The Departed
R, 149 minutes
Now playing at Seminole Square
Cinema Four
Famed New York director Martin Scorsese rarely abandons the Big Apple for another zip code. And only once before has he attempted a remake (1991’s juicy Cape Fear). But with the release of his newest film, he’s managed a surprising one-two punch.
The Departed is a remake of Infernal Affairs, an ingenious Hong Kong thriller from 2002. Flavorfully rescripted by writer William Monahan (whose only previous screen credit was, oddly enough, the muddled crusade saga Kingdom of Heaven), Scorsese’s film cannibalizes only the barest internal framework of the original. Set in the cops-and-robbers world of inner-city Boston, the film introduces us to Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon, happy to let loose his native accent). Sullivan is a neighborhood kid from South Boston who grows up under the wing of local Irish crime kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). On Frank’s suggestion, the adult Colin joins up with the Massachusetts state police, giving Costello an insider’s view of the men who might try to bring him down.
At the same time, we meet Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), a hard-luck kid whose family has been intimately connected with the Boston mob. Intelligent, angry and with something to prove, Billy enters the police academy. Before graduation, however, he’s recruited by a sharp-eyed captain (Martin Sheen) and his right-hand man (Mark Wahlberg) to infiltrate the mob. Kicked out of the academy and sent off to jail on fake charges, Billy has soon established himself as a neighborhood screw-up. In time, his antics catch the attentions of Mr. Costello, who recruits him to join the organization. And here’s where things get interesting.
We’ve got an undercover mobster who’s infiltrated the cops and an undercover cop who’s infiltrated the mobsters. Eventually, these two pretenders are asked to help sniff out the informer in their respective organizations. This sets off a delicate game of cat and mouse (or rat and rat), in which each man is looking for the other while pretending to hunt down himself. It sounds complicated, but Scorsese isn’t out to re-create the epic Goodfellas or the gritty Mean Streets here—in fact, this is the first full-on popcorn flick Scorsese has made since the aforementioned Cape Fear. His goal is to have some fun, and he proceeds as if the entire thing were some incredibly grim black comedy.
Monahan’s script helps immensely in this respect, offering loads of amusing dialogue for these cops-and-mobsters to mouth. Wahlberg, especially, seems to be enjoying his role, speaking entirely in foul-mouthed schoolyard cutdowns. Nicholson, not so surprisingly, is in top form here, as well. It’s clear he ad-libbed much of his dialogue, and the film is all the better for his unpredictable performance. Damon and DiCaprio are nicely matched, even though they have very few scenes together. The film hinges on the twin trajectories of these two characters: Colin, who seems to relish his job as a mole, and Billy, who becomes increasingly more disturbed by the potentially deadly position.
Scorsese doesn’t scrimp on the violence, delivering some of the most wince-inducing scenes he’s staged since Goodfellas. Even so, the film never feels bleak or overpowering. The plot, with its multiple levels of deception, borders on the ridiculous. Scorsese happily keeps it there, hovering just below a completely over-the-top parody of Hollywood action flicks. He takes the script’s complicated game of cups and balls at face value, shuffling the cups with blinding speed and leaving his audience goggle-eyed. Viewers can be reasonably assured they’re going to get rooked in this game—but it’s entertaining enough just to watch the feints, cheats and deceptions of these extremely deft liars play out on screen.
