The Departed — nobody gets to relax
Fast, abrasive, and full of people watching what they say. The dialogue gives the tension a nasty sense of humour.
Fast, abrasive, and full of people watching what they say. The dialogue gives the tension a nasty sense of humour.
Spoiler-free review.
The Departed makes a phone call feel like a dangerous activity. People are constantly measuring what they can say, whom they can trust, and whether they have already said too much. That pressure is there even when a scene is funny.
The dialogue is a big part of the appeal. William Monahan gives people sharp, defensive voices; an insult can be a joke, a test, or a way of taking control of a room. Mark Wahlberg gets some of the most aggressive material, but the quieter exchanges can be just as hostile.
Leonardo DiCaprio makes anxiety visible without needing to explain it. Matt Damon is good at the opposite sort of tension: trying to appear comfortable while keeping track of everything. Watching those performances against each other gives the film much of its momentum.
Martin Scorsese keeps the cutting and music lively enough that the length rarely feels heavy. Jack Nicholson’s performance is entertaining, though there are moments when its size pulls me out of the otherwise convincing unease. Some of the supporting relationships could also use more space.
8/10. Messy people, excellent tension, and dialogue with real bite. It is at its best when everyone in a room has a reason to lie.
Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2006 · English. Film details · Poster source. Artwork © its respective rights holders.
Fast, abrasive, and full of people watching what they say. The dialogue gives the tension a nasty sense of humour.
— Desly