New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
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A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Charlotte O'Sullivan's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Martin Scorsese.
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
Description: Satisfyingly operatic crime thriller with Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio as moles on opposite sides of the law, and Jack Nicholson as the big boss. Remade from Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs, it's a classy, clever story with which Scorsese has forged a return to Goodfellas territory.
Country: US. 2006. 151mins
Being a Scorsese fan these days is like sitting at the bedside of someone on a life support machine. As each new offering appears we look, desperately, for signs of animation. Sad news, my friends. On the evidence of The Departed, it's time to pull the plug.
A big-budget remake of Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs, this stars Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio as Colin and Billy, two Bostonians on opposite sides of the fence.
Colin is an ambitious cop who just happens to be in the pay of local Irish mobster, Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson); Billy is the troubled orphan who infiltrates Costello's gang on behalf of the State's undercover unit (led by Martin Sheen as Queenan and Mark Wahlberg as Dignam). Both men are rats; who will be smelt out first?
Things begin promisingly enough. DiCaprio may be a tad one-dimensional, but Damon is entirely believable as an obnoxious swine, and a supporting turn from William Baldwin is a hoot. As we've come to expect, Scorsese and editor Thelma Schoonmaker orchestrate the ugly violence so it feels like it's happening under our nose - when blood flies, we feel the urge to duck.
The soundtrack is great and there are plenty of in-jokes (as in Mean Streets, there's a reference to the work of James Joyce). There are also out-and-out funny lines: when someone quotes Hawthorne, their police tormentor snaps: "Don't you know any Shakespeare, shit-head?"
But - and here's the rub - none of this amounts to anything, because scriptwriter Bill Monahan (fresh from the yawn-fest that was Kingdom of Heaven) fails to do anything interesting with the characters in the second half.
Colin's your basic sinner, Billy a saint, with Nicholson and Sheen as their respective guardian angels (apostate Frank likes watching coke-addled whores lick each other's bottoms; good Catholic Queenan has the kind of wife who, on late nights, puts his dinner in the fridge).
In earlier films such as Raging Bull, Taxi Driver and King of Comedy, Scorsese offered us heroes in fascinating shades of grey. Yes, this is a "genre" movie, but pulp doesn't have to be puerile. As in his remake of Cape Fear, Scorsese has mucked up a B-movie he professes to love: producing something full of twists but devoid of that lovely, fluttery, rare thing: surprise.
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The film bases itself in espionage and the apparent duplicity of such agents but it is far too incoherent for the viewer to get a real sense of involvement at key moments. The sound track is great but it is a dull predictable ending.
- Alan Jones, London
To be fair the accents aren't supposed to be Irish it’s a Boston accent for those of you in the UK who are not familiar with different American accents.
- Tom, Philadelphia, PA
This film is a huge dissapointment for those who watched the original film, "Internal Affairs"... if you liked The Departed watch IA and you'll like it even more!!
- Corinne Scerri, Newcastle
It was an excellent film most of the way through, but the ending was farcical.
- David, Sheffield
Totally gripping and utterly confusing if you don't keep up! This is definitely a masterpiece and if you don't catch it in the cinema, buy the DVD. It's going into my collection the moment it comes out. A flawless remake from Scorsese
- Tommy, Brockley
I thought it was a brilliant film that gripped me completely so the 2 1/2 hours flew by.
I'm guessing Charlotte is more of a rom-com girl. You probably preferred The Devil Wears Prada, which was just a Cinderella Story for grown ups.
- Oliver, London
Did I see the same film? I thought it was excellent - would see it again tomorrow if I could get another babysitter.
- Alison, Sheffield
I have to agree with Mr. Carroll who left the comment prior to mine. I am a Film Studies student and I thought this film was excellent. I have to watch a lot of films for my course and unfortunately as a result, it now takes a brilliantly made film to hold me until the end, and this did it for me. Masterclass is right.
- Rob Jaques, Derby, UK
I must have seen a different film than everybody else, or maybe it's because I didn't see/can't remember the original. The Departed totally gripped me from start to finish. Though it was a slow-paced gangster flick, it was completely engaging and this was sustained throughout. There were twists, there were surprises and I thought the direction was fantastic. The genre may not be to everybody's liking, but in terms of film-making, that was more or less a masterclass.