All the King’s Men (PG-13, 120 minutes) Robert Penn Warren’s classic novel (filmed once before in 1949 with Broderick Crawford and John Ireland) returns to the big screen with a brand new, all-star cast. Based loosely on the life of Governor Huey Long of Louisiana, the film follows the rise and fall of populist political animal Willie Stark (Sean Penn). Though our politician is a self-described “hick,” he isn’t above playing dirty—a tactic that causes much consternation in his right-hand man (played by Jude Law). Kate Winslet, Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins round out the credits. (Devin O’Leary) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
The Departed (R, 149 minutes) Reviewed on this page. Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
Employee of the Month (PG-13, 103 minutes) There are people who are rabid Dane Cook fanatics, reveling in his every inside joke and secretive hand gesture. And then there are those of us who think he’s a nice enough young fellow who has yet to actually say anything funny. Here, Cook continues searching for the bridge between standup comedy and acting. He plays a slacker employee at a warehouse store who suddenly gets ambitious after hearing that the hot new girl (Jessica Simpson) will gladly date the employee of the month. As far as Jessica Simpson is concerned, there are people out there who think she’s a talentless bimbo. And then there are… No, wait, that’s pretty much it. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Facing the Giants (PG, 111 minutes) If only there were someplace that people who want to see an inspirational sports drama in which you root for the underdog football team could go (besides Rudy, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights, Invincible, Gridiron Gang, etc.). O.K., so this sort of thing has been done once or twice before. The difference? Well, this one was produced by the Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. There are more references to Jesus than there are to touchdowns. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Flyboys (PG-13, 139 minutes) This resolutely old-fashioned, airborne action flick takes us back to the days of World War I where we get to watch cute young stud James Franco (Spider-Man) join up with the famed Lafayette Escadrille to fight the evil Red Baron (just like Snoopy). The film mixes every war movie cliché together with some state-of-the-art CGI. At least the WWI dogfights look impressive (if you’re into WWI dogfights). Plus, it features copious use of the word “fokker.” (D.O.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Gridiron Gang (PG-13, 1
26 minutes) Wrestlin’ thespian The Rock finally finds a project worth being passionate about with this inspirational sports drama. Rock plays Sean Porter, a real-life counselor at California juvenile detention facility. Tired of seeing the near-perfect recidivism rate, Porter tries an alternative approach, forming a high school football team from among his ragtag gangbangers. The “root for the underdogs” stuff is all standard-issue, but director Phil Joanou (U2: Rattle and Hum) lends some visual polish. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
The Grudge 2 (PG-13) Director Takashi Shimizu tackles his tale of vengeful ghosts for the sixth time (four films/remakes/sequels in Japan and two in America)! This one kills off the gal from the first American version (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and passes the ghostly curse off on her sister (Amber Tamblyn). As in previous installments, there’s more creepy atmosphere than outright horror, but the story is starting to take noticeable shape…assuming you’re not burned out on stringy black hair and little Japanese kids in pale makeup. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
The Guardian (PG-13, 136 minutes) Until now, Hollywood hasn’t given the Coast Guard the same sort of love it has extended to Marines or firemen or cops or Russian hit men. There just aren’t a lot of Coast Guard-based action films. Now, Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher are here to rectify the situation. Costner takes over the “gruff older instructor with an emotionally scarred background,” leaving Kutcher to play the “cocky but hunky new recruit with a lesson to learn.” The Guardian does a good job of showing how dangerous the jobs of Coast Guard rescue swimmers actually are, but at 136 minutes, Costner and Kutcher spend a little too much time sitting around and chatting. (D.O.) Playing at Regal Seminole Square Cinema 4
