Trilogy Week #12 - In Too Deep

This is a tricky one to not give away for the minority that hasn't seen these awesome movies. This genre of films is one of my favorites. For how similar the subject matter is, these films are all very original and very exciting. Enter the violent world of three different mob families. Russian, Irish, and Italian. Each equally as deadly as the next. 

Title: Eastern Promises

Year: 2007

Director: David Cronenberg

Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Rated: R

My Review: This is Viggo Mortensen's best roll ever! You fully believe that he is this character. His character is so chilling and cool. He has the potential to do anything. And when he points his fingers to his throat, you feel it, and your heart skips a beat. He so convincing in this roll that after everyday Viggo had to go the makeup trailer to get his tattoos removed from his body. But one day he was really tired and skipped the trailer, and went to a close by pub. While he was drinking his beer, he over heard two men speaking Russian. Since a lot of his lines were in Russian, he recognized some of the words, so he turned to look and see who was speaking, and noticed that the two men were looking at the tattoos on his hands. When they saw Viggo staring at them, they immediately got up and left in fear. Now that is hardcore. This movie is fascinating from beginning to end. Even though this movie isn't an action movie, it has it's very brutal moments. This movie sucks you in, as Naomi Watts enters this world of the Russian mob. One of Cronenberg's best. 10 out of 10

Title: The Departed

Year: 2006

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson

Rated: R

My Review: All star cast. This movie keeps a lump in your throat with anticipation as these two worlds collide with Matt Damon working for the Irish mob under-covering the FBI, and Leonardo DiCaprio as an FBI agent under-covering the Irish mob. You know someone is going to get made, and the film keeps you white knuckled until it happens. Scorsese is a genius at pulling the rubber band tighter, and tighter. Then makes you jump when everything snaps at the end. Tragiclly this is the only film that Martin Scorsese won best director. He was nominated for five films before he won for The Departed. As a joke he asked that they double check the name, as if they had made a mistake. The award was presented to him by Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Lucas.  Ironically Scorsese said to the Directors Guild of America, that "this is the first movie I've ever done with a plot." If you like this movie I highly recommend Scorsese other works,  8 out of 10  

Title: Donnie Brasco

Year: 1997

Director: Mike Newell

Cast: Al Pacino, Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen, Anne Heche, Bruno Kirby, James Russo

Rated: R

My Review: Based on a true story of Joe Pistone. You truly get to see how a man disguises himself into another identity, then slowly starts becoming that other identity. This movie isn't as intense as The Departed, or Eastern Promises, but it's still very entertaining, as you learn through Johnny Depp, the in's and out's of the Italian Mob. Johnny Depp's character Donnie Brasco gets in so deep into this world that he doesn't want to get out. Great underrated movie. 8 out of 10. Fuggedaboutit!