- Justin Carroll, London
I too watched it bearing the original in mind as the remake trudged along. I liked the original but I was looking forward to an improved American version (with such critical acclaim from US critics) without the asian affections we see in so many of their crime movies. Instead we got a very convoluted plot, much longer than the original, which was not saved by the individually good performances of the cast. (That was except for Leonardo di Caprio who I felt was slightly below par here).
One thing that kept jarring also was the poor irish accents throughout, with only Matt Damon sounding natural. I don't understand how every character in the movie Alexander, about the Greek leader, spoke in a perfect Irish accent, while in this story everyone seems to fail so miserably... the putting on of the accent is distinctly noticeable in all but Matt Damon.
Lastly the ending was terrible. I won't go into any detail. Suffice to say the whole audience was laughing by the end of the final action sequence. Given that the previous 2.5 hours were building up to this moment, laughter from the audience should not be the desired result! This was certainly not the case in the original.
Really avoid this movie. I really cannot understand US critics who hail this movie as a return to form for Martin Scorsese.
The only thing worth seeing in this movie, I would say, is the excellent impersonation of a rat done by Jack Nicholson!
- Mark Economides, London, UK
Thank you Charlotte O'Sullivan for your honest review of The Departed.
At the end of a full screening last night myself and most of the audience left in silence, numb with disappointment. I'm a fan of the original Infernal Affairs and the simplest word to describe Marty Scorcese's film in comparison is bland.
Charlotte O'Sullivan stands apart from 90% of the critical reviews, both amateur and professional, and I applaud her.
- Alan, Eastcote, Middx
I just saw it, and was disappointed. The first half of the movie had potential, but the rest went downhill, fast. The movie was filled with great, well known actors, but he story was lacking, IMO. I'd advise anyone, to wait 'til its out on rental.
- James, Cleveland, USA
Don Marr makes a very interesting point; initial reaction to ‘Goodfellas’ was as I recall favorable from the critics but the audience reaction or rather popularity wasn't, at least initially. I know this as I attended the British premiere of 'Goodfellas' not in London or Manchester but in Ipswich. Why? Ipswich Film Theatre at that time was celebrating 15 years, it's first film was Scorcese's 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' in 1975, so the then Manager had written to Scorsese and he'd offered up this film called 'Goodfellas', to introduce the film Thelma Schoonmaker (Editor) came over from the US. Tickets to this showing were given away free and it wasn’t even totally sold out. So Don’s point is a valid one, the reputation of ‘Goodfellas’ has really snowballed over time.
Whilst John too makes a valid point (above, first post) that ‘Goodfellas’ may well have been his last ‘great’ film, Scorsese is still far ahead the vast majority of his generation and the current crop of film makers and it is for this reason that I for one will be rushing to my local cinema to see this regardless of what any critic says and my own reservations on the casting.
Further, I do not think his 'art' is in decline, after all he's always had peaks and troughs of critical and audience reaction.
A new Scorsese film is something not to be missed.
- Richard J Gibson, London, UK
I have not yet seen the film but plan to. When I read "fresh from the yawn-fest, Kingdom of heaven". A film I much enjoyed, I have to question this womans taste, who reviews for this is London. I do not like her reviewing stlye one bit.
I could've written in a verbose stlye, with myriad references of phantasmorgora of quotes that come in and out of the conciousness but that would be missing the point now wouldn't it.
- Paula Connolly, finsbury park london
Scorsese hasn't made a decent film in years. The last great movie he made was goodfellas. It's been a steady decline since then - and Leonard DiCaprio is no Robert DeNiro
- John, kingston
This represents a welcome return for Scorcese contrary to the writers review who seems to believe there should be surprises galore to appreciate any film. Excellent cast, acting of the highest order and a captivating storyline, along with Scorcese's unique gritty approach makes this a must see film for hardened Scorcese's fans. Reviews such as those done by Charlotte O'Sullivan must be taken with a pinch of salt. These are the kind of reviews you would have seen when Goodfellas first came out or when Gangsters of New York was released. Give her a bit of time to see the popularity of the film in years to come and she will soon jump on the bandwagon. For those who truly respect Scorcese as a film maker, the kind of film maker who produces films for the public, rather than for awards, this is one you can't miss.
- Don Marr, London, UK
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