Review of The Departed (2006) by Joe C — 04 Jan 2015

An Oscar-bait baby as well as one of the all too few films that binds the critic and non-critic in mutual agreement, The Departed is arguably the best foreign-to-domestic remake ever. A loose adaptation of the hit film from Hong-Kong, "Infernal Affairs," Scorsese takes the source material's double helix story of moles on both sides of the law, sets it in Boston, up's the thrill factor to an 11 and twists the story into an intricately plotted, foul-mouthed, blisteringly violent investigation of identity, duality, trust and betrayal.

The result is a film that serves as Scorsese's return/farewell to gangster films and proves that no one does urban storytelling better than him. The Departed remains a genuine genre high point, and a surefooted classic with serious attitude.