FemaleFirst.co.uk: DVD: The Departed (2006) [DVD]

The Departed (2006) [DVD]
enlarge	Director: Martin Scorsese Actors: Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon Studio: Entertainment In Video Category: DVD List Price: ~~£23.99~~ Buy Used: £1.50 as of 21/11/2009 14:29 GMT details You Save: £22.49 (94%) New (31) Used (41) Collectible (3) from £1.50 Seller: dunabiv Rating: 147 reviews Sales Rank: 1521 Format: DVD Region, PAL Language: English (Original Language) Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over Region: 2 Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Number Of Discs: 2 Running Time: 151 Minutes Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3 Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 EAN: 5017239194702 ASIN: B000MGAVY2 Theatrical Release Date: 2006 Release Date: February 19, 2007 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days


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Editorial Reviews: Amazon.co.uk Review Martin Scorsese makes a welcomed return to the mean streets (of Boston, in this case) with iThe Departed/i, hailed by many as Scorsese's best film since iCasino/i. Since this crackling crime thriller is essentially a Scorsese-stamped remake of the acclaimed 2002 Hong Kong thriller IInfernal Affairs/I, the film was intensely scrutinized by devoted critics and cinephiles, and while Scorsese's intense filmmaking and all-star cast deserve ample acclaim, iThe Departed/i is also worthy of serious re-assessment, especially with regard to what some attentive viewers described as sloppy craftsmanship (!), notably in terms of mismatched shots and jagged continuity. But no matter where you fall on the Scorsese appreciation scale, there's no denying that iThe Departed/i is a signature piece of work from one of America's finest directors, designed for maximum impact with a breathtaking series of twists, turns, and violent surprises. It's an intricate cat-and-mouse game, but this time the cat and mouse are both moles: Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is an ambitious cop on the rise, planted in the Boston police force by criminal kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a hot-tempered police cadet who's been artificially disgraced and then planted into Costigan's crime operation as a seemingly trustworthy soldier. As the multilayered plot unfolds (courtesy of a scorching adaptation by iKingdom of Heaven/i screenwriter William Monahan), Costigan and Sullivan conduct a volatile search for each other (they're essentially looking for "themselves") while simultaneously wooing the psychiatrist (Vera Farmiga) assigned to treat their crime-driven anxieties.p Such convenient coincidences might sink a lesser film, but iThe Departed/i is so electrifying that you barely notice the plot-holes. And while Nicholson's profane swagger is too much "Jack" and not enough "Costello," he's still a joy to watch, especially in a film that's additionally energised by memorable (and frequently hilarious) supporting roles for Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, and a host of other big-name performers. iThe Departed/i also makes clever and plot-dependent use of mobile phones, to the extent that it couldn't exist without them. Powered by Scorsese's trademark use of well-chosen soundtrack songs (from vintage rock to Puccini's operas), iThe Departed/i may not be perfect, but it's one helluva ride for moviegoers, proving popular enough to become the biggest box-office hit of Scorsese's commercially rocky career. i--Jeff Shannon/i