The Illusionist (PG-13, 110 minutes) Edward Norton stars as a magician who, because of his apparent supernatural powers, becomes a threat to the Hapsburg empire in fin-de-siècle Vienna. The movie’s a love triangle that’s supposed to stir our passions, but it doesn’t quite get the job done, partly because Norton lacks hypnotic appeal and partly because the whole thing seems to be taking place inside a cardboard box. (Kent Williams) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Jackass Number Two (PG-13, 103 minutes) Sigh… Yes. They made a second one. Teenagers who love to pour hot sauce in their eyes, jump off buildings and kick each other in the nuts are super friggin’ stoked! Everyone else simply continues to mourn the slow, steady death of civilization. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Jet Li’s Fearless (PG-13, 103 minutes) Allegedly Jet Li’s final martial arts film (say it ain’t so, Jet!), this historical kung fu film was a major hit in its native China. Li plays the legendary Chinese martial arts hero Master Huo Yuanjia, the founder and spiritual guru of the Jin Wu sports federation (basically, the first organization to pit fighters agaisnt one another in one-on-one bouts). It ain’t a whole lot different than his other historical fight films (like Once Upon a Time in China) But the occassionally witty fight choreography keeps things punchy. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Little Miss Sunshine (R, 100 minutes) This pitch-black comedy features a strong cast (Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell) in the story of a downwardly mobile Albuquerque family that can’t win for losing. Although the filmmakers sometimes press too hard on their theme about the hollowness of the American Dream, the movie often achieves a light, farcical tone that’s touchingly at odds with the mood everybody’s in. (K.W.) Playing at Regal Downtown Mall 6
Love’s Abiding Joy (PG) Directed by Michael Landon Jr., this depressing Western drama is the first release from the newly minted FoxFaith pictures. It’s based on the Christian book series by Janette Oke, and is basically “Little House on the Prairie,” only preachier. Inexpensive cast includes Stephen Bridgewater, Brianna Brown and Erin Cottrell. (Nope, I’ve never heard of ’em either.) Three previous films (Love Comes Softly, Love’s Enduring Promise, Love’s Long Journey) were shown on the Hallmark Channel. If you loved them…(D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
Man of the Year (PG-13) What if Robin Williams were a wacky disc jockey? No, what if Robin Williams were a wacky doctor? No, what if Robin Williams were a wacky politician?… A more pressing question might be, what if Robin Williams were still funny? Here, he plays a comedian on a late-night political talk show who ends up getting elected president. Can you just imagine what it would be like if Patch Adams were giving a White House press conference? I can, and it scares me. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
The Marine (PG-13) Clearly, with the overabundance of intelligent, highbrow films flooding out of Hollywood these days, what the market really needs is more films produced by Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Here, we have pro wrestler John Cena (one-time “Dr. of Thugonomics”) as a marine who returns from battle to find his wife ensnared in a kidnapping plot. What’s a musclehead to do but kick lots of villainous ass? Sounds like the perfect thing for people who have worn out their DVD of Commando. (D.O.) Coming Friday; check local listings
Open Season (PG, 86 minutes) Wow, Ashton Kutcher fans are certainly like pigs rolling in filth this week. Between this and The Guardian, there are two Kutcher films in which to wallow. Frankly, it seems like overkill—not unlike the dogpile of computer-animated animal movies we’ve been subjected to this summer. Here, Kutcher plays a cartoon deer who helps a domesticated grizzly bear (voiced by Martin Lawrence) to survive in the wild. Only complication: Hunting season starts in three days! (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
School for Scoundrels (PG-13, 97 minutes) Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite) plays Roger, a moveless, grooveless young meter maid who signs up for a class in how to seduce women. There, he meets the devious Dr. P (Billy Bob Thornton), who helps our dorky hero and his fellow misfits unleash their inner cad. Unfortunately, Roger soon finds himself competing in a battle of wits against the underhanded Dr. P, who has taken a shine to th
e object of Roger’s affections (Jacinda Barrett from The Last Kiss). From writer/director Todd Phillips, who gave us Road Trip and Old School. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
The Science of Sleep (R, 105 minutes) Director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) tries his hand at writing a trippy comedy/fantasy/romance. Gael García Bernal (Y Tu Mamá También) plays an insecure artist who moves to Paris to reconnect with his widowed mother and ends up falling in love with his charming neighbor (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Unable to express himself in his waking life, our hero soon escapes into the wiggy world of his dreams. I think. It’s actually pretty hard to tell what’s going on in this phantasmagoric mess. Whatever’s going on, it sure is a lovely, whimsy-filled head trip presenting Gondry in his most undiluted state. (D.O.) Playing at Vinegar Hill Theatre
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (R, 84 minutes) Ah, there’s nothing like beating a dead horse. And then stringing its corpse up in a garage and hitting it with a hammer and then cutting it up with a chainsaw and then eating it. The director of the crummy tooth fairy horror flick Darkness Falls attempts to cash in on the relative success of 2003’s TCM remake. In this prequel, a group of teens on a road trip breaks down in the middle of nowhere and is terrorized by an evil sheriff (R. Lee Ermey) and his twisted offspring. At least there’s lots and lots of blood and guts for you gorehounds out there. (D.O.) Playing at Carmike Cinema 6
