to conceal the identity of the two leads.

SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

The idea that Damon would be able to pull off the final scene between him and Nicholson barely passes the laugh test. Dicaprio is in the warehouse using his cell and they couldn't figure out who it is among the six people there? Damon is from southie, he goes completely unchecked and promoted? Wahlbergs character disappears until the end? (he cared way too much for that as we can tell by his last actions.) The two fall for the same therapist and she goes for coffee after that therapy session? Dicaprio is able to get into the theatre and sit 6 rows behind Damon and nichalson? There are two other undercovers, 1 on each side, that have no affect on the story until the end. Nicholson being a rat himself who was going to give up the two cops he put in place????? I can handle a couple of these, but there is only so much suspension of disbelief.

If you contrast this film with Goodfellas and the story/character development, none of the actions of the characters felt contrived, here IMHO they did including the final executions in an attempt to create twists.

Having said all of that, I enjoyed the ride on the spectacle level. Just one man's opinion.

I agree with this 100%. And to pile on, a 70 year old mobster who isn't in prison does not use a poo pooing cell phone EVER. The movie was entertaining (I never looked at my watch), but the story was nonsense. I liked the actress in the flick, but you could eliminate her character, have Dignum fill in, and shave 20 minutes.

Among the genre of undercover flicks, I think Donnie Brasco is a more complete flick; among the genre of gangster flicks, this doesn't touch Goodfellas; and Among the genre of dirty cop flicks, I would give the edge to Training Day.

As far as this being a "rip-off," even Shakespeare used source material. What's the difference between adapting a film from a book or a comic or a TV show or a previous film?

[deedive]

this was a cool movie. When i compare it to other scorsese movies it is very close to the bottom. Didn't like all the cheezy punchlines. Didn't really seem like a scorsese movie. But some peoples worst is better then some peoples best. I did enjoy it and dont feel i wasted my money.

the first 20 minutes of "Gangs of New York" is better than this entire movie. definitely not one of scorsese best.

[uhrgl]

For example, mobsters do use cell phones, and so do terrorists. The thing is, they use 'buy and toss' phones, using them only once ,hence, completely untraceable.

I watch the Wire, bro. I'm hip.

I still think the script is busy and the characters underdeveloped.

PS - Southies would kick your ass for calling their home a "milieu." :beer:

[bosindy]

I could explain every single plot point, but I'd be here all day :) It was pretty realistic portrayal, IMHO. For example, mobsters do use cell phones, and so do terrorists. The thing is, they use 'buy and toss' phones, using them only once ,hence, completely untraceable.
:beer: :beer: :beer:

Actually Baldwin name checked the patriot act in the film and a warrant would reside with the individual, not the specific phone, so the 'buy and toss' thing doesn't work.

[spidey]

i think the Hong Kong version used the cell phones and story play very sharp and quick and powerful this one had the elements but something just felt different. I dunno.

[thartley]

You know, maybe I am slow, but does anyone else think that maybe Sullivan is impotent, or has a problem with that? I think that is why he was so pissed-off in that "morning after" scene with the good doctor Madelyn. And Sullivan was the one who picked the adult movie theater to meet up with Costello and make the pick-up for the envelope with the numbers in it.

Like I said, I can be slow about some things.

But I at least have to believe that it was Costigan's baby....

[spidey]

well in the original you would be correct about the baby.

[thartley]

well in the original you would be correct about the baby.

Thanks, knowing that will reduce my therapy bill. :)

[Huy Vu]

I just saw The Departed and I have to say that was a waste of my time. Just like "Gangs of New York," the film is bloated, incoherent, and slow. Why is it that every character feels the need to insert the word "fu*k" between every other words, even in the middle of a word? It gets to the point where it stops being effective and just gets annoying. It's not even a character trait because every single character does it. Less is more, I'm surprised the screenwriter haven't learn that already.

Tons of expositions are tossed out in a hurry, so much that I felt sleepy within the first 15 minutes. The three friends I brought with me actually fell asleep. I could just see the editor's desperate attempt to keep the dialogue interesting by intercuting scenes every two seconds. But when stuff starts happening I'm STILL asking myself who just got wacked and by whom. Scenes doesn't end as they stop so that the editor can cut to some other scene that stop to cut to another scene etc.

I have no idea why the critics are hailing The Departed as if it just rejuvenated American cinema. I seriously regreted paying $10 to see this film.

[thartley]

Bill Monahan and Scorsese didnt set out to make an art house film or a hip hop video. Less would have just been less in the case of the characters' believability in this one. It would have been false dialogue and gelatinous characters. I not only liked the dialogue, I loved it and it solidified aspects of the movie for me as being real.

The exposition didnt bother me at all....not only did I get the background I needed, but I found out who and what Costello was, and his potential for evil and manipulation were set for me at the get-go.

It wouldnt have been the same movie without the intercutting of scenes. It helped to show the spiraling effects of the double lives being lead by these guys.


I have no idea why the critics are hailing The Departed as if it just rejuvenated American cinema.----because sometimes, critics get it right. :beer:

[Jeremy Ordan]

I just saw this yesterday, finally.

