Irish Mob – Pagina 2 – FRAGMENTEN UIT HET SCHEMERLAND

Cops or Criminals. When you’re facing a loaded gun what’s the difference?

Directed by:
Martin Scorsese

Written by:
William Monahan (screenplay)
Alan Mak (screenplay Mou gaan dou)
Felix Chong (screenplay Mou gaan dou)

Cast:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan), Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan), Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello), Mark Wahlberg (Dignam), Martin Sheen (Queenan), Ray Winstone (Mr. French), Vera Farmiga (Madolyn), Anthony Anderson (Brown), Alec Baldwin (Ellerby), Kevin Corrigan (Cousin Sean)

A remake of the 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs by one of the greatest American directors of all time. That can’t go wrong, right? The Academy certainly didn’t seem to think so, awarding the film Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Scorsese’s first!), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. While some might see this as recognition long overdue, the film earns its accolades.

The Departed is a fantastic crime thriller, even if it may not be Scorsese’s very best. The main point of discussion for some is that it’s not a completely original film. The movie opens with The Rolling Stones’ ‘Gimme Shelter’, a great track that sets the tone perfectly, though it was also used to memorable effect in Goodfellas.

Scorsese has dealt with the underworld before in Mean Streets, Casino, and GoodFellas. While those masterpieces were based on real-life stories and experiences, The Departed shows he can deliver a tightly plotted, suspenseful narrative with equal skill.

The plot does lend itself to many exciting twists and turns. Irish crime boss Frank Costello (a maniacal turn by Jack Nicholson) has a young spy, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), work his way up in the Boston police force. In return, the police assign young recruit Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) to secretly infiltrate Costello’s hardened gang. A dangerous cat-and-mouse game begins that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The Departed is a high-energy thriller with an amazing cast. Damon and DiCaprio are excellent in the lead roles, but the real fireworks come from Nicholson and his fellow villain Ray Winstone. Scorsese wisely cast the then-unknown Vera Farmiga as the female lead, and she’s excellent in her subtlety. The plot keeps you engaged for the full 151 minutes of its runtime, and while the characters might not have the same depth as in some of Scorsese’s other works, they serve the story well. The surprising climax, rather than feeling cold, delivers a satisfying and impactful ending.

If the film hadn’t been directed by Scorsese, the bar might not have been raised so high, but as it stands, The Departed is a highly entertaining and expertly crafted movie that not only meets but often exceeds its very high expectations.

Rating:

Quote:
FRANK COSTELLO: “I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me.”

Trivia:
Originally Brad Pitt was cast as Colin Sullivan, but later dropped out to work with Alejandro González Iñárritu in Babel. He continued to produce the film under his production company Plan B.

‘The Irish Mob in New York’

Directed by:
Phil Joanou

Written by:
Dennis McIntyre

Cast:
Sean Penn (Terry Noonan), Ed Harris (Frankie Flannery), Gary Oldman (Jackie Flannery), Robin Wright (Kathleen Flannery), John Turturro (Nick), Burgess Meredith (Finn), R.D. Call (Pat Nicholson), Joe Viterelli (Borelli), John C. Reilly (Stevie McGuire), Deirdre O’Connell (Irene)

If you are going to make a movie about Irish hoodlums, this is the way to do it. State of Grace is the Irish GoodFellas and that is a major compliment. Its realism stretches far beyond a pint of Guinness and a few songs by The Pogues. The viewer gets treated to a real sense of what Hell’s Kitchen and its inhabitants are like.

The movie begins with Irish cop Terry Noonan (Sean Penn) returning to his old neighbourhood – Hell’s Kitchen, now named Clinton (!) – to perform an undercover job. His mission is to infiltrate the Irish gang run by Frankie Flannery (Ed Harris) and terminate it before a dangerous alliance is formed with the Italian Mafia. His former best friend, Frankie’s brother Jackie (Gary Oldman), is also a member of the gang. Noonan also rekindles an old flame with Kathleen, sister of the Flannery’s. He is quickly torn between his loyalty to his friends and his official mission.

The story may sound a little cliché, which it is, but State of Grace does have a couple of surprises to offer. What makes the film really work is the striking environment it shows and the flesh and blood characters that live in it. Poverty, crime, drugs and alcohol tore this neighbourhood apart. The misery caused by this is in these characters’ DNA and determines everything they do.

A proper gangster movie usually has a crazy, hot headed, loose cannon character (think Joe Pesci’s Tommy in GoodFellas). In this film, Gary Oldman plays that role. His Jackie is one seriously disturbed – and often funny – wacko. His performance is the best thing about State of Grace, but the other cast members are excellent as well. Robin Wright adds to the heart of the film as a caring young woman who wants to improve things, but can’t – not with these people in her life. Penn is also solid in the lead as the conflicted Noonan and so is Harris as the ice-cold gang boss Frankie Flannery.

The movie ends with a The Wild Bunch-like shoot-out. This might be a bit of an odd choice for ending this particular movie with, but it still works nicely. Director Joanou uses beautiful, slow motion bullet hits mixed with St. Patrick Day parade images to create a terrific and blood boiling sequence. If you are looking for a gangster film that almost matches Scorsese’s finest work, look no further.

Rating:

Quote:
FRANKIE FLANNERY: “If I don’t call you by two o’clock or Pat don’t call you, you come in and tear ‘em apart, the spaghetti still on their spoons.”

Trivia:
The word ‘fuck’ and variation are used 210 times in the film.