The Departed may just go down as the quintessential "Boston movie" right next to Good Will Hunting. The fact that Matt Damon stars in both makes me feel like The Instigators should have been way better. Regardless, The Departed finally earned Scorsese his first and only Oscar, and deservedly so. Even me, being from Boston, wouldn't call it his greatest cinematic achievement, but I do think The Departed is a masterpiece.

What's most impressive about The Departed is its sharp pace and palpable tension. It's a film that certainly has its flaws, including an outdated look at the Bostonian culture, but is right up there with Goodfellas as the greatest mob movie of all time. It's gritty, relentless at times, and sets up an enthralling ride with several great twists. Could Mark Wahlberg have toned down the accent? Yes. Could Nicholson have done more to distance himself from the Whitey Bulger comparisons? Also yes. Take The Departed for what it is - a timeless gangster epic.

The Departed is a fantastic American remake of the Hong Kong action film Infernal Affairs. Damon and DiCaprio go toe to toe in this one, both giving tremendous performances. The films twists and turns so much, I had no idea what was going to happen next. Ending is an all timer.