The Departed Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "The Departed" on Blu-ray is a stunning showcase of high-definition prowess, delivering an experience that meets, if not surpasses, the lofty expectations set forth by its eager audience. From the gritty opening sequences depicting Boston's racial tensions to the climactic rooftop showdown, the transfer exhibits reference-quality dynamics in color and contrast. Boasting a 2.35:1 widescreen 1080p/VC-1 encode, the image retains the natural filmic texture Martin Scorsese envisioned, balanced with a thin layer of grain to uphold its intended roughness. Blacks are deep, enhancing the atmospheric dark alleys and nighttime scenes without losing detail to pixellation or motion blur. While some depth and detail are gently sacrificed for heightened color saturation and dramatic lighting effects—a tasteful post-production choice by Scorsese—the overall resolution and color remain vibrant and richly textured.

Detail is remarkably maintained across varied lighting conditions, particularly notable in intense chase sequences where the interplay of smoke, shadow, and reflection could easily trip up a lesser transfer. Close-up shots reveal intricate textures, making the characters and settings pop with an almost tangible clarity. The Blu-ray decidedly outperforms its standard-def counterpart, offering a clear testament to high-definition's superiority with brighter, more vivid color reproduction, especially in the use of deep reds. Grain management and digital artifact are impressively handled, preserving the cinematic feel without intrusive noise.

Despite minor quibbles regarding occasional shifts in sharpness and a slight softening effect attributed to specific stylistic choices, "The Departed" Blu-ray stands as a paragon of home video excellence. Its pristine source, combined with meticulous attention to maintaining the integrity of Scorsese's vision, results in a must-own demo disc that lives up to the high anticipation surrounding its release. The careful balance of retaining natural film qualities while embracing the advantages of modern post-production techniques ensures that both purists and newcomers will find the visual presentation breathtaking in its depth, clarity, and realism.

Warner's release of "The Departed" on Blu-ray has been a noteworthy event for audiophiles and cinephiles alike, primarily due to its inclusion of an uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround track, a rarity in Warner's catalog. The audio quality offers a stunning clarity that elevates every aspect of the film's soundscape, from Howard Shore's evocative score to the nuanced tones of Jack Nicholson's menacing dialogue. The attention to detail in the vocal rendering is exceptional, providing a depth and realism to the characters' voices that breathes new life into their performances. The music, too, benefits from this meticulous treatment, with rock classics like "Gimme Shelter" interwoven into the narrative with an improved macrodetail that enhances the viewing experience.

Despite the film's sound design being largely front-heavy with limited surround action, when employed, the rear channels and LFE contribute to a dynamic and immersive audio experience. The accuracy of directional sounds and the pronounced yet organic low bass tones elevate key sequences, making the overall auditory experience more engaging. The PCM track slightly outperforms its Dolby TrueHD counterpart in head-to-head comparisons, offering subtle yet appreciable enhancements in realism and spatial definition in certain scenes. This indicates the potential superiority of uncompressed audio formats in delivering a more authentic and enveloping sound.

It's clear that "The Departed" Blu-ray sets a benchmark for audio quality, with its PCM 5.1 track showcasing how uncompressed sound can significantly augment the cinematic experience. Despite some limitations in surround usage, the fidelity and detail of the audio presentation make it a compelling case for Warner and other studios to prioritize high-resolution audio formats in their future releases.

Warner's Blu-ray release of "The Departed" presents a modest yet engaging collection of extras, primarily highlighting director Martin Scorsese's intricate relationship with the mob genre. While the set lacks the depth expected by some enthusiasts due to the tight turnaround from theatrical release to home video, it nonetheless delivers value through its focused featurettes. Particularly noteworthy is the blend of real-life inspiration and cinematic exploration seen in "Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie and 'The Departed'" and "Crossing Criminal Cultures." These delve into Scorsese's thematic fascination across his mafia films and the real-world figure Whitey Bulger, enhancing viewers' appreciation beyond the movie's narrative. Nine deleted scenes, introduced by Scorsese himself, offer additional content yet suffer from standard definition quality. The theatrical trailer—uniquely in 1080p—rounds out the package, providing a glimpse into the film's promotional phase. This collection, despite its limitations, contributes a worthwhile examination of Scorsese's craftsmanship and the historical context enveloping "The Departed."

