[img_assist|fid=2072|thumb=1|alt=A Mark Wahlberg]

Hey!  We finally made it to see Martin Scorsese's latest testosterone-/violence-fest The Departed and, man, was it worth the wait.  It was hands down my favorite movie this year, despite the fact that I "watched" many scenes with hands over my eyes. (I really don't need to see how realistic the special effects team can make a gunshot wound look...) Violence aside, as soon as the credits rolled, I wanted to watch it again.  All day today I could not get the dialog (nor the Boston accents) out of my head.  As soon as I am done posting this, I'm going to try and Google the screenplay and read it.

I admit, I am a sucker for an ensemble cast, and The Departed's stellar cast does not disappoint. I was never much of a Leonardo di Caprio fan until I saw his multi-dimensional portrayal of Howard Hughes in Scorsese's last film, The Aviator. That performance changed everything for me and now I have tremendous respect for his acting ability.  He does the "tortured loner" thing so well and his performance as Billy Castigan carries the movie.

And speaking of things actors do well, Matt Damon is great at playing "the Cocky Dude (that has no business being so cocky)," Alec Baldwin is fantastic at playing "The Prick (that has every reason to be prick)," and no one does evil-crazy like Jack Nicholson. All of these qualities were required of these actors in this movie and they did not disappoint.

The story line of "rats" in an organized crime crew (led by Nicholson) and "moles" in the special law enforcement team investigating the gangsters is riveting. Nobody knows who to trust, but as Nicholson's character Frank Costello asks, "Cops or criminals...when you are facing a loaded gun what's a difference?"

You expect the acting to be good in a Scorsese movie and everyone is up to snuff, but for me, the breakout performance was by Mark Wahlberg as Dignam. His first moments on screen are so scrappy, snappy, punky, and direct you wish you had TiVo so you could rewind the film and listen to him say his lines again. As one of people in charge of the deep cover investigation he is appropriately cocky, pointed, and protective. Bullshit does not fly with Dignam. Every moment Wahlberg is on screen is a treat and you find yourself anxiously awaiting whatever he will say next. The scenes between Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin are funny...witty... perfection. And, even though he is absent for much of the last third of the movie, you anxiously await his return. (And, trust me, it's worth the wait.)

Go see the The Departed while it's still in theaters.  See for the intelligent dialog, fascinating storyline, and brilliant acting. It'll almost make you forget all the gratuitous violence.

The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese. Rated R.

Contributing Editor Stefania Pomponi Butler blogs CityMama and Family Food and is a Founding Editor of Kimchi Mamas.