The Departed (2006) ****

I'd argue that The Departed (2006) is Martin Scorsese's funniest film. Funnier than The King Of Comedy (1982) (review). Funnier than After Hours (1985) (review). Not a better film than either of those, but still immensely enjoyable. Of course, the ridiculously over the top Massachusetts accents are part of the hilarity (as a lifelong New Englander, I can't help but both love and hate them), but then again the entire movie is over the top. I've seen Infernal Affairs (2002)—the original film which The Departed remade—a few times and I like that film a lot too. At one point, I liked IA more than The Departed, but over the years the edge has gone to Scorsese's Boston transplant, as I find it has much more of a directorial stamp and—along with a stacked cast and plenty of memorable dialogue (including some wonderful profanity)—a lot of replay value. 

Martin Scorsese Feature Films Ranked

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