Customer Reviews: Showing reviews 1-5 of 147 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...30 Next » Scorcese back on form with blistering thriller January 12, 2007 russell clarke (halifax, west yorks) 8 out of 13 found this review helpful Martin Scorcese, s last two films had me wondering if he lost what ever it was that made him special in the first place. "Gangs Of New York" was gorily entertaining but OTT and a bit silly but it was still miles better than "The Aviator" a film so dull I started to count the hairs on my forearm to pass the time ( For the record I reached 837)Happily " The Departed", a remake of the excellent 2002 Hong Kong movie "Internal Affairs" is a return to form , so much so its fit to sit alongside Scorcese classics Like "Taxi Driver" , "Goodfellas" and "Casino" . br /Where "Internal Affairs" was more concerned with the mechanics of the plot -an organised crime ring and a police department trying to outwit each other , both unaware they have moles in their midst- "The Departed" invests the narrative with more compassion for the characters, more of the dichotomy they have to go through to achieve their aims. This gives the film far more weight and humanity and elevates it from a stylish cops and baddies film to something more profound. br /Former bad boy Billy Costigan (Leonardo Dicaprio) is now a Boston police officer and it's his shady past that convinces Chief Queenan (Martin Sheen) and his thuggish right hand man Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) he'd make a good undercover agent. So they order him to infiltrate the organisation of mafia boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) who in, I must say unlikely act of altruism, once took a fatherless boy -Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) -under his wing who has recently graduated from the academy and now he's an officer is keeping Costello appraised of all the coming and goings in the department. The department guess they have a snitch in their midst but with typical police short sight assign Sullivan to find out who it is, perversely giving him the dilemma of finding someone else to take the fall in order to give himself breathing space. Meanwhile Costello also suspects he has a rat, but it's hard to figure out who in an organisation based on lies, deceit and subterfuge. br /As is usual with Scorcese this is a film as much about masculinity and male rituals .The film effectively pits two male dominated environs against each other .The only notable female character in the film , a police psychologist (Vera Farniga), is used as an outlet for the moles on both sides of the fence and provides subtle empathy to counteract the testosterone laden ( but often funny) banter that zips between the males, particaully that of Dignam and special forces officer Ellerby (Alec Baldwin in another superb cameo recalling his role in the brilliant "Glengarry Glen Ross") br /The performances are all terrific. Di Caprio has shaken of the pretty boy lightweight tag and is now an accomplished performer, here providing a hard edged convincing portrayal of a man under extreme pressure, living life on a tight rope of suspicion and fear. Matt Damon invests his character with a brash charm and swaggering confidence while never making him wholly unlikeable. Nicholson too often for me resorts to over the top mugging and showboating but here, like in "The Pledge", he reins himself to give a performance that radiates reptilian charisma .Like Tommy from "The Goldfellas " Costello is a character who can go either way in any situation , either lark around like a kid or shoot them in the head. Nicholson, aided by Scorcese deft use of light and camera angles imbues Costello with a satanic presence, and it's hard not to see him as such as he causally kills and ruins lives. br /I think Scorcese is always at his most comfortable and most vital when dealing with characters who are either dysfunctional ( "Taxi Driver" , "The King Of Comedy") or working class , struggling to survive and having to resort to nefarious and desperate measures to do so ( "Mean Streets", GoodFellas"). "The Departed" definitely falls into the latter category and in doing so provides the audience with the best Scorcese movie since "Casino" and the best mob movie of recent years. br / br / br / br / Best film of the year.... almost February 9, 2007 Neil Butler 16 out of 27 found this review helpful The Departed is as good a film as I've seen in donkey's years, and I watch a lot of films. DiCaprio is utterly brilliant in this and really steals the show as the paranoid undercover cop. Matt Damon has the tougher part as the inside mole but does a great job with it, and Jack Nicholson is ,well, Jack and that's always good in my book. The tension of some of the scenes is real palm sweatingly good, and if I have one problem with this film it's the last 20 minutes where it suddenly descends from brutal realism to B-movie cliches. It's not enough to make me dislike The Departed, but in comparison to the ending of Infernal Affairs (of which it is a remake) there's just one too many deaths, and it stretches the films credibility a little. Overall though this is a must buy for anyone who likes a good tense thriller. Great Thriller (story) and acting! May 31, 2007 FirstPersonshow.net (Cambridge, England) 12 out of 20 found this review helpful This movie is a great fast-paced thriller. This is the film which changed my opinion of Leonardo DiCaprio. Before this film, I thought of him as just a pretty-boy who girls go weak at the knees about. But in this film he really acts. Matt Damon is great as well. This is one of those films where your head spins trying to keep track of who knows what and what will happen if one of the people finds out anymore at any given time. Adrenalin pumping stuff! br / br /Oh, Jack Nicholson isn't bad either (ha, joking, he's always good). He gets to play one of those roles where he seems to be being himself. A powerful man who knows exactly where he fits into the world. br / br /As always, I don't want to give away too much such that the movie is ruined for those who haven't seen it yet (isn't that who reviews are for, folks who are thinking about watching the film?). This is one of my fave films of the year. Violent, but compelling. br / br /I say, check it out. Leo has found his place June 4, 2007 O. Doyle (Ireland) 5 out of 8 found this review helpful After watching The Departed and Blood Diamond I've started to change my opinion of Leo DiCaprio. Whereas I used to see him as cute, blonde eye-candy I think after the last two movies Leo has shown us all what he's really made of. After The Departed even die-hard Leo-bashers will have to change their thinking....and that's only if they haven't already changed their thinking after seeing Blood Diamond. In a movie with such great actors as Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg Martin Sheen both Leo DeCaprio and Matt Damon had their work cut out for them but they both did sterling jobs and deserve great accolades. br / br /The story itself starts off with the basic intro of the players and the setting, but you'll find yourself slowing following each and every plot twist and rooting back and forth for the good guys and for the bad guys. The story focuses on the stories of two people: Leo is an undercover copy who has infiltrated the mob......while Matt Damon is a mobster working undercover with the cops. As you can imagine there's plenty of two-ing and fro-ing as each side tries to figure out who the spy is among them and carry on with business at the same time. br / br /Jack Nicholson's witty one-liners and sheer presence make his role as mob boss tailored for him and I couldn't picture anyone else doing the job as well. Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin may not be present as much as we'd like but they too own their parts in this movie. You know an actor is doing a good job when you can picture him playing the part for real. To be honest there are such great performances by so many that it's hard to say who did best. br / br /For me The Departed is a collaboration of brilliant actors doing what they do best and it makes for a fantastic film. Yes there's blood and gore and some cringe-worthy violence but that's Scorcese for you! A thoroughly entertaining 2.5hrs and one I highly recommend. br / A gangster film with a moral message June 16, 2007 Bezerus Bezby (Leeds, UK) 15 out of 26 found this review helpful I thought this latest offering from Scorsese was excellent. Some quality action and interesting, although initially complex story lines. It took me a little while to get to grips with what was going on, but once I did, I was hooked. br / br /The contrast between Matt Damon and Leonardo Decaprio was very well done. Matt Demon represented the American dream- young middle class and rising up through the ranks of the police force. Incidently, he was also the rat in the force, being in cahoots with Jack Nicholson, (in fine form here). In comparison, Leonardo was a bit of a bad boy with drug dealers for relations. However, he also had a strong sense of morality and never got so sucked into the criminal underworld that he lost sight of what was right and wrong. br / br /Excellent supporting roles form Martin Sheen and that lad from new kids on the block. br / br /Any plots flaws that have been pointed out by other reviewers are well and truelly compensated for by a great cast, great direction and a captivating storyline. Well worth watching more then once. Showing reviews 1-5 of 147 1 2 3 4 5 6 ...30 Next »

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