There are fair number of Boston movie scenes that I could have used here, but the opening scene of The Departed was one that was fresh in my mind (plus I've already used Good Will Hunting here), even though it has no relation to any of the years that I lived in Boston.
To be honest, I didn't actually like this Best Picture winner, and I would rather have used one of the scenes that features "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys, but I couldn't find it.
While I'm gone I may or may not get my review of Happy-Go-Lucky finished before it opens here on Friday. If not, thanks for being patient until I get back...
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The Departed (2006). Directed by Martin Scorsese (whoops, for the second time!); written by William Monahan (based on the original screenplay by Alan Mak and Felix Chong); starring Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Vera Farmiga, Alex Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Sheen.
Even though my love for this has slowly gone down a bit since ’06, it was the first time I noticed Farmiga, so I love it just for that fact. And I love “I’m Shipping Up To Boston,” I play it really loud every time I get mad.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy all ya travelling.
First time I saw her as well, Nick. I think...but anyway, this movie just didn't do it for me. Everybody was fine in it, but between the text messaging and the cartoonish violence, I wondered what the big deal was, especially since everyone said Infernal Affairs was better anyway.
ReplyDeleteWOW, I can't believe you didn't like TD, Danny.
ReplyDeleteI saw this SEVEN TIMES in the theatre.
"No one gives it to you. You have to take it."
Marty + the Irish Catholic thing = magnificent obsession
OH YEAH...
I already had "Gimme Shelter" going through my head all day (long story--actually, not it isn't: they played a bit of it on "Morning Joe" this morning) and now you've gone and done this, Daniel. I better just break out my old record of the Stones and get it over with.
ReplyDeleteThe Departed's best moments are largely comprised of Scorsese playing up the highly ethnic, pervasively Catholic heartache, angst and guilt beneath the menacing tough guys and sociiopaths like Nicholson's character. This prologue is expressive and tends to promise a film the screenplay was not so interested in delivering (the Boston milieu and Scorsese's early depiction of physical transgressions wearing down the spiritual components of the players involved slowly but surely become subordinated to plot demands and mechanisms).
Happy travels, Daniel. Being in Boston for a week five and a half years ago was a most memorable experience for me!
I'm happy to toss my hat into the "What's the big deal with The Departed?" ring with Daniel. I might have actually been mad when I left the theater.
ReplyDeleteIn other questions, how many weddings have you been to this year, Daniel? Isn't this, like, the 8th or something?
Just got to point out that The Secret Lives of Bees made over 10 million at the Box Office so far. Also feel the need to point out that it was one of my Fantasy Moguls picks. YES!
ReplyDeleteI'm the opposite of Nick on this one. I left the theater thinking that it was pretty good.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed at once an odd choice for Best Picture (a remake?) and a perfect choice (big stars, big director, hot topics), but I didn't have a problem with it winning.
Here's the thing, though. HBO played it a lot in the last few months. A lot. And every time it came on (comes on), I get sucked in. And it gets better each time. Pretty doon, it will rank amongst my favorites.
There's not a boring minute in it, and though I might not have liked and could have done without the shocker (downer) ending, it's goddamn perfect. And that cast. And the music. I think it's an awesome film.
And though he was good, I'll never understand how Marky Mark was nominated for Supporting Actor for this. Talk about a one-dimensional character...
Shoot, I've even come to love the Joe Cocker cover of 'Comfortably Numb.'
Enjoy your trip. We'll be waiting for you when you get back. Hey, at least you get to escape the cold of MN for the warm climes of the northeast. Oh wait...
Have a great trip to Beantown. Or did you say NH? Anyway I understand where you are coming from with THE DEPARTED, even if I don't quite agree. I am definitely looking forward to that HAPPY-GO-LUCKY review, as that is one I like quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well wishes. It was a nice quick trip (both Boston and NH, Sam - you're right). That's four weddings since July, Evan, with three already on the docket for 2009.
ReplyDeleteDespite your enthusiasm, Miranda, Fletch, and Sam, I think my disappointment is perfectly summed up by Alexander's observation about this prologue. I was immediately hooked but I soon faded. Granted, I've only seen it the one time, so I could go either way - down like Nick or up like Fletch.
Also, I fully admit I was unnecessarily distracted by random errors like accent, geography, and the already mentioned issue I had with the text messaging know-how of these gangsters, like 13 year-old girls with guns.
And there's no way anybody could ever make a case that this should have been Scorsese's Oscar-winning film.
Scott, I would have been happy to see Bees last a little longer (even though I didn't see the movie), but it appears that now (Sunday night) it's a one week and done movie. Didn't crack the top 5, at least from the projections I just saw. Ah well, only cost $2 to pick.