Loved it and thought it was one of the better theatre experiences I have had in a while. Very enjoyable.

[AloysiusK]

same boat, Jade.

Saw it with a big group, and we all thought it was terribly contrived and predictable.

The last Scorcese film that I dug was Bringing Out the Dead. His stories/characters are in pretty shallow waters these days. They don't come across as real people...just movie characters imho.

[thartley]

Ya know...a good spoof title of this one would be "The Deported"....

[Blaine]

Well, I finally got to see this. Best thing Scorsese has done in YEARS!!! If he doesn't win an Oscar for this, there's absolutely no justice. I WILL NOT be a make up award, either. This is an incredible movie and Scorsese deserves an Oscar for it.

[khmuse]

I agree, I watched this about a month ago (my daughter got this in her SAG screener package) and really enjoyed the film across the board. Great story, great acting, great directing, a great looking film.

I know that the SAG ballots have to be in by tomorrow, so I will be anxious to see how the acting community feels about this film when the votes are totaled.

[Blaine]

I agree about the acting, too, Kevin. I'm normally not much of a Dicaprio or Damon fan but they were both great in this. Best performance Nicholson's had in a long time, too. The acting was solid across the board...a testiment to Scorsese.

[AloysiusK]

I watched this last night. I thought the performances we're WAY too over-the-top and in need of some massive editing.

Especially Nicholson and Walhberg. I am mystified why he is up for best supporting actor(not that Oscar choices make sense anyway). His performance was 1 dimension of insults and way too many 1-liners to keep this movie at a a believable level for me. Am I missing something? He never had any conflilct during the whole film. Sure, his partner dies but then he disappears for the rest of the film until his final scene. But there is nothing special happening here, he just shoots a guy.

I thought the performances we're all over the place, and there was wau too much celebrity weight to keep this movie real for me. It is not surpising to know that ZERO rehearsal was done for any of the actors. It certainly explains the on again and off again chemistry of relationships. It also explains why it felt that many of the characters we're reciting monologues. (I did think that Dicaprio was excellent, however.)

To me this felt like an exposition fest. Sometimes it was smooth...sometimes it wasn't.(like showing us that damn envelope a million times. After awhile I feel like I am having exposition stuffed down my throat!)

Overall, it made for afun action movie with one-liners I suppose....or if you like super-slick violence. On the Scorcese bar, I feel like this is one of his worst, if not the worst, he has ever made.

[Erik Olson]

That final shot with the rat on the balcony killed it for me in a big way. I'd enjoyed it throughout, but I felt like I was getting hit over the head with it in that final shot.

Just like Natural Born Killers. I'm not an idiot - please don't put a bow around it for me at the end. We've known who the rat was and have a sense for the ironic manner in which he lived for an hour and a half. Enough already.

Up to that point, it was a 3.5 out of 5 for me. It quickly (and somewhat shockingly) fell to a three when the "appearances don't always equate moral good" punchline lecture started during DiCaprio's funeral. Walberg's appearance at the very end was simply odd.

Come to think of it, the FBI story string, "... you didn't think you were the only one?" bugged me too. It was a strand that could've been left a little more to the imagination.

e

[spidey]

thats why the original film is superior...

[FilmBoy77]

i thought this movie was the sh^%. i havent seen internal affairs though. i'm going to check that out tonight.

[Cynic821]

Its InFernal Affairs, be sure to get the correct movie.

[Elvis]

Did I miss the pay-off? O.K. I just watched this on DVD. I get to the end where "Bill" gives her a envelope to be opened 2 weeks later and that she places in her desk. What happened to that envelope?? Did I miss something?

[Blaine]

Man, I'm not getting the problems with this. I actually liked it better than Goodfellas.

[jpeck]

Did I miss the pay-off? O.K. I just watched this on DVD. I get to the end where "Bill" gives her a envelope to be opened 2 weeks later and that she places in her desk. What happened to that envelope?? Did I miss something?

SPOILERS

I think it had to do with how he felt about her or something along those lines, something personal. Just like she was going to tell him something. Which was she was pregnant with his child.

[MOVIE STUNTS]

The movie overall was pretty well done. (Yes I waited for the dvd), Although, the CG blood spurts looked horrible, It made me think the movie was going to turn into a videogame, it was that bad. I had to laugh on the front cover reads A NEW AMERICAN CRIME CLASSIC FROM THE LEGENDARY MARTIN SCORSESE. Whare will their deception stop? Every word of that statement is a blatant lie. American directors cashing in on others ideas and selling them as their own, what a slap in the face. Is there no shame? Infernal Affairs while not so catchy of a title Still reigns supreme, With a delicasy and a grace unmatched. Hell, I loved the whole trilogy.

[AloysiusK]

I just watched LA Confidential last night. ( I cannot believe I had never seen it!).
We we're into the first 5 minutes, and my wife says, "this is already better than that movie we watched last night).
Now that I have a qualilty, Hollywood crime thriller to compare The Departed to, it makes it look like an even uglier mess.

