Here's some sound advice

XanaduNow

This is OT and this thread will get blown up as soon as someone sees it but since this is the "Community" Message Board I felt compelled to pass along some sound advice.

GO SEE 'THE DEPARTED.'

Hands down the best film I've seen in years and I've seen more films than your average movie reviewer. It's right up there with Mean Streets, Raging Bull and Goodfellas as Scorsese at his best. I am going again tomorrow and feel comfortable saying I'll see it at least 8 times.

It's THAT good.

Arthur

Stone193

Thanx Arthur.

mike

NewJerseyMeatHook

Thanks!

I'll check it out this weekend.

ToppsCo1lector

I'll be checking it out this weekend, I'm a big fan of Scorcese; and I was def already planning on it(I've wanted to see Nicholson with what the previews have shown, a character of this nature; and there isn't a better director for him to do it with).

XanaduNow

Don't get me wrong, Nicholson is brilliant. For me, the true sign of a quality director and screenplay are the performances you get out of the secondary characters. Everyone knows what they're getting from Jack, Leo and Damon but Wahlberg and Baldwin had some very classic moments. My only regret is that I waited until the late-night showing so I couldn't go see it again as soon as I got out.

Twice tomorrow though.

Arthur

2dueces

I saw it Saturday. You can tell its Scorsese for sure. Not near as good as Goodfella's. I rate it 2 stars. Wife fell asleep 20 minutes in. But of course to each his own.

Guru

All I'm saying is this, expect the unexpected.

XanaduNow

The way Scorsese is able to provide backstory and development to so many characters with such tight narrative is beyond impressive. Twenty minutes into the film we know exactly where Damon, Nicholson and Dicaprio have come from, who their families were and why they are pursuing the path they've chosen. He does all that while introducing an additional six or seven characters who are integral to the plot and structure. The relationship between Sheen and Wahlberg is so delcately written and played by the actors that you don't realize the importance of it until well into the third act.

The way so much information regarding character and plot is done without dialogue and instead through the actors performance and visual cues by Scorsese is something we unfortunately don't get too much of out of Hollywood anymore. There are numerous shots reminicent of other films (including a great one of Carol Reed's THE THIRD MAN) that reminds us just how much of a cerebral filmmaker Scorsese can be, even with a film that seems to be all about emotion.

Obviously, everyone won't like it (as this thread clearly demonstrates ). But if when Oscar time comes this film isn't garnishing numerous nominations I'm going to withdraw my membership to the Academy.

Arthur

Brian48

They filmed a good chunk of that movie right here in Boston. A friend of mine is actually in it as an extra and he's been busting my chops about seeing this movie. From what I heard, it's apparantly done very well. Supposedly a remake of an old Hong Kong movie (ala Reservoir Dogs).

jlbsquared

<< <i>Supposedly a remake of an old Hong Kong movie (ala Reservoir Dogs). >>



No supposedly about it, it is a remake of a 2002 film....


Mou gaan dou

XanaduNow

It's a version of a 2002 Alan Mak film called Internal Affairs. Essentially, the plot is roughly the same but the two films are very different.

Unfortunately, a majority of the film was shot in New York because the state of Massachusetts is currently one of the last state's to pull their head out of their rear and offer film productions any kind of incentive to shoot inside their borders. No tax breaks, no nothing. From what I've read the only scenes that were shot in Boston were the ones you simply had to, ie. exteriors with recognizeable landmarks (Beacon Hill, local highways, etc.). Scorsese really wanted to shoot the film in Boston but, alas, it was not to be. This is the reason this country is losing so many productions to places like Vancouver and such.

Arthur

AkbarClone

So how does the story end?

XanaduNow

SPOILER

Rick forces Ilsa to get on the plane with Victor instead of himself. After the plane safely departs Rick is forced to shoot Major Strasser and Capt. Renault covers for him. Rick and the Capt. end up walking off with a newfound respect for each other.



Arthur

sagard

<< <i>It's a version of a 2002 Alan Mak film called Internal Affairs. Essentially, the plot is roughly the same but the two films are very different.

