The Departed

B+

Directed by Martin Scorcese

Martin Scorcese's Oscar winning remake of the Hong Kong classic "Infernal Affairs" is a great example of how a remake, in the right hands, can be exciting, different, and almost equally groundbreaking as its predecessor.

Matt Damon stars as Colin Sullivan, a protégé of Boston crime boss Frank Costello who joins the Boston Police Department and quickly rises through the ranks while working as a mole for Costello. Unbeknownst to him, fellow officer Billy Costigan has been tasked by Sullivan's bosses with infiltrating Costello's organization and acting as their man on the inside. Both moles begin to suspect that the side they are working for has been infiltrated, leading to a cat and mouse chase between the two men as they attempt to root each other out.

Although "The Departed" is a great effort from Scorcese, it's not "Raging Bull" or "Goodfellas" and his Oscar victory was likely more of a lifetime achievement award than anything else. That said, Scorcese's interpretation of "Infernal Affairs" is very well done and he respectfully and accurately pays homage to the source material while still making "The Departed" his own creation. Where a lesser director probably would have just copped out on settled for a lazy copy of the original, Scorcese strays rather far from the source and truly remakes "The Departed" into something that resembles "Infernal Affairs" little aside from the basic premise of moles infiltrated in opposing camps. That said, any remake, no matter how little it resembles the original, will be compared to its predecessor and when holding up "The Departed" to "Infernal Affairs" the latter film is far, far better at playing the moles off each other and building suspense by bringing them oh-so close to discovering the other's identity as the film progresses. "The Departed" takes a while to really start building the same type of suspense and by the end of the film, when the two moles finally face-off, you feel like they've been thrust together as opposed to having rooted each other out.

Where "the Departed" may not live up to "Infernal Affairs" in regard to its narrative, it certainly gives away nothing to the original in its sleek production values and reliance on top flight actors. Matt Damon and Leo DiCaprio, once maligned as vapid pretty boys with limited acting chops, have over the years proven themselves as capable leading men and both are fantastic in their roles here. Multiple supporting spots by other big names such as Alec Baldwin, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Whalberg give "the Departed" the star studded treatment that "Infernal Affairs" also boasted (albeit with Hong Kong actors). Scorcese directing is, as always, slick and gritty and bursting with energy.

Unlike some, I don't immediately whine and moan when I hear that Hollywood is planning on remaking an Asian action or horror flick. "The Departed" is a perfect example of how a talented director and cast can remake a movie into something different and exciting while at the same time introducing large numbers of casual filmgoers to the original source material. Too bad so many remakes are shameless money grabs directed by C-list directors and hack actors...