The Departed

The Departed (2006)

To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise in director Martin Scorsese's crime thriller. While undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) curries favor with mob kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), career criminal Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.

My Two Cents: Things that lived up to the hype: Bush and Gore on Election Night 2000; Vince Young and Matt Leinart in the 2006 Rose Bowl; and Damon, DiCaprio, and everyone else in The Departed. Bravo!

NetFlix Rank: Loved It
IMDB Rank: 10/10

Alternate Dave Chappelle-as-Rick James Two Cents: I wish I had two more arms, so I could give The Departed four thumbs up!

Lucky Number Slevin

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick's apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he's forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.

My Two Cents: Has a definite Elmore Leonard feel to it, but darker. A lot darker.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10