Unfortunately, a majority of the film was shot in New York because the state of Massachusetts is currently one of the last state's to pull their head out of their rear and offer film productions any kind of incentive to shoot inside their borders. No tax breaks, no nothing. From what I've read the only scenes that were shot in Boston were the ones you simply had to, ie. exteriors with recognizeable landmarks (Beacon Hill, local highways, etc.). Scorsese really wanted to shoot the film in Boston but, alas, it was not to be. This is the reason this country is losing so many productions to places like Vancouver and such.

Arthur >>



So the costs of filming (security, tying up traffic, etc...) should be supported by the local populace? I could understand remote locales trying to attract junk like films, but if a filmaker wants to use Boston they should pay the price.

XanaduNow

<< <i>

<< <i>It's a version of a 2002 Alan Mak film called Internal Affairs. Essentially, the plot is roughly the same but the two films are very different.

Unfortunately, a majority of the film was shot in New York because the state of Massachusetts is currently one of the last state's to pull their head out of their rear and offer film productions any kind of incentive to shoot inside their borders. No tax breaks, no nothing. From what I've read the only scenes that were shot in Boston were the ones you simply had to, ie. exteriors with recognizeable landmarks (Beacon Hill, local highways, etc.). Scorsese really wanted to shoot the film in Boston but, alas, it was not to be. This is the reason this country is losing so many productions to places like Vancouver and such.

Arthur >>



So the costs of filming (security, tying up traffic, etc...) should be supported by the local populace? I could understand remote locales trying to attract junk like films, but if a filmaker wants to use Boston they should pay the price. >>



The problem is that more times than not a shooting locale is a preference, not a necessity. So the production company heads somewhere more financially condusive and the original community loses out on millions of dollars in revenue. Financially speaking, the city/town needs the film production more than the film production needs the city/town.

Take a look at the tidal wave of money heading north to Canada because it's much more financially beneficial for the filmmakers to go there. Even look at domestic locations like Austin, TX that have blown up into giant film locations (topped only by LA and NY). Even in places like Massachusetts we're seeing more and more productions head down to RI. In LA we see more and more productions head north to Oregon and Washington. That's money lost because it's cheaper to pack up a crew and move them a state or two over then it is to stay.

Another thing is that things like security and traffic control are paid for by the filmmakers. What I'm talking about are percentage point tax reliefs and other accomodations. The amount of revenue brought in far outweighs the breaks going out.

Arthur

5STAT

Arthur...I want to see it shot on Shrewsbury Street down near Jeff's Pub and the Flying Rhino....lol

XanaduNow

<< <i>Arthur...I want to see it shot on Shrewsbury Street down near Jeff's Pub and the Flying Rhino....lol >>



Bruce,

You're barking up the wrong tree. I'm more of a dive bar degenerate type.

I will be shooting a feature here in Worm Town next spring with a few local watering holes particpating. Wish me luck!

Arthur

5STAT

Arthur,

ok..so if you need an extra let me know....

you know the ex-bouncer 235 lb. kinda biker/linebacker look....I'm your guy!!!

XanaduNow

<< <i>Arthur,

ok..so if you need an extra let me know....

you know the ex-bouncer 235 lb. kinda biker/linebacker look....I'm your guy!!! >>



Bruce, you're in. Are you capable of downing a bottle of Jack in one gulp with a "College" sweater on?

Arthur

5STAT

just one bottle?? cummon....easy stuff...lol

Will work for beer...lol

XanaduNow

<< <i>just one bottle?? cummon....easy stuff...lol

Will work for beer...lol >>



Wow. You're cheap. I would never work for beer.

I'd work for whiskey though.

Arthur

5STAT

we went out last Friday...to TiNovo in downtown....nice, but pricey.. total bill w/ tip and bar included $360 for 6 people.

Then we went to Shrewsbury St. for a night cap(?).....2 hours later...bar bill....$210....

So between supper and late night, our alcohol consumption was about 2 times our food cost!! lol

Now you know why I'll work for booze...lol

If I get to chug Jack...any chance of writing in a beer funnel too...I mean, if I'm wearing a college shirt..."when in Rome"

XanaduNow

Bruce,

You're hitting all the wrong spots. Try Vincent's on Suffolk St or The Emerald Isle on Millbury St or Eddy's Pub on West Boylston Street. I went to the Emerald Isle with 5 friends and 3 girls. We ate dinner and drank from 5 PM till close. I had dinner and 16 Jack rocks and my portion of the bill was a little over $40. The best part was the bartender handing me my twelfth Jack.

