Last night I watched The Departed. It was actually very well done. I usually am not a big fan of mobster stuff. I mean, I like the Godfather series but I have a hard time telling you the difference between Casino, Good Fellas, and the like. I don't know why I don't really like them. I mean, I like movies where people get killed; I like getting the bad guy; I like bad boys with accents. But I digress. I really wasn't sure I was going to like this film mostly because I can't say I have really loved Leo DiCaprio in anything, with one exception being Catch Me If You Can, since his stint on Growing Pains where he played that homeless kid the Seaver's take in because Kirk Cameron said Jesus wouldn't let him play a bad boy anymore and the show really needed that cute, bad boy character. Anyway, I thought Leo really acted the shit out of this role. Matt Damon as a baddie was nice to see too. Usually he plays the good guy and I bet it was fun for him to play and double-crossing asshole. Jack Nicholson basically does what he's been doing for the last thirty years. I did love that Martin Sheen is in the film. Anyway, the story was very compelling and the movie didn't drag for me at all.I know that Little Miss Sunshine and The Departed are both up for Best Picture Nominations at the Academy Awards but honestly, I am not sure how one chooses between these two films. They are so vastly different and evoke different emotions. I would say personally, I enjoyed LMS more but I am not sure it's the better film. Now I just have to watch The Queen, Babel, and Letters from Iwo Jima by Sunday. Ha!
5 comments:
I actually thought Matt Damon was the weakest part of the ensemble cast. For me The Departed is a bittersweet film. I think Scorcese will win this year finally for it, but I think it's his worst gangster film. But he'll get the Oscar as a career recognition more than anything else.
I thought the film was well done but the but I think what this filmed lacked was the romantic section of the story that his others have had. Instead it was just despicable people doing grotesque things from start to finish.
Leo continues to impress me every time I see him.
I've only seen Little Miss S. and Pan's Labyrinth this year, the latter being about the best movie I can think of in the past few years. But I guess I say that every year.
If the Oscars continue their history of being a few movies behind their awards (e.g. Denzel Washington) then Scorcese is a shoo-in for Director, though I don't think he'll win Director and Best Picture both.
Mike, I agree that the romance could have been amped up a Bit. Especially since that love triangle was so easy to do something with. I kept waiting for that to play out in some other way. Like maybe leaving Matt for Leo and making the double cross more bittersweet? I don't know.
I am anxious to see Pan's Labyrinth. I am trying to decide if I should see in the theather or just wait for netflix.
Yay! Isn't being a converter a beautiful thing?
Jaleh, you need to post something! Write about Lily Allen. I LOVE that CD and would like to get your take on it.
Post a Comment