Departed, The (2006)

3.5 out of 4

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Anthony Anderson, Ray Winstone, James Badge Dale

Director: Martin Scorcese

Time: 152 mins

Viewed: Loews Monmouth Mall, Eatontown, New Jersey

Director Scorcese's return to his favourite genre (and forte) is a remake of the Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs, about a cop who infiltrates the mob and a man from the mob who infiltrates the cops. DiCaprio and Damon play the moles, while Nicholson delivers a typically delicious performance as the mob czar the police want to take down. Film takes a while to get going, but once the stakes are raised, the ensuing cat-and-mouse game is enthralling and suspenseful. Trademark Scorcese violence is present, though more subdued than in previous flicks like Goodfellas or Casino. Acting is uniformly superb, from Nicholson, DiCaprio and Damon to the support characters: Sheen, Baldwin, relative newcomer Farmiga - in the lone female role of any substance, as the police shrink - and especially one-time rapper and former Calvin Klein underwear model Wahlberg, in a searing, funny, almost-against-type portrayal of a foul-mouthed sergeant who captivates with his delivery and conviction. Dynamite script by William Monahan provides plenty of scrumptious lines and propels this 150 min film along.

(c) Joe Wong (12 October 2006)