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| Scene from The Departed |
Welcome to Alternative to What: a weekly column that tries to find a great alternative to driving to the multiplexes. Based on releases of that week, the selections will either be thematically related or feature recurring cast and crew. The goal is to help you better understand the diversity of cinema and hopefully find you some favorites while saving a few bucks. At worse, this column will save you money. Expect each installment to come out on Fridays, unless specified.
THIS WEEK:
The Departed (2006)
- Alternative To -
- Alternative To -
Black Mass (2015)
There are a lot of variables at play when trying to think of a good alternative to Johnny Depp's latest movie. For starters, I could go the easy route and pick one of his old gangster movies, such as the overlooked Public Enemies. Or, I could look at director Scott Cooper's pretty good Crazy Heart. However, I felt that it was only right to go with a film that shares a lot in common with Black Mass. While it may not be immediately clear to audiences, The Departed was a film that was inspired by the work of Whitey Bulger, who is Depp's main character. While not directly playing him, I have felt a certain competition between the two largely because I think that Jack Nicholson is one of the greatest living actors, and The Departed may be among his last truly great roles before his current dry spell.
The Departed is a film with an odd reputation. Many consider it to be subpar Martin Scorsese (which is still B+ material) and that he won Best Picture more as a career cumulative than for the actual quality. Here's the thing: The Departed is a VERY good movie, even if it isn't Raging Bull or Goodfellas great. I contest that while he deserved the award for a handful of films, he at least received it for a really good movie. However, the one odd crime is that Jack Nicholson didn't receive a nomination at all. Playing Frank Costello (the film's Bulger), he brings that reliable charisma to the role and makes us fear him while also laughing at his sinister jokes.
From the looks of trailers, Depp's Bulger is a little less funny. He doesn't go out of his way to make you laugh or feel comfortable. Yes, he has the sinister edge, but he is mostly about business and shooting people. It could be a great performance that rewards him nicely, even if the consensus has been that the film isn't the greatest. What we do know is that he has it in him for the role, but will he deliver? Even if Nicholson can be considered (falsely) one note for playing comical villains, there's more to Costello than a wise-cracking charm and a penchant for violence. He has depth and serves as a bizarre force until the final moments.
The Departed is a film with an odd reputation. Many consider it to be subpar Martin Scorsese (which is still B+ material) and that he won Best Picture more as a career cumulative than for the actual quality. Here's the thing: The Departed is a VERY good movie, even if it isn't Raging Bull or Goodfellas great. I contest that while he deserved the award for a handful of films, he at least received it for a really good movie. However, the one odd crime is that Jack Nicholson didn't receive a nomination at all. Playing Frank Costello (the film's Bulger), he brings that reliable charisma to the role and makes us fear him while also laughing at his sinister jokes.
From the looks of trailers, Depp's Bulger is a little less funny. He doesn't go out of his way to make you laugh or feel comfortable. Yes, he has the sinister edge, but he is mostly about business and shooting people. It could be a great performance that rewards him nicely, even if the consensus has been that the film isn't the greatest. What we do know is that he has it in him for the role, but will he deliver? Even if Nicholson can be considered (falsely) one note for playing comical villains, there's more to Costello than a wise-cracking charm and a penchant for violence. He has depth and serves as a bizarre force until the final moments.
Maybe it helps that Scorsese made a more fictionalized version of Bulger for his film. It meant that he could do more sinister stuff. It also helps that it is one of the more complicated cat and mouse games in 00's film history. Everything is hard to keep track of, so you take Scorsese's director for granted and let the events play out. There's shock as new reveals happen. Even if this isn't the director's best work, it definitely accumulates everything that made him enjoyable. However, the most criminal thing is that this remains his only collaboration with Nicholson. Speaking as he delivers yet another great performance, it is sad to see that he hasn't brought more to his work since.
So, the whole point of this recommendation is to basically look at a different take on Whitey Bulger. I know that it is likely that they won't be very similar. After all, Depp and Nicholson are rarely tonally similar. In fact, there seems to be more reverence in Black Mass, even if it is just as much a cat and mouse game. Will it be as good? Who knows. All I can say is that it will be hard to watch the film without thinking that Jack Nicholson may have done it better, even if you didn't realize it. So, while it will be a comeback of sorts for him, Depp still has to keep his own in playing a character played by a great. Can he handle it? Wait and see.
So, the whole point of this recommendation is to basically look at a different take on Whitey Bulger. I know that it is likely that they won't be very similar. After all, Depp and Nicholson are rarely tonally similar. In fact, there seems to be more reverence in Black Mass, even if it is just as much a cat and mouse game. Will it be as good? Who knows. All I can say is that it will be hard to watch the film without thinking that Jack Nicholson may have done it better, even if you didn't realize it. So, while it will be a comeback of sorts for him, Depp still has to keep his own in playing a character played by a great. Can he handle it? Wait and see.
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