Review by Vives Anunciacion
The Departed
(3 stars)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by William Monahan
Starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg
The Departed by all accounts is a reworking of the 2002 Hong Kong megahit Infernal Affairs, never mind if director Martin Scorsese says his movie isn’t a remake.
Leo Di Caprio and Matt Damon play two sides of the Boston State Police. Leo’s Billy Costigan is an undercover cop hired to uncover the illegal dealings of the Irish Mafia led by kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), while Matt’s Colin Sullivan is a hotshot rookie detective who serves as Costello’s inside man. When the police and the Mafia suspect a spy in their ranks, Billy and Colin devise ways to keep their identities secret from within their groups, while they individually try to expose each other.
Jack Nicholson’s zesty Costello is enough for him to snatch the lead acting nomination away from Leo, though his role opens the debate on what is and what isn’t a lead role. If Jack gets it, Mark Wahlberg deserves the support nom for playing hardball cop Dignam.
Overall, The Departed is Scorsese Lite, a very audience-friendly movie that ‘s a departure from the director’s usually expansive vision (The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas, Raging Bull). It’s a top-notch thriller all right, but it’s still just a remake of one of the best Asian films ever made.
Green Street Hooligans
(2 stars)
Directed by Lexi Alexander
Written by Dougie Brimson, Lexi Alexander
Starring Elijah Wood, Claire Forlani, Charlie Hunnam
Football hooliganism is a serious issue in the U.K. and Lexi Alexander ‘s Green Street Hooligans tries to explain parts of the phenomenon the best it can without romanticizing the addictive thrill of violence. Part brilliant and part amateurish, Green Street Hooligans is mostly emotionally inconsistent. But when it works, it works well.
Elijah Wood is Matt Buckner, a promising journalism major who is kicked out from Harvard. Moving to London, he meets his brother-in-law’s brother Pete, who introduces him to the Green Street Elite (GSE) firm – a radical gang of football fans which takes the fanaticism in “fan” to deathly ends. Matt’s presence in the GSE reignites the violent rivalry between GSE and another Firm, leading to the expected tragic end.
The movie works more than half of the time, although almost every character is stereotyped. There’s no question on Elijah Wood’s acting abilities (kilay pa lang acting na), it’s just that he isn’t physically convincing to morph into a street thug. Plus, putting another pretty boy beside him won’t help making him macho – Sam and Frodo are still fresh on people’s minds.
The Departed
(3 stars)
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by William Monahan
Starring Leonardo Di Caprio, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg
The Departed by all accounts is a reworking of the 2002 Hong Kong megahit Infernal Affairs, never mind if director Martin Scorsese says his movie isn’t a remake.
Leo Di Caprio and Matt Damon play two sides of the Boston State Police. Leo’s Billy Costigan is an undercover cop hired to uncover the illegal dealings of the Irish Mafia led by kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), while Matt’s Colin Sullivan is a hotshot rookie detective who serves as Costello’s inside man. When the police and the Mafia suspect a spy in their ranks, Billy and Colin devise ways to keep their identities secret from within their groups, while they individually try to expose each other.
Jack Nicholson’s zesty Costello is enough for him to snatch the lead acting nomination away from Leo, though his role opens the debate on what is and what isn’t a lead role. If Jack gets it, Mark Wahlberg deserves the support nom for playing hardball cop Dignam.
Overall, The Departed is Scorsese Lite, a very audience-friendly movie that ‘s a departure from the director’s usually expansive vision (The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas, Raging Bull). It’s a top-notch thriller all right, but it’s still just a remake of one of the best Asian films ever made.
Green Street Hooligans
(2 stars)
Directed by Lexi Alexander
Written by Dougie Brimson, Lexi Alexander
Starring Elijah Wood, Claire Forlani, Charlie Hunnam
Football hooliganism is a serious issue in the U.K. and Lexi Alexander ‘s Green Street Hooligans tries to explain parts of the phenomenon the best it can without romanticizing the addictive thrill of violence. Part brilliant and part amateurish, Green Street Hooligans is mostly emotionally inconsistent. But when it works, it works well.
Elijah Wood is Matt Buckner, a promising journalism major who is kicked out from Harvard. Moving to London, he meets his brother-in-law’s brother Pete, who introduces him to the Green Street Elite (GSE) firm – a radical gang of football fans which takes the fanaticism in “fan” to deathly ends. Matt’s presence in the GSE reignites the violent rivalry between GSE and another Firm, leading to the expected tragic end.
The movie works more than half of the time, although almost every character is stereotyped. There’s no question on Elijah Wood’s acting abilities (kilay pa lang acting na), it’s just that he isn’t physically convincing to morph into a street thug. Plus, putting another pretty boy beside him won’t help making him macho – Sam and Frodo are still fresh on people’s minds.
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