Review of "The Departed" (updated)

**Apparently for some reason Blogger decided to take out my numbers. So now there are more details in the review that were just XX before. Stupid blogger. WTF?
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On New Year's Day, I saw The Departed. Many people would like to see this movie, but are unsure. So here's my breakdown, without revealing plot details:

This is not a kids' movie. This is a Martin Scorsese picture. It has lots of gun violence and swearing. According to imdb, they say "fuck" 237 times, and "cunt" 22 times in 2 hours and 29 minutes.

The cast is great. Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen are the principles. (And some chick that nobody's heard of, but she's hot so it's ok. And to drive home the point that she is hot, we see her in her underwear a couple times, including a foreplay scene.) Jack is always good in everything, and this is no exception. He is the King Bad Guy. Marky Mark cusses a lot and acts like a dick, but it's amusing. Alec Baldwin is amusing in the same way, but less of a dick. Martin Sheen was not the movie's first choice for his role, but he's the best ever in it. You don't even think about Charlie Sheen or Emilio Estevez at all, because their dad is so much cooler than them. (The sons aren't in the movie, by the way.) I normally can't "appreciate" Matt & Leo, but they were both really good as the two main characters. There will probably be Oscars involved for some of these guys.

There were no points in the movie when I checked my watch. Even though the movie is not non-stop-action-violence, it is intriguing enough that it doesn't have to be. It's actually better that way. There is actual plot and character development, so you care about what happens in the movie. When people get shot (and people do get shot), you are moved, emotionally. Sometimes you're like "take that, bitch!" and sometimes you're crying "no! I love you! O cruel fate!"

So, des recommends The Departed. But only if you like a good Scorsese movie. If you like Taxi Driver, The Aviator, Goodfellas, or Cape Fear, you could consider shelling out the $15 to go see this. Or at least add it to your Netflix list. But be ready to sit there for a little while after the credits, not being able to move. That happens.


Ps- the movie is set in Boston, so everyone has funny Boston accents. It's worth it just to hear Leo say "cah," because unlike Keanu Reeves (who also is not in this movie), these guys can speak with - and keep - an accent.