Review: Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" (2006)

This movie just didn't affect me like it did for so many other people. I already owned "Donnie Brasco' and had watched it growing up, so when I saw 'The Departed', it was just too similar of an idea and done in lesser means. The story in 'The Departed' was just way too circumstantial and made it a bit unbelievable. The acting of the film is another portion I would call into question. Jack Nicholson provides a better performance in his big toe in this movie than everyone else around him. DiCaprio, Wahlberg, and Damon are also good at what they are doing but it is almost everybody else in the movie that drives me crazy. The worst portion of the film in terms of acting goes to a scene with Jack Nicholson and 15 Asian actors. The Asian actors here are some of the most amateur and worthless extras in Hollywood in my opinion, while none of them gives what they should.

Donnie Brasco is carried solely by Depp and Pacino while 'The Departed' has a cast that no Las Vegas hotel could contain. The character development in this film is a huge problem, they give you a couple facts and then throw you on the movie train, and the train isn't moving. I just don't believe DiCaprio's character or Damon's character for more than 10 minutes.

The imagery or cinematography in the film is awesome, but its just not supported with a near awesome performance. It would be like a broadway play having a set stage looking amazing and a couple of actors come out, urinate on stage and walk off. You could only say, "they urinated pretty good".

Jack Nicholson has me sold in almost everything he does, this film included. Every scene with him in it is far more interesting than all the other scenes. His hand and facial gestures are far superior to Damon and DiCaprio's, everything. So far the people I talk to who have seen 'The Departed' before 'Donnie Brasco' say 'The Departed' is superior, but it is the opposite for those who have seen 'Donnie Brasco' first. All in all Donnie Brasco was directed by Mike Newell who has made 'Harry Potter XXXVII', while 'The Departed' was accused of being a stolen story from a Japanese film made by Scorsese, who has lain claim to more great films than perhaps anyone else in Hollywood.

Do I think the film appears better because Scorsese made it? Yup. Award goes to Scorsese for "Scorsese", instead of to Scorsese for 'The Departed'.

RottenTomatoes.com:
Donnie Brasco = 7.8
The Departed = 8.2

"The Departed"
7/10

"Donnie Brasco"
TBD

Review: John Hillcoat's "The Road" (2009)

Watched 'The Road' yesterday for the second time in a week. This movie really does give me everything I want in this type of apocalyptic feature. The acting is superb, the imagery is stellar, and the story seems to carry all the way through on the same pace. There isn't a single scene that looks fake or out of place, and every scene of dialogue is perfect for what the intentions were. The only concern I would have is the paper to camera translation being loyal. I have not read the book, but from what I have been told by those who have all say this was an extremely great take and all the scenes were spot on with their own imagination. The problem they say, is that they cut out a lot of the story to fit it into a film, which I am not excited about. I wish people would make films that extend past the standard times of 2 hours if that is what it takes to do the most justice to the writers' work.
Even after seeing it 6 times now, I am still not fully sold on my theories of the film. They leave just enough open for interpretation that it fully satisfies my curiosity while I myself can play an imaginative role in the story.
Casting and score couldn't be more perfect. I am just absolutely amazed at this film every time I think about it. I think you know a film is great to you when you go out of your way to make other people watch it. There was just a lot in this film that astounded me. This film really does reveal a desolate world without God. This is a must see.