dwolf

I was looking forward to seeing this movie. I begin my review with this statement because high expectations unmet can't help but affect our opinions.

The acting was for the most part excellent. The direction was excellent, especially cinematographically. But the writing left me cold.

Often times writers will sacrifice believability for plot twists or mere convenience. This happens in The Departed. Characters often act in ways which don't make any sense.

Examples: (warning plot spoilers)

Dignam and Queenan know everything about Billy Costigan, including intimate family details, but don't know that Sullivan grew up working for Costello, that Costello came to Sullivan's graduation at the police academy, that Costello was paying for Sullivan's apartment that he obviously couldn't afford on his own etc.

Near the end on the movie Sullivan's story of the shootout would have never satisfied any investigator on his word alone.

Both of these occur for plot convenience only and are not believable. There are many other examples.

It should be noted that while most of the characters were fantastic there were two major exceptions.

Dignam's character has NO redeeming qualities; he is a one dimensional hot head. Why does Queenan put up with him?

Madolyn has to be one of the most dull love interests in recent memory. The energy in the movie dies every time she is on screen. This is made worse by the fact that she, coincidentally, is the love interest of both male leads.

I wanted to like this move and I didn't hate it. I only wish the plot had been thought through a bit more.

At the beginning of this movie we meet Charlie, a hot headed teen who is constantly fighting at school. His home life is miserable. His father is an equal hot head who argues constantly with his mother driving her to drink. To make matters worse he's just fallen in with a group of troublemakers. He gets blamed when one of his friends steals a purse. The principal, played by James Caan, agrees not to suspend him if he works off his debt to the purse's owner, Mrs. Ritchie (Gina Rowlands).

Mrs. Ritchie proceeds to teach Charlie about living and caring for each other.

The movie start out poorly. The setup of Charlie's character is painful and the scenes with his friends cliché and over dramatized.

However, when Gina Rowlands appears on the screen as Mrs. Ritchie the movie takes a wonderful turn. Mrs. Ritchie is offbeat and colorful; her zeal for life intoxicating.

Don't let the start of the movie keep you from enjoying a delightful and uplifting film.