Of all the great Martin Scorsese films i must say, this is the most unoriginal script written (since its a remake; and his second after Cape Fear) and yet became very critically acclaimed due to attaining for the first time his "Best Picture" award in the Oscars.
The film is tightly based from the classic Hong Kong action flick Infernal Affairs where screenwriter William Monahan adapted. Almost all the significant scenes of the Asian version is present. Even to a tiny detail like smashing Leo DiCaprio's cast hand was a mimic from the original film but uniquely portrayed. New twists applied though like the love triangle between Damon-Vermiga-DiCaprio are intelligently injected and definitely improved the flaws of the first one.
What I love about this movie is how Scorsese intelligently presented the film through his own version. Right after viewing the Asian version, I had the chance to view for the "nth" time this remake which is for me a masterpiece by itself. The scenes are not as sequentially the same as Infernal Affairs but Scorsese made a different approach to it, painting the entire Boston community with a dark hue through its gangsters and killings (instead of the typical Hong Kong gangster type of facade). Scorsese also had adapted his film-making style for the new generation moviegoers and still maintained his signature quality style. He even added, as a tribute to the movie Scarface, an X-mark visible in the screen whenever the main characters is about to be killed. The falling of Martin Sheen's body off the building (X found in the steel columns in the background construction), the X-mark on the carpet before Matt Damon's character's death, as well as all of the other main death scenes. All of these just to emphasize the maestro's still in control...
The casts on the other hand, had great performances despite of the seemingly effortless Nicholson, Damon, and DiCaprio. All of them were like born to do each of their respective roles: Frank Costello (Nicholson) being brutal yet sarcastically funny; Collin Sullivan (Damon) deceivingly innocent yet intelligently mischievous; and finally Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) gritty yet charismatic - which in my observation common ironic traits on Scorsese's characters in his films. Ray Winstone also shows-offs his talent here where French, his role, is one of the directors most memorable sidekick characters to date as to Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. Scorsese has been always great in his storytelling about people that his background of his youth is painted all through and through in his films; growing up in the Italian neighborhood in New York where gangsters and wanna-be rich goons became his actual exposure.
The Departed maintained the bloody and gory quality of Scorsese films but blended well with such modern setting and well-crafty presentation. The Irish themed background music also of the film and classic tunes of Mick Jagger flawlessly spread into the scenes where the viewer will be definitely pulled in so much attention to the story. So why not make a review like Raging Bull or Goodfellas where Scorsese was at his best? Simply because a modern Scorsese has been reborn with this film and I want to review this fine work after it has convinced its viewers that this veteran director has still more to offer for us...
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