Just saw "The Departed"- Page 2

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 10:33am

Yes, THE DEPARTED is enjoyable, but what's the lasting effect? To me, the best picture of the year should be some reflection on what the world is going through right now. No, it doesn't have to be as something as obvious as BABEL or even THE QUEEN - but even LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE's message is one that is relevant and important.

As far as THE DEPARTED, awarding THE DEPARTED the best picture of the year when, really, we've all seen, been, and done that before would be a step back rather than a step forward.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:06am

I'm going to watch the film this weekend, but I'm not a huge Scorsese fan. His films are really hit or miss with me and I've only truly enjoyed a handful (Alice Doesn't Live Here Any More, Raging Bull, Cape Fear and Casino, to be precise). I'm one of the few who didn't like Goodfellas or Taxi Driver and I was really let down by Gangs of New York and Aviator. And I am truly tired of seeing Leo star in yet another Scorsese film (he's also attached to the next - The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt). Give it a REST!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 11:22am

I don't mind Leo - I think he's a brilliant actor and he does fantastic work when paired with Scorsese.

I just find Scorsese's work to be rather sterile, harsh, and tiringly masculine. His films rarely say anything. Sure, he's a wonderful director - but his films do nothing for me.

CAPE FEAR is laughable and campy, THE AVIATOR is beautifully done - but it's an overlong, tedious bore. CASINO and GOODFELLAS are both great - but, like THE DEPARTED, all just blend into one film for me.

That's why I was so pleased to see GANGS OF NEW YORK - something very different. At least if he was going to make a film about nasuatingly macho men involved with gangs he chose to do it in a period setting to make it SOMEWHAT more interesting.

Hopefully his ROOSEVELT film will bring something new to the table...but for now, I'm way over Scorsese and his testosterone fest.

[broadway86]

Posted: 2/14/07 at 12:38pm

The Aviator was a sensational biopic, and Gangs of New York was a choppy, poorly written mess. The only redeeming qualities were Day-Lewis's tremendous characterization and the detail art direction. Otherwise, pass.

[Mrs.LinkLarkin2]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:41am

The Departed was by far my favorite movie of the year! I can't describe why I love it so much, I just do! Ok, well Leo, Mark, and Matt...especially Leo may contribute to my love. I saw it 5 times in the theater and of course bought it yesterday. I thought it was so well done!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 12:43am

And don't forget about the part where you have a secret desire to marry someone like that, wear valour suits ever day, drive the kids around, and then slave for your husband at night.

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:07am

do you really think the best picture category should solely be dominated by message films? and can entertainment really not be a factor?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 1:19am

No, I don't think it should soley be dominated by films with a message - but there is absolutely nothing remarkable about THE DEPARTED.

The performances are great and the direction is solid.

It's nothing that we haven't seen before - particularly from Scorsese.

Entertainment, for me, depends upon emotional fulfillment of a film. As depressing as they all are, SOPHIE'S CHOICE, THE DEER HUNTER, SCHINDLER'S LIST, etc. are all highly entertaining for me. They are BRILLIANT and touching.

THE DEPARTED is fine. It's fun. It put a temporary smile on my face.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE was so irresistable and inspiriring that it put tears in my eyes.

BABEL was so moving that I cried.

THE QUEEN was so blood well made that I wanted to enroll in film school.

IWO JIMA is moving, brilliant, and a master class in film making.

THE DEPARTED is...GOODFELLAS + CASINO + every movie Scorese has ever done, but set in Boston. It was entertaining, but that's it.

Completely forgettable. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, IWO JIMA, THE QUEEN, and BABEL stuck with me long after the lights came up.

I Forgot all about THE DEPARTEd the next day.

[pemberlee]

Posted: 2/15/07 at 6:47am

I really hope Marky Mark gets the Oscar, even though it will probably be Eddie Murphy.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 3:50pm

Well, I watched it and it was half of a really good movie. The second half was exciting, engaging, thought-provoking and very suspenseful. The first half reminded me of every other Scorsesi/Coppolla mob film, but much less interesting than any of its predecessors. After a million f-bombs and "faggot" remarks (which were few and far between-to-nearly non-existent during the more interesting second half...so much for continuity), I almost gave up on it entirely. Had I not known it was Scorsesi, I would have thought it a ridiculous spoof entitled Another Mob Movie. I'm not sure how Mark Wahlberg got nominated for this, however. The role had the range of Harvey Fierstein's singing voice, but less memorable.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 4:03pm

Wow--it always amazes me how we can all see the same film and yet...

I was knocked over by THE DEPARTED. I was expecting a retread of familiar ground, but what I got was very different.

I don't see it as a gangster film at all. I think it almost defies categorization, or perhaps starts a new one--I saw it as a Sergio Leone western as directed by Ingmar Bergman.

I think it easily ranks with RAGING BULL, GOODFELLAS, and the other masterpieces.

I do agree that Wahlberg seems an odd choice to single out, but what do I know?

I think I'd have to see it again to really make an educated post about it, but it easily earns its place in the top five films of the year.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 5:30pm

I thought it was a sexist, homophobic, two hour and a half bore featuring some magnificent performances by some of the best male actors working in film today.
To me, Wahlberg was OK but hardly worthy of an Oscar nomination especially when Matt Damon was completely passed over.
I think it's ridiculous how Scorsese completely erases the significance of women.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 5:39pm

Homophobic?