[FilmBoy77]

okay i rented Infernal Affairs. wow. i didnt realize The Departed had EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT from Infernal Affairs. guess i didnt realize it was actually a remake. i still liked The Departed but i now that i've seen both i like Infernal Affairs better i think.

the guy that wrote The Departed must've done it in a few days because it's a freakin carbon copy.

[Elvis]

SPOILERS

I think it had to do with how he felt about her or something along those lines, something personal. Just like she was going to tell him something. Which was she was pregnant with his child.
It still bugs me. I hate loose endings. Not to mention she wrote something on the envelope!! That he gave her to open in 2 weeks.

[spidey]

okay i rented Infernal Affairs. wow. i didnt realize The Departed had EVERY SINGLE ELEMENT from Infernal Affairs. guess i didnt realize it was actually a remake. i still liked The Departed but i now that i've seen both i like Infernal Affairs better i think.

the guy that wrote The Departed must've done it in a few days because it's a freakin carbon copy.


yeah its a carbon copy with a few changes but infernal affairs is better in my opinion i like the departed but the other is better. watch 2 and 3 now film boy.

[FilmBoy77]

yeah its a carbon copy with a few changes but infernal affairs is better in my opinion i like the departed but the other is better. watch 2 and 3 now film boy.

they have a part 2 and 3 for infernal affairs?????? i didn't see that in the video store??

[spidey]

yeah i got the whole series all of them are great too.you'll enjoy them.

[spidey]

lol they released them too since the departed came out on dvd too. the first infernal affiars was already out but the updated with stuff and better box art.

[spidey]

http://www.kfccinema.com/cutenews/data/upimages/2-13-US_releases.jpg

lol forgive the other videos seen they all came out this week...

[JimStrauss]

I have seen both Infernal Affairs and The Departed. I love both, with the slight edge going to Infernal Affairs. Ever since Scorsese released The Departed, he and his screenwriter always give credit to Infernal, they never deny this. Scorsese met with the creators of the Infernal trilogy, they gave him the go ahead.
I will say this, Scorsese is a brilliant director and all he's doing is chasing that little gold man. He had to bring in the big Hollywood talent, its a shame that he had to resort to this but come on, we all know he should have won for Raging Bull and Goodfellas.
I do believe he'll win next week but its not because of The Departed, it'll be because of his great body of work.
That's just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Cheers,
Strauss

[BryantStanton]

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***












It still bugs me. I hate loose endings. Not to mention she wrote something on the envelope!! That he gave her to open in 2 weeks.
She wrote his last name, "Costigan" on the envelope.

My guess was he probably left her information and access regarding the recordings somehow. I assumed it was some sort of evidence that could be used in case of his death.

[spidey]

exactly.

[ZFarms Productions]

***POSSIBLE SPOILERS***












She wrote his last name, "Costigan" on the envelope.

My guess was he probably left her information and access regarding the recordings somehow. I assumed it was some sort of evidence that could be used in case of his death.


SPOILERS************************

It had to be the info that he was an undercover, and Damon was the rat inside the department, and for her to tell Dignam. How else would DiCaprio get a cop's funeral? As far as anyone knew he was a criminal after the academy....


END SPOILERS********************

[jpeck]

spoilers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sullivan (Damon) recommended him to be honored and that is how he got a cops funeral. I suspect that the first letter Costigan gave Madolyn was more than just information about him being a cop, because then there would be no need to send her a second one with the CD in it. I think this way because she also wanted to tell him something, which is that he is the father of the child.

[FilmBoy77]

I suspect that the first letter Costigan gave Madolyn was more than just information about him being a cop, because then there would be no need to send her a second one with the CD in it.
the second one was addressed to Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon). She looked at the return address and saw it was from Dicaprio and that's why she opened it.

[jpeck]

Bah, I missed that it was sent to Sullivan. IGNORE ME!

[spidey]

wow i didnt know it was a remake of a "JAPANESE" film... GD oscars can't even get the country right....

[Blaine]

Well, I watched Infernal Affairs today. It was okay...better than I expected, but it really made me appreciate The Departed that much more. I really felt that Scorsese took an interesting Asian movie and expanded on it and made it his own.

[Fidelio]

wow i didnt know it was a remake of a "JAPANESE" film... GD oscars can't even get the country right....

Yeah, ridiculous. They'll be hearing from the Chinese community, all right.

[spidey]

well the movie is 3 parts and martin's verison takes from both so there a reason with "2d" is there... you get the whole character by the end of all of them... thats why if there is a sequel it cant beanything but something original becuase he took from all the scripts not just the first one and everyone is dead except a character that didnt exisit in the originals.

[FilmBoy77]

i always wondered where they came up with Jack Nicholson's character from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_%22Whitey%22_Bulger

[Eastside Parkway]

Yep. I live in Boston and Whitey has been a legend for as far back as I can remember. As soon as this movie was announced we all immediately knew where they got that character from.

Whitey's out there somewhere, and I'll bet he enjoyed the movie very much.

[FilmBoy77]

i thought it was funny how there were rumors that he was at the premeire, lol. i heard this movie stirred up a lot of bad feelings from the families of whitey's victims.