Classic Revisited - The Departed (2006)

Whats it about:
Frank Costello is a big hotshot gangster and sergeant Sullivan is his informant in the SIU (Special Investigations Unit) ... Trooper William Costigan is assigned to work undercover by officers Queenan and Dignam. Costigan joins Costello's gang. The whole operation is all wound up in secrecy.
     Soon doubts start cropping up. Costigan informs his superiors in the undercover unit that there is a rat in the SIU while Sullivan also informs Costello that there is a police rat in Costello's gang. It all ends in a bloody classy fashion. Check it out ...                                                                  

Hits

• Leo's dashing screen presence. His intense, frustrated portrayal is pure class. 
• Matt Damon is sort of overshadowed by Leo's dashing style. But still a great portrayal as the corrupt complicated cop.
• Jack Nicholson, as always, is majestic as the RocknRolla gangster with a taste for adult jokes.
• Mark Wahlberg is a riot as the foul mouthing no nonsense cop. Such fluency of dialog delivery, particularly in Leo's interview scene :). The actor who plays Queenan is earnest. 
• Vera Farmiga as the psychiatrist is dignified and an understanding partner to both Sullivan and Costigan. That love making scene between her and Leo on a rainy night oozes with heat and passion
• The making style is awesome. Scorsese Sir, take a bow.
• The title BGM track is kick ass. It comes later too at an appropriate time
• All the scenes on top 344 Washington are terrific. Gripping and violent cinema 
• The scenes where Matt and Leo try to expose each other are extremely thrilling.

VERDICT

One of the most stylish cop dramas with the best star cast in recent years. 

Classic: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Whats it about:
     Randle McMurphy (Mac) lands in a mental hospital for evaluation purposes. He isn't exactly retarded but is quite a handful. He encounters many different kinds of mentally disturbed persons. The nurse Ratched has an iron hand over the place and is unrelenting when it comes to the treatment schedule.
     Mac is a rebel and slowly the entire ward is behind Mac and they start enjoying basketball, escaping out to the seas for fishing, having fun with drinks and women in the hospital itself. Billy and Chief are 2 voluntary patients who are particularly close to Mac.
     These activities really annoy the management and what happens to Billy, Mac and Chief is the climax. A real gut wrenching climax that will surely touch every heart.

                                                                        
Hits

• Jack Nicholson is the soul of the film. He is the live-wire forever looking to rebel and have fun. Be it begging for one extra vote to watch baseball on TV, teaching basketball to Chief, trying to lift a heavy plumbing equipment etc etc. He is super charming. His sudden downfall in the climax when he is lobotomized and brought back to the ward really makes one feel depressed and very sad. 
• Brad Dourif as the stuttering Billy Bibbit is very natural and darn life like. His sudden outburst in the climax is again shocking. 
• Will Sampson as Chief is robotic. But, his role gains significance once he starts talking and his climax escaping act is a great tribute to friendship. 

VERDICT

The movie grows on you and towards the climax it really impacts you and leaves you with a heavy heart. A great inspiration for the Bala brand of cinema. MUST WATCH