Chandie
10-12-2006, 03:00 PM
Many of us would know that this was a remake of the Hong Kong movie 'Infernal Affairs', so although it usually isn't my genre of movie, I went to see it; sort of out of patriotism. I didn't particularly like the original, but thought the plot was highly original, and rare to have come out of the Hong Kong market. The acting was impressive, especially that of Tony Leung's- so richly textured, so tormented- vulnerable yet strong. The movie as a whole was so twisted- yet it still achieved sharp quality.
'The Departed' has intense,carefully layered acting also, especially from the recurringly menacing Jack Nicholson. His villainy was at its best. Undoubtedly this movie is Oscar calculated, as many critics have touted already. It was quite surprising the find that they stuck quite close to the original plot, and for those of you who may have seen it already, down to the balcony scene. Because I've seen it already, the plot doesn't come as too much of a surprise, but because i had watched 'Infernal Affairs' quite a while ago the experience was still highly stimulating. I wouldn't give much credit to 'The Departed' for plot though- but choreography of gun fights, chases and such were very thoughtfully made, and I really liked the 80's style cinematography- the slow pans left and right, the zooming in and out- you could tell Brad Pitt partially produced it, because there was an Ocean's Eleven feel to it. Leo Dicaprio's performance definately outshines Matt Damon's; I found Damon's Cop-mole rather two dimensional. The entire film is gritty, ruthless, macho and masculine, yet in such a context shows that circumstances can make men like these so tactless, vulnerable, helpless. Women have no role in this- and the only one attempts to convey control, power dresses, but is still stuck in the damsel stereotype. Her relationship with the two moles is more intense in this version, but does not really complicate the main plot itself. Apart from Dicaprio, Damon and Nicholson other characters' roles aren't as rawly and intricately portrayed as the original, such as Tony Leung's brash sidekick (did I remember correctly?) who was also Jay's sidekick in Initial D (did i remember that correctly?).
For those who had not seen Infernal Affairs I will have no doubt that 'The Departed' will surprise and unnerve. If you were highly taken with Infernal Affairs it may be fair to say that this is simply a more glamourous version with a gold Hollywood cast and a boston backdrop- and too many variations of f^&k to count. Really, this movie would have been more aptly named if it was 'The DeF*&kingparted'. Watch it and you'll understand.
'The Departed' has intense,carefully layered acting also, especially from the recurringly menacing Jack Nicholson. His villainy was at its best. Undoubtedly this movie is Oscar calculated, as many critics have touted already. It was quite surprising the find that they stuck quite close to the original plot, and for those of you who may have seen it already, down to the balcony scene. Because I've seen it already, the plot doesn't come as too much of a surprise, but because i had watched 'Infernal Affairs' quite a while ago the experience was still highly stimulating. I wouldn't give much credit to 'The Departed' for plot though- but choreography of gun fights, chases and such were very thoughtfully made, and I really liked the 80's style cinematography- the slow pans left and right, the zooming in and out- you could tell Brad Pitt partially produced it, because there was an Ocean's Eleven feel to it. Leo Dicaprio's performance definately outshines Matt Damon's; I found Damon's Cop-mole rather two dimensional. The entire film is gritty, ruthless, macho and masculine, yet in such a context shows that circumstances can make men like these so tactless, vulnerable, helpless. Women have no role in this- and the only one attempts to convey control, power dresses, but is still stuck in the damsel stereotype. Her relationship with the two moles is more intense in this version, but does not really complicate the main plot itself. Apart from Dicaprio, Damon and Nicholson other characters' roles aren't as rawly and intricately portrayed as the original, such as Tony Leung's brash sidekick (did I remember correctly?) who was also Jay's sidekick in Initial D (did i remember that correctly?).
For those who had not seen Infernal Affairs I will have no doubt that 'The Departed' will surprise and unnerve. If you were highly taken with Infernal Affairs it may be fair to say that this is simply a more glamourous version with a gold Hollywood cast and a boston backdrop- and too many variations of f^&k to count. Really, this movie would have been more aptly named if it was 'The DeF*&kingparted'. Watch it and you'll understand.