Goodfellas Without the Good

Departed starts everywhere and goes nowhere

Martin's Scorsese's new movie had all the elements to be next Goodfellas: an outstanding cast, gruesome violence, a vivid urban setting. Unfortunately, The Departed doesn't come close.

It starts well enough: Police academy cadet Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Special Investigations Unit officer Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) lead double lives: Costigan is in the mob and posing as a police officer; Sullivan is a police officer posing as a member of the mob.

Unfortunately, Departed spends so much time wallowing in the obvious conflict of the main storyline that it completely ignores a variety of interesting subplots and foreshadows. These include Sullivan's two minute stint in the drug trade, the mysterious death of Sullivan's parents, Costigan's crime-family background, and then, of course, there's the girl. Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), the significant other of Sullivan, just happens to also be the court-appointed psychologist of Costigan, with whom she has a torrid love affair. Despite the grand coincidence of connection, the Gwen story has little effect on the plot.

While big directors pulling together all-star casts usually ends in disaster, this is one area where Departed succeeds undeniably. DiCaprio knows how to act like he's acting to cover up that he's lying – a skill we see to great effect throughout the film. Damon for once gets to take advantage of his natural snobbery that makes him deplorable in other films by playing a cop. The effect is perfect. Mafia boss Frank Costello is played by Jack Nicholson, who is terrific as always. Mark Wahlberg is great as a foul-mouthed bad-cop to the extreme, paired with good-cop Martin Sheen, who gives a no-nonsense performance.

And of course the best part about The Departed is its Boston setting, which plays a major role in the film. Though attempts at accents are hit-or-miss throughout, scenes all over the city give it an authentic feel.

Despite a great cast and a usually great director, The Departed doesn't live up to its own hype. Its hailstorm of unabashed violence, great acting, and the occasional chase scene can't make up for the fact that the film starts everywhere and goes nowhere.