“The Departed” (Crime Drama: 2 hours, 31 minutes); Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson and Alec Baldwin; Director: Martin Scorsese; Rated: R (Profanity, mature themes, sexual innuendo, strong violence and sexuality)

Movie Review: While undercover for the Massachusetts State Police Special Investigations Division, Trooper William Costigan (DiCaprio) is quickly gathering evidence to convict mass murderer and crimeboss Frank Costello (Nicholson). Simultaneously, Costello also has planted a mole within Massachusetts law-enforcement, state police detective Collin Sullivan (Damon). As law enforcers try to find their mole, Costello and his thugs are trying to determine the cop in their midst.

Maybe movie producers of movies should use scripts by foreign screenplay writers and then give the material to good directors like Scorsese, who can work with a bigger budget to produce a better film. “The Departed” is based on the screenplay by writers Siu Fai Mak and Felix Chong entitled “Wu jian dao” (directors Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak, 2002, also known as “Mou gaan dou,” meaning “Infernal Affairs”). Scorsese does a fine job managing a large talented cast of notables and a complex plot.

About 18 minutes into this crime drama, the movie”s title is displayed on screen. Viewers are hooked by then and more is expected from this dramatic treat of dark proportions. The nature of violence may make this film off limits for some, but others will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats witnessing unexpected turns. The plot deepens with every scene.

While all of the characters have motives which seem suspect and their demeanor anything but angelic, the actors and actresses, minus DiCaprio who plays his character with an exceptional superb passion, play their roles with a certain beauty, a nice nonchalant arrogance. The characters seem to make crude jokes during important and serious moments. Their actions work, as if each person portrayed is seemingly behaving as if it is all just another day at work. While their actions may seem awkwardly off key, a certain seriousness exists between characters which work, displaying that the people involved do take their professions seriously even if unemotionally.

The cast is incredible. Nicholson plays crazy well again. Damon is keen, cleverly playing his role with a psychotic, innocent facade. Vera Farmiga is swell as a doctor torn between Damon and DiCaprio. Baldwin, Wahlberg and Winstone provide plenty of comedy. The main star who really shines here is DiCaprio. His role is different from other players. His character seems to be the only one taking the plot seriously at times. Then again, his character”s life is in danger, so he has to take it all seriously. He is better here than in any of his recent movies, with the exception of “The Aviator” (Director Scorsese, 2004). DiCaprio usually behaves as if he is on stage. Here, he remembers he is doing on-screen acting. The rest of the ensemble is fantastic also.

“The Departed” is worthy of crowded movie cinemas everywhere. Hats off to Scorcese and gang for an intense film.

Grade: A- (The Good!)

“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” (Thriller: 1 hour, 30 minutes); Starring: Jordana Brewster, Taylor Handley, Diora Baird, Matthew Bomer and R. Lee Ermey; Director: Jonathan Liebesman; Rated: R (Recommended 17 and older due to gore, graphic violence, thematic elements, sexual innuendo, profanity)

Movie Review: Four young people riding through a remote area of Texas encounter the Hewitt family, a group of cannibals and brutal murderers. What results next is death, running, killing, screaming and more death.

This addition will make the fifth film in a series which started with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (Director Tobe Hooper, 1974) and has spun numerous television specials and foreign films. This current, more modern film is a follow-up to 2003”s “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (Director Marcus Nispel). Jonathan Liebesman (“Darkness Falls,” 2003) directs “The Beginning” which is very similar to the 2003 “Massacre.” Since 1974, all of these films have virtually been the same screenplay. The new films appear to be nothing more than some person”s incentive to work with beautiful young actors and actresses who are relatively unknowns.

One of the biggest technical flaws of “The Beginning” is real-time for scenes is lacking. The actions of characters do not match with what could possibly happen during a given time. For example, when a runner is running from the bad guy in this and other thrillers and horrors, the bad guy, walking not running, still catches the soon-to-be-victim. “The Beginning” has scenes in a spooky, large house where some characters move through the house faster than others. Sure these actions make for great suspense, but they are also cliched material and very outdated stupidity.

“The Beginning”s” one plus is that it does a slightly neat job of showing how the Hewitt family became cannibals and the circumstances of how Leatherface, a.k.a. Thomas Hewitt, was born. Otherwise, each addition of “Massacre” is bloody and disturbing material and cheap thrills, not to mention stupid characters. The preponderance is a notion of “been there, seen that” in 80 minutes, minus the opening and closing credits.

Grade: C (A massacre indeed)

“Employee of the Month” (Comedy: 1 hour, 48 minutes); Starring: Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson, Dax Shepard and Andy Dick; Director: Greg Coolidge; Rated: PG-13 (Sexual innuendo, violence, strong language and profanity)

Movie Review: Greg Coolidge is known for writing screenplays (“Sorority Boys,” 2002, and “Queen for a Day,” 2000) which usually lean toward themes about gender roles or homosexuality mixed with hyped-heterosexuality. This outing, he opts for mere silly fun, where adult actors behave childishly.

Head Cashier Vince (Shepard) has been the employee of the month 17 consecutive times at Super Club, a warehouse store similar to Sam”s Club. Zack (Cook) is, more or less, a slacker box boy. Zack has never had the slightest intention of being the employee of the month. Enter Amy (Simpson), a nice-looking new cashier who seems to have a liking for employees of the month. Vince and Zack both fancy Amy. The guys carry on a rivalry, challenging each other for Amy affection. Incentive plan: Become employee of the month and obtain the job”s most attractive lady.

One should know it is only going to get worse when Simpson says, “You employees of the month are all the same.” The notion is laughable. Even more, Simpson tries hard to make the scene sincere. This formulaic romance is a lame mix of grocery-shopping game show and a track-and-field flick.

A line from 2004”s “Employee of Month,” with a plot that is much different and has nothing to do with this currently playing film, had one great tag line (see next line).

Grade: C (Congratulations, you’re fired!)



Adann-Kennn Alexxandar is a contributing writer to Valdosta-Lowndes County Preview and The Valdosta Daily Times.