The Departed - The Movie

Phenomenal direction and capable acting by a couple of the actors. Some of the dialogue was trite, overused, cliched. Some of the jokes' punch lines were old, old, old. And, the Bostonian curse word was definitely overused. Is it true that Bostonians speak that way? Mitt Romney should declare or decree that the "F" word is not Boston's, it belongs to the world. Matt Damon and the Affleck kid overused it in Good Will Hunting. Everyone overused it in The Departed. The movie is brutal in realism. Jack Nicholson's character is easy to hate or love, depending upon what he's up to at the moment. Jack is Jack, and he does this character well. We've all seen it before, and no one can do it the way he does. Ultra-brutal, but lovable as he smiles at his own brutality. Leonardo Di Caprio is masterful in his role. Martin Sheen's emoting is boring. I've yet to see something he's done that is remarkable. Wahlberg's acting is one level -- insult everyone on screen. I can't remember if Alec Baldwin was in this movie, or in another one that I saw recently. Doesn't matter. His acting level in everything I've seen him in is forgettable, perhaps hidden under layers of fat. He's unable to show much talent; but when an actor has no talent, and his good looks are gone... Yet, the movie is interesting. Can't fault Scorcese on this one. The actors he chose either did a wonderful job, or they acted at the highest level of their ability. You identify who's who. The script needed work, too. Maybe that's what confused those less capable actors.

Children of Men - The Movie

Wow! If this movie doesn't get a nomination, I'll be surprised. It is unrelenting in action and suspense. The sets are devastatingly eerie. Michael Caine is wonderful in his role. I'm going to see this one again, as well. So much happening, one wonders how anyone can really remember the sequence of events.