Feb 09, 2007 02:38 PM
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High expectations were aroused when it was announced that the much acclaimed HongKong crime drama "Internal Affairs" was to be remade by none other than Martin Scorsese. The anticipation heightened when a top of the line ensemble cast including DiCaprio, Damon, Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen & Jack Nicholsonjoined the venture. The original(which I caught on Star Movies), was a low budget(by Hollywood standards) thriller, which by way of skilful story telling, remarkable cast(against type) and riveting performances drew acclaim from movie afficionado's the world over. So I was not wrong in expecting that Scorcese and his A-Team would take it to another level altogether.
Synopsis
*Criminal kingpin Costello(Nicholson) entices the parentless Colin(Damon) into the web of vice early on and through to his graduation from the Police Academy. Sullivan on becoming a detective turns informer for Costello and also advances his career in bargain.
On the other side is Billy(DiCaprio) who comes from a dysfunctional family determined to be a success. However on graduation he is sent undercover by Captain Queenan(Sheen) & Sergeant Dignam(Wahlberg). It isn't long before both sides realize that there're traitors in their midst.
The treachery and double crossing moves speed up till almost everybody is bumped off by the end.
The adaptation deserves kudos for the transposition of the premise from HongKong's seedy alleys to the Irish dominated Boston.
The dialogues have bite and there're a few excellent performances.
A guitar infested score(Howard Shore) & Classic rock tracks(Rolling Stones, Lennon, Allman Brothers etc) spice up the mood.
Performances
A good performance from **DiCaprio, who only - apart from Nicholson - has the screen time to do anything worthwhile.
The much hyped Nicholsonjust reprises his sleazy scheming persona aiming to fascinate, but only succeds at irritating.
Damonsays the f#$% word quite often, looks too neat for a bad guy and is also not given much to play with.
Wahlbergstands out amongst the stellar star cast with an attitude rivalling Nicholson.
Sheen's is the only character which bears justice to the original, and he is apt for this. Baldwintoo suits his character to a T.
Where they faltered
The original was excellent in its depiction of a cat and mouse game between the cops and the cons, omnipresent, seldom in the open and erupting skyhigh upon the invevitable confrontations. The Hollywood outing sees the brilliant narration reduced to a **mechanical recital, with the script seeming hurried toward the end.
The taut & tensefeel of the original is absent. Covert exchange of information is reduced to plain SMS'ng and at times, open phone conversations.
The interaction between the characters(due to the overpopulated cast?) is minimal. [Wahlberg's and Baldwin's characters are added onto the original storyline and severely hampers the narrative.]
The scriptis shoddy, with many loose ends. One major blooper is the one in which Queenan is thrown from the roof, and the Police surveillance team is confused as to the nature of the object even as Billy approaches the body and breaks down.
Surprisingly; what Hollywood does best, Actionis given the go-by. There are atleast 3 major scenes [the tracking and killing of Queenan, the ensuing shootout, Costello's fatal showdown] that could have benefitted from spicing up( Heat?).
It would be no surprise if the Departed bags Oscars for most of the categories it has been nominated for, especially Scorsese, but it would be an anti-climax if the celebrated director after being sidelined by the Academy for so long, wins for a film well below his standard.
You might very well enjoy this film, but you'll definitely be better off if you watch the original. And be assured that this'll turn up here with Salman Khan or Imraan Hashmi. **{;-P)=>DI-<
