The Departed Review

Compelling, violent but overall fantastic and in my opinion the best Scorcese film ever released. Usually in a cinematic environment I generally feel that if the film is not in the least bit gripping, I find myself looking at my watch waiting for it to end, but with this film I was looking at my watch hoping it wouldn’t end. Characterisation was brilliant, screenplay was air-tight, and visual effects were pulled off perfectly (for instance gunshot victims were made incredibly realistic ergo more disturbing). In regards to the music score, I have never heard the ‘Rolling Stones’ used so perfectly in a film, it gave the film an atmosphere which was projected on to you from the very beginning.

The film displays two storylines from either side of the tracks, a bent cop and an undercover cop. Without giving too much away, Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) is a mob boss and Mr French (Ray Winstone) is his right hand man. Right from the start, the two make a fantastic entrance with the killing of a couple of unknowns, Nicholson portraying the most vindictive, callous attitude I have seen him display since ‘The Shining’. Costello manages to take Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) under his wing, as a child, and Sullivan grows up with the understanding that crime pays. Out of his respect for Costello, Sullivan joins the cops in order to assist him.

Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a man who grew up on the streets with only the peerage of street gangsters and chooses to fight against the only life he ever knew by joining the cops. Through doing this he is given the opportunity to infiltrate Costello’s organisation. The story takes you on a ride of action and suspense that is so vivid I never thought was possible to capture on film – until now! When suspicion arises on both sides, you are witness to the most perfectly executed (excuse the pun) gun battles and to scenes of an extreme and excessive nature.

The film is not without the charms of some other particularly famous actors such as Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg and the delightful appearance of Martin Sheen, without whom this film would not have been the same. The younger actors in DiCaprio, Damon and Wahlberg fitted in perfectly here and The Departed will hopefully open up more opportunities for them to act within the gangster related film genre.

In conclusion from start to finish the twists turns and retribution were carried out to sheer perfection, everything you have come to expect from a Martin Scorcese film plus more.

Ponyboy Cinematic Review of the Month - credit to Marc Blakey

Clerks 2 Review

When I stepped up and asked for a ticket to see this film, I believed that since this was a sequel, it was going to be difficult to give the original the credit that it fully deserves. How wrong was I, the humour is indisputably fulsome but very funny, in fact a statement by Kevin Smith in ‘The Guardian’ website interview could say it all in a nutshell ‘it was back to basics: bestiality, vomiting and really bad language’

The Film

After working at the same convenience store for over a decade, Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) are struck with disaster and find themselves having to locate to new ‘minimum wage’ jobs. With no real ambition in life their only option is to join the ‘Moobys’, a fast food restaurant with a typical abusive, geeky and inpatient clientele (similar to their last job).

Here you have Becky (Rosario Dawson), the boss, a ‘down to earth’ kind of girl who sees this job as nothing more than what it actually is. There is ‘Elias’ an uncorrupted Christian geek with some very naïve and unusual views on sex. Then there’s the return of ‘Jay and Silent Bob’ who always apply an aspect of glamour in a recalcitrant and comical way.

I found this film to be less loquacious than the first Clerks: maybe this was to do with the huge difference between the environments of a convenience store and a burger bar, which meant not having to oblige the viewers in extra, unneeded dialogue. Clerks 2 does a very good job as a sequel to live up to its predecessor - the characterisation was perfect, misunderstandings within the story were a little obvious but incredibly funny all the same. Bad language is used productively and eloquently, as well as bestiality references (but as far as this film is concerned ‘inter-species erotica’).

Certain scenes to look out for are the ‘Lord of the Rings/Star Wars trilogy argument’ and ‘the pickle f***er’ both of which will leave you either completely disgusted or laughing your backside off. Despite the humorous side, there is also emotional side to the proceedings - those familiar with the original Clerks will know of the relationship between Dante and Randal, and this becomes more apparent and of no surprise to the viewer within the final moments of the film.

All in all it is a film that is primarily for those not easily offended because it can be very direct and up front about certain issues. Easily one of Kevin Smith’s best. My advice is to not waste anymore time reading reviews - go and see it! Who knows - you might even find it educational. Enjoy!

Ponyboy Cinematic Review of the Month - credit to Marc Blakey