The Departed

Score: 3.5/5

Scorsese imitating Scorsese-lite, with few of the flourishes we've seen in his past crime films. The bookends are terrible. The opening montage -- set to "Gimme Shelter" -- is a desperate attempt to imitate himself at his best, and he fails. Most of the film is pretty damn good. But the last twenty minutes or so of deaths, plot twists, etc. are little too much, and not handled well at all. The last shot in particular is regretfully heavy handed. What's good is the snap-crackle-pop of the dialogue and the interaction between a lot of different tough players. I was not impressed with Nicholson, who to me simply plays himself. Kinda reminded me of DeNiro's fall in "Analyze This," and that ain't good. Get rid of the love interest and you have a tighter movie.

Seeing it again and perhaps with a better crowd and better theater I will enjoy it more.

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