Movie Review: The Departed

We thought The Prestige had made our week until we saw The Departed. Scorsese's latest takes on the mean streets of Beantown and soars. Unlike the plodding of The Aviator or the virtuosic bloodbath that was Gangs of New York, this movie is funny as well as stylish, thoughtful as well as violent.

Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio are staties (link provided for those who weren't lucky enough to grow up in the Boston area). One is secretly controlled by mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson, restraining himself for the most part, thank goodness), and the other goes undercover in an effort to bust Costello's rackets.

But all isn't what it seems--the betrayals and counterbetrayals make for an absorbing film, bolstered by the performances of both young men. We were a little worried at first that Damon's character was Will-Hunting-as-cop, but the depth he finds in the character sold us--he's a real talent in a real performance. As for DiCaprio, this is his finest work in a long time. They're only helped by supporting turns from relative newcomer Vera Farmiga (as the girlfriend of one and doctor of the other), Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, and a furiously intense Mark Wahlburg.

On a side note? This is our early fave for Best Picture, hands down.

Grade: A

what else should we see?