The Departed • The Next Reel

“When you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?”“The Departed,” Martin Scorsese’s 2006 remake of “Infernal Affairs,” is the film he finally won his Oscar for. It’s a strong crime film and is definitely a Scorsese film with incredible camera work and intense violence, but is it as good as the original? Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Movies & Their Remakes series with Scorsese’s “The Departed.” We talk about what we thought of this film when we first saw it and now how it compares to its predecessor. We chat about the script and how William Monahan approached the adaptation of the original story into a South Boston setting. We discuss the actors – Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Mark Whalberg and the rest – and how well they work for us (or don’t in some cases). We touch on Scorsese and how much this film fits right in with his output. We hit on other crew members and what they bring to the table, from editing to composing to cinematography and more. And we debate just how good the actors’ South Boston accents are and how effective we are at pinpointing them. It’s a great action movie that may have diminished in quality after such a recent viewing of “Infernal Affairs,” and it certainly has its share of problems, but we have a great time talking about it on this week’s show. Check it out!Film SundriesWatch this film: iTunes • AmazonScript TranscriptOriginal theatrical trailerOriginal poster artworkInfernal AffairsFlickchartTrailers of the WeekAndy’s Trailer: Bastille Day — “Idris Elba is my pick for the next James Bond. This gives him a chance to show off his action skills and prove he’s got what it takes. Plus, Robb Stark!”Pete’s Trailer: A Bigger Splash — “Tilda Swinton plays a famous rock star hiding out, her vacation interrupted by Dakota Johnson in a movie that looks a lot better than 50 Shades. Director Luca Guadagnino offers an interesting follow-up to his 2009 film, I Am Love.”Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Become a member for just $5/month or $55/yearJoin our Discord community of movie loversThe Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:Cinema Scope: Bridging Genres, Subgenres, and MovementsThe Film BoardMovies We LikeThe Next Reel Film PodcastSitting in the DarkConnect With Us:Main Site: WebMovie Platforms: Letterboxd | FlickchartSocial Media: Facebook | Instagram | Threads | Bluesky | YouTube | PinterestYour Hosts: Andy | PeteShop & Stream:Merch Store: Apparel, stickers, mugs & moreWatch Page: Buy/rent films we've discussedOriginals: Source material from our episodesSpecial offers: Letterboxd Pro/Patron discount | Audible