Extras included in this disc:

• Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie and 'The Departed': A documentary that dives into the reality behind the film's gripping story.
• Crossing Criminal Cultures: Explores the thematic connections across Scorsese's mafia-related work.
• Deleted Scenes: Nine cuts from the film, all introduced by Scorsese, aiding in a deeper understanding though presented in standard definition.
• Theatrical Trailer: The only high-definition extra, offering insights into the film's initial public reception.

The Departed," directed by Martin Scorsese, emerges as a captivating twist on the conventional mafia genre, smartly interlacing the lives of an undercover cop infiltrating the mob and a gangster planted within the Boston police. This narrative setup paves the way for a myriad of plot twists, character arcs, and the inevitable violence, all of which Scorsese masters with his signature dynamic camera work, a robust rock soundtrack, and palpable dramatic intensity. The tension mounts as the film progresses, with both moles facing nerve-wracking moments that could blow their cover at any time, propelling the film into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse filled with suspense and intrigue. On a technical note, "The Departed" boasts one of Warner's most impressive 1080p Blu-ray presentations at this stage in the studio’s rollout, utilizing the VC-1 codec for a 2.4:1 aspect ratio that impressively exceeds expectations with its digitally enhanced yet vibrant and detailed imagery.

While "The Departed"'s storyline is a somewhat faithful rendition of the Hong Kong classic "Infernal Affairs," it inevitably draws comparisons to its source material. Much like comparing jazz icon Lester Prez Young to his successors, "Infernal Affairs" and "The Departed" each tell their stories uniquely, with Scorsese's version delivering power, energy, and a thematic breadth that may resonate more with Western audiences despite the adaptations slightly cluttering the narrative with unnecessary characters and relationships not present in the original. It is a testament to Scorsese's direction that even when tackling a more mainstream, commercially appealing project—intended to balance artistry with box office viability—the film does not stray into the realm of soullessness. Instead, it manages to intertwine genre conventions with moral complexities that Scorsese has explored throughout his career.

The ensemble cast, comprising Hollywood heavyweights like Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, elevates the film beyond its genre trappings. DiCaprio and Wahlberg, in particular, deliver standout performances, although Nicholson’s portrayal has drawn mixed reviews for his sometimes inconsistent Boston accent and tendency towards over-the-top theatrics. Despite these minor critiques, "The Departed" achieves commercial success without sacrificing artistic integrity, showcasing Scorsese's adeptness at navigating the "one for them, one for me" approach to filmmaking. It's an engaging, well-crafted mob movie that, while it may not ascend to the pinnacle of Scorsese's oeuvre, solidly proves why even mainstream Scorsese outshines the efforts of many other directors.

Martin Scorsese's venture into the Bostonian underworld with "The Departed" presents a notable departure from his celebrated New York mob dramas. While Scorsese’s attempt to explore themes outside his familiar New York milieu has been met with mixed reactions, the film itself remains a compelling entry into his oeuvre. The casting of Hollywood heavyweights, while commercially appealing, has sparked debates about their fit within Scorsese's narrative landscape. Despite some initial struggles, Leonardo DiCaprio's performance gains authority as the film progresses, showcasing the actor’s ability to adapt and immerse in the intense role of an undercover cop. However, the complexity of the plot and some stylistic choices have been critiqued for making the emotional core of the story less accessible, despite noteworthy performances by the ensemble cast, including an outstanding Matt Damon.

The Blu-ray release of "The Departed" has been received with enthusiasm, praised for its high-quality audio-visual transfer and comprehensive selection of extras, positioning it as a must-have for home theater aficionados. This edition not only serves as a testament to the film’s cinematic achievements but also enhances its viewing experience, further solidifying its status among Scorsese's body of work. Despite some viewers’ reservations about the film's narrative and character developments, the Blu-ray presentation elevates "The Departed" to an indispensable addition for collectors and fans alike.

In conclusion, "The Departed" Blu-ray epitomizes a high point in home entertainment offerings. The film, while divisive in its departure from Scorsese’s traditional storytelling and character arcs, ultimately stands as a potent example of his directorial prowess. It’s an essential acquisition for enthusiasts of Scorsese’s films, as well as for those who value the artistry behind Blu-ray production. The amalgamation of a stellar cast, a divergent yet gripping narrative, and superior technical presentation makes this release a significant milestone in Scorsese’s illustrious career and a worthy piece for any collection.