DVD Challenge #14: THE DEPARTED

The Departed
2006
R
Run-time: 2 hours, 31 minutes

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Ray Winstone & Alec Baldwin


It's been a little while since I've seen this former Best Picture winner, but it was high time that I sat down and gave The Departed another viewing. I'll never forget the first time I saw the film: I was living in Santa Cruz at the time, and my mother and some friends had driven up the coast to see me. They thought the best way to enjoy the company would be to take in a movie, so we opted to go with this Scorsese venture. And while I don't personally think it's the best of Scorsese's films - for me, that would have to be 1976's Taxi Driver - but it was the one that finally garnered him an Academy Award win for Best Director. If you ask me, that has to say quite a bit.

What most people don't know is that The Departed is actually a bit of a remake, fashioned as an Americanized version of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. I personally haven't seen that particular film, so I can't really compare and tell you which is better, but with an all-star cast like the one we're given in this version, I think the original fare would be hard-pressed to be considered the better of the two. Let me break this down for you a little bit: just between the actors listed above, they have a whopping twenty Academy Award nominations and three wins (although, twelve nominations and all three wins belong to Nicholson). Still, that's quite an impressive roster that we're dealt. Wahlberg scored an acting nomination for his role in the film, but I personally believe that Nicholson was snubbed a bit as he delivers easily the best and most entertaining performance in the film. I could probably go on for days about how good each particular member of the cast proves to be, but that would take me literally days. Just know that you're given an all-star cast that delivers on all cylinders.

Now, I know there have been some individuals who had issue with the film's screenplay. Namely, they were a tad confused by the speed with which the film ends. To be fair, the final ten minutes of the film pass at blinding speed, almost giving the audience no time to absorb everything they're seeing. Yes, it's frantic, but I personally think it offers just the right amount of catharsis needed for a film of this nature. The overall plot is so elaborate that the audience finds itself getting so worked into the story that we need some sort of drastic release at the end. This is where The Departed truly delivers. Sure, the journey towards the end is fantastic, but the ultimate payoff is the reason that this film has reached into the annals of film history and cemented itself as an instant classic.

We also get an utterly fantastic and innovative musical score from the likes of Howard Shore, who has also scored films like Se7en, The Aviator and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, he may have presented my favorite of his compositions with this film. Here's a little taste of what he brings to the table - I'd bet you that you'll enjoy it:

Overall, Scorsese definitely brought a winning combination of screenplay and acting to the screen for this Best Picture winner. It's a movie that definitely doesn't get old with multiple viewings, and in fact, I'm sure I've started to appreciate it all the more each time I watch it. If you haven't seen this film, you should drop what you do and give it a gander. I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it.

Rankings
Best All-Time: #106
Best Since 2000: #41

Awards
2006: 9 nominations, 2 wins

Previous DVD Challenge: TOY STORY (1995)

Movie Review: SOURCE CODE

SOURCE CODE

2011
PG-13

Source Code is a 2011 action film directed by Duncan Jones that follow Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) as he tries to prevent a terrorist attack on a train inside the city limits of Chicago. We open on Stevens as he wakes up on the train, unsure of his surroundings and his apparent identity. After scrambling for a few minutes trying to gain his bearings, the train explodes, killing everyone on board. Stevens, however, awakes inside some sort of capsule and is immediately given instructions by a woman (Vera Farmiga) on a screen. He learns that the woman's name is Goodwin, and she informs him that he has a very special mission: the train exploded earlier that day, killing everyone on board; however, it was only the beginning of a string of attacks said to be taken out upon Chicago. Using a state-of-the-art, alternate reality system, Farmiga and creator Dr. Rutledge (Jeffrey Wright) have employed Stevens in order to stop the bomber in the hopes of finding out where the next attack might be headed. And so, Stevens is sent back time and again, slowly piecing together the mystery of the attack, but his focus is constantly tested by a young woman named Christina (Michelle Monaghan), a passenger on the train with whom Stevens takes an immediate liking. He vows to save her life at all costs, even when he's told it cannot be done.

When I first started seeing previews for this film, I wasn't terribly impressed with the premise. Although I was blown away by Jones's directorial debut (2009's Moon), his sophomore effort seemed a little bit lackluster. However, the film started to generate quite a bit of buzz, garner very strong reviews, so I figured I'd at least give it a shot. While I wasn't entirely blown away, I can safely say that Jones as struck again, and hopefully this film will meet more financial success than his previous endeavor.

I know that my above synopsis probably sounds a little confusing, but it's the best I can manage without giving away too many plot details. The screenplay for Source Code is actually quite strong - much more so than I had originally thought possible considering the type of fare. From the moment we're inserted into the "source code" with Gyllenhaal's character, the film slams its foot on the gas and never once lets us stop for a breath of air. We're given twist after twist after twist, but it never gets to be too much information for the audience. There are a few lulls here and there, but everything is ultimately explained (albeit a little simply, but that's neither here nor there).

The acting is actually pretty good as well, although there's no one who's going to blow you away. Gyllenhaal is fine as our lead, and he does offer a few sentimental scenes that show off his acting chop. I felt like Monaghan and Farmiga were a little under-utilized - they're both fine actresses capable of great emotion, but it felt like they didn't have the opportunity to utilize it. Wright is a little over-the-top in a couple of his scenes, but for the most part, he's serviceable. But this is really Gyllenhaal's vehicle. He's the one we see in nearly every shot, and he's the one we're supposed to root for and cheer for. He does just well enough to make his character likable, and the final payoff proves that he's somehow wormed his way into the hearts of the audience.

I'm not really sure what else I can say about Source Code. It's a very good film that's definitely worth seeing, but it may not be a must-see for theaters. I have a feeling that it's going to be a little bit forgettable, but when you're watching it, I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked. Just don't blink because you might miss something important.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: B+
2 Thumbs Up