Scorcese went out of his way to tell us Damon's character is gay...at least that's what i got...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 5:48pm

lildogs - Matt Damon's character was gay? Huh? How did you arrive at that?

But I would categorize it as a gangster film. Neo-gangster maybe, but there were definitely good old-fashioned neighborhood mobsters that were rather stereotypically displayed early on (thug leaning on bar owner for payola and then making lewd advances towards the young girl).

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 6:00pm

How was Damon's character gay? And if he was, isn't it interesting that the evil son of a bitch character was the sexually ambiguous one?
Yes, the movie was quite homophobic and beyond sexist.

[TheHumanTorch]

Posted: 2/20/07 at 6:48pm

i think there's a difference between the movie being sexist and homophobic and the characters being those things... yes the characters are homophobic and sexist, but how does the movie promote sexism and homophobia?

[worrell4077]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 5:47pm

I just finished watching it an hour ago and I really liked it. I thought it was really good, hopefully Scoresse will get an oscar for it. I really loved Leo, Matt, Jack, Mark, and Alec's performances in the movie.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:03pm

I saw the movie and honestly I found the ONLY redeeming factor to be the acting of DiCaprio, Damon, Wahlberg. Didn't even like Nicholson doing his best impression of his acting self.

I'd give Best Picture to mostly anything before this film. Except the Queen. About a combined total of 15 minutes of compelling moments of the film and one particular scene of fantastic acting from Mirren, but other than her, was not a fan of the film whatsoever.

Updated On: 2/25/07 at 06:03 PM

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:08pm

Watched it last week. Loved it until the last fifteen minutes. When it was over, my dad and I looked at each other and just laughed a little and said "Whaaat?" My dad put it nicely. "It was a really really good movie, the ending was just crap."

And I, in no way, got that Damon's character was gay. I thought that Marky Mark's performance was forgettable, but loved Leo and definiely loved Damon. This was also the only movie I could ever stand Jack Nocholson in. It was definitely HIS role.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/21/07 at 6:16pm

See I found the last half to be the best part, the first half was just not doing it for me. Things came together in the end that helped make the first half passable in retrospect.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 10:39am

Mister Matt, et al.: I didn't have a chance to respond yesterday, but here goes:

Since Scorcese is working in an old Hollywood vernacular--the Warner Bros gangster films of the 30s and 40s--you have to get into an old Hollywood state of mind.

Matt's character is referred to (in a derogatory sense) a couple of times as faggot, queer, etc--the ONLY character referred to as such.

He also cannot get it up for the therapist in TWO scenes

Check out the way his partner--the other gangster insider--looks at him and it's pretty clear-at least to me-that he has feelings for him--actually, I think it's pretty mutual.

Now, I was perhaps reading WAY too much into this, but then I remember seeing Billy Wilder talk about DOUBLE INDEMNITY and the last scene with Fred and Edward--Wilder points to a small exchange between the men and says, "That's when you know they're in love," (I paraphrase)...so knowing how subtle those clues often were in that time period, I picked up on the fact that Damon was the only one ever referred to in that way--I could be wrong....

But I thought it was interesting how his doppelganger, Leo, had no trouble bedding the same woman. Which was the theme that stood out above all others to me--the twin sides of the same person, also reinforcing the ambiguity of the "good" and "bad" guys, which is pretty clear.

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 11:17am

Well, first off, i don't think that it's clear who's "good" and who's "bad" in the film. In fact, I think that's one of the things that makes it so interesting.

Secondly, he's definitely not the only person referred to as "queer" or "faggot." Whole groups of people are referred to as such early on in the film. It's possible that you're right, and that he is gay, but I certainly didn't see much to imply such. Maybe I just don't watch closely enough.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 11:28am

That's what I meant by it being clear about the good/bad guys--anyone can see that's the central idea, not that it's clear who they are--sorry if I wasn't clear...ha!

Like I said, I could be wrong, but I think Damon is singled out--not singled out so much, but he's the ONLY one called one of those names--I'll watch it again I'm sure, so I could be wrong.

That was my point, iHeart--it IS subtle--you have to think how Michael Curtiz would have indicated that a character was gay--I think he's also referred to as a sob sister if I'm not mistaken--a SURE sign from the old studio period.

EDIT: One more thing--in the beginning, Damon calls the guys who beat his team a bunch of fags/queers/etc...which was what tipped me off--it seemed to come out of nowhere and be a little over the top--I figured there had to be a reason and kept my ears open for more clues. I always say, the only ones to call fags fags are other fags. :)

Updated On: 2/22/07 at 11:28 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 2:34pm

You could watch ANY movie and, if you're looking for the right things, determine that a character might be a fag.

But I think you're finding coincidences here.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 2:48pm

I was answering Mister Matt.

I don't know what else to say, other than you seem to find delight in being contentious.

If you don't agree, simply say so...there's no need to make outrageous claims to bolster your theory.

You can't make ANY character out to be gay--I simply found Damon's outburst to be a little odd and assumed a professional like Marty wouldn't put anything on that screen that doesnt have purpose and meaning--and so I was on the alert--the fact that he can't have sex with a woman, gets called gay slurs, "sob sister" and has a partner with a more than friendly demeanor about him, then yes, I'd say the director was trying to say something.

But, as I generally say, I could be wrong.

And you can too.