"I don't know if I should give this to you ...:

"Why?"

"This is your twelfth Jack rocks."

"Am I loud? Do I seem drunk?"

"No. That's my concern."

Classic.

Arthur

RipublicaninMass

My significant other is a SAG member and was in "Fever Pitch" and also the "Departed", she will also be featured in "Gone, baby, gone" and who ever mention earlier that just the outdoor scenes are shot in Boston is correct. Even Fever Pitch was filmed mostly in Canada except for the Fenway and outdoor scenes. I guess Canada has very similar flora and fauna as MAss. FWIW Leonardo was incredibly difficult to work with, one scene with one line took 4 hours of shooting. It didn't help he was chain smoking through the whole thing either...lol

ctsoxfan

I am a huge fan of Scorcese, and films like Goodfellas and Raging Bull are in my personal top 10. I was so excited to see "The Departed", and I will say I enjoyed it...but it's nowhere near his best work. The cast is fantastic, the acting top-notch, but the story just isn't all that believeable. As the story goes on, it becomes less credible - people in the theater I saw it in were actually laughing at how absurd some of the character resolutions were.

This was one film that is right up my alley, subject wise and cast-wise, but I couldn't help but feel disappointed.

gregmo32

A brilliant film. Characters that will be talked about for a long time. And just had that feel of an Event.

helionaut

Yeah, I agree with CTsoxfan pretty much. I was all excited to see it, my birthday was last weekend, it was all lined up. There was a lot of good, even great, stuff in it, but I have several problems with it.

Spoiler Space
























1) Too much humor. For the first half of the movie, there's a lot of that quick Bostonese back-and-forth banter, especially with Marky Mark and Alec Baldwin, who sound like they were rehearsing for a SNL skit (which I'm sure will be happening). Some comic relief is good for a drama, like Baldwin enthusiastically (and ironically) yelling "Patriot Act, baby, Patriot Act!" But I think there was too much.
2) The windup of the double-mole stories wasn't drawn tight enough over a long enough time. I'd have like to see Damon really hunt Leo down, using his assumedly excellent detective skills, rather than the way it happened. And the wrap-up of their stories was very pat and over too quick.
3) Same for Nicholson's character. And the final final ending of the movie was too vague. Was Marky Mark on the payroll, or just out for payback?
4) Martin Sheen's accent was grating. I haven't spent a lot of time in New England, but enough to know that he was working too hard to keep it going.








































End spoiler space.

Overall, it was a lot of fun, no doubt. But for me it ranks behind Raging Bull, GoodFellas, Age of Innocence, GoNY, and all his earlier stuff. I'd put it ahead of Casino, but only because that movie spent too much time on the Sharon Stone story. If that film had been all gangster stuff it would've been up there with the Godfathers.

storm888

"So the costs of filming (security, tying up traffic, etc...) should be supported by the local populace?

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


In a word, "Yes."

Almost every municipality that has embraced the opportunity
has profited big time.

The fastest expanding category of municipal agencies is an
equivalent of "The Office of Film Services." More medium sized
towns/cities have film offices than have Homeland Security Offices
as adjuncts to their standard Office of Civil Defense.

Film production brings nice clean money to municipalities fast, and
it builds their tourism base FOREVER. Dollars dropped by production
teams often circulate five or six times during production, and stay
in the community long after the team has split.

One of the few money-making ops conducted by local governments
are their film offices.

Production companies know the value of their presence and often
are among the most difficult negotiators that municipal governments
ever face. My advice to the bureaucrats has always been, "Talk
as tough as you want to, just make sure you get that production
for this town/city/state."

Twenty-five years++++ after any hot film is released, it will continue to
act as a magnet for tourist bucks that film buffs are eager to spend
on visiting famous movie locations. Film production is an investment
that keeps on giving to the populace of its host city.

storm

2dueces

Well I guess my opinion of the movie is shared by others. I expected more with the stellar cast his assembled. I thought Marky Mark was the most obnoxious character I've seen in a movie in a long time. All he did was yell and belittle everyone around him. He was too predictable through out the movie. Like I said, 2 out of 4 stars and nowhere near Goodfellows. I did enjoy it and my wife enjoyed her nap. Joe