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• Director: Martin Scorsese
• Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
• Year: 2006

I had not seen anything by Scorsese since Bringing Out the Dead and Gangs of New York both movies which I really enjoyed. Needless to say, I knew that I was going to have to see this movie on opening weekend, which thankfully I was able to do.

I have to say that it had been a while since I saw a movie this well put together in a while (in this genre at least), with a rock solid plot, an engaging theme, and acting which I have only praise for. Though I am not a big fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, I found that he outdid himself in this movie (I never saw The Aviator, though I hear he did really well in that movie as well). Who knows, maybe the guy has really grown to solidify his acting and the promise that was there in Romeo + Juliet and Basketball Diaries has finally fully blossomed. Whatever the case, he shines in his role in this movie and he is not the only one. Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, there is a cast here that carries their weight with absolutely no problems.

The theme? Rats. Rats in the police force and rats in the crime world. Both Damon and DiCaprio are rats on opposite teams, each trying to outdo the other, each trying to expose the other and each trying to make sure their side wins. And though this is no surprise (you find this early on in the film) the way it plays out is very intruiging. Also, this film manages to break away from the Hollywood formula and presents us with something that is certainly a welcomed change.

I do not want to give too much away, but suffice it to say there is plenty of action in this film, good dialogue, good acting, good directing…I mean, you really can not lose.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Notes: Heavy violence, heavy language, adult situations, sexuality and brief nudity.
Quote: Frank Costello: When I was your age, they would say you could become cops or criminals. What I’m saying is this: When you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?