The Departed: Lots of blood and a kickass soundtrack
The Departed is Martin Scorsese’s visceral new flick: 2 1/2 hours of a tightly intelligent plotline, fascinating character studies, lots of caffeinated jump-cut cinematography, more “f**ck”s than you can shake a stick at, and a greater nunber of brains being blown out at close range than I personally care to see.
I guess I’ll never infiltrate the Boston mob (because all the violence truthfully left me feeling a little nauseated), but the soundtrack left me elated and tapping my foot furiously in my red velvet rocking seat. Here is a sampling of what you’ll hear, woven into the film at exactly the right places. The soundtrack is really superb, just what you’d expect from Scorsese: The Rolling Stones capture that rough & tumble Seventies inner-city swagger, while Van Morrison lends his pipes to a lovely live version of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” during a scene of gnawing loneliness and aching lust. John Lennon’s in there, as are the Isley Brothers, the Beach Boys, Dropkick Murphys, Patsy Cline, and even Nas. It’s a real joy to listen to.
“Gimme Shelter” – Rolling Stones
“Let It Loose” – Rolling Stones
“Well, Well, Well” – John Lennon
“Sail On, Sailor” – The Beach Boys
“Comfortably Numb” – Van Morrison live w/ Roger Waters
(1990, Berlin)
Speaking of soundtracks, keep those fantastic comments coming for that contest I opened up on Friday! I am immensely enjoying all the articulate and passionate rambles about the movie music that you love. I’ve added several films to my Netflix queue that I’d overlooked, and have been re-appreciating the classiness of the Rushmore soundtrack all weekend. Keep it up, and it’s gonna be delightfully hard to nail the winner.
Name: Heather Browne
Thanks for your COMFORTABLY NUMB posting. I agree. It fits in perfectly w/all the other tracks on THE DEPARTED, and it was so great to see Scorsese back to what he does best. Moreover, it’s great to see hom re-claim the throne from such wannabes as Tarantino.
Just a point of clarification, though. I think COMFORTABLY NUMB is from Roger Waters’ all-star live production of THE WALL in Berlin, @ 1990. The double CD features Joni Mitchell, Sinead O’Connor, Cyndi lauper, and many others.
Thanks again. You have a first-rate blog.
Chris Stephens — October 8, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
Why thank you Chris. Noted and changed on the Van Morrison track!
heather — October 8, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
i like what everyone said about their fav soundtracks and agree with most. one that i would like to add (i don’t know if he’s missing because he doesn’t lace rock songs or if nobody has seen/or likes his movies) is spike lee. the crooklyn soundtrack alone introduced a bunch of white, suburban kids to a slice of tasteful black culture instead of resorting to rap & r&b cheapening the film. mo better blues is another great soundtrack (though it’s mostly original material) and so on.
i have to also say that the first song that really moved me in a movie (besides rocky or star wars) was twist n shout in ferris beuller’s day off. who didn’t want to be that kid on the float making a whole city dance to a song that could make everyone want to dance.
tanantino (although there are some haters) not only writes some of the best dialogue for films, he picks music you’d have never thought of and it’s more than perfect. ‘son of a preacher man’ still gets me everytime. every movie he does has songs that people immediately want to go out and own because until that movie- they’ve been missing out. nancy sinatra in kill bill? so good.
i do like cameron’s tiny dancer choice (the scene makes me cry even) but a movie about classic rock- has so many choices, it’s his duty to grab a good one. he’s not the all timer just a guy who knows his classic rock. sophia herself is better than him.
patrick-
Anonymous — October 8, 2006 @ 11:51 pm
Heather,
I like you am not a fan of violence, and there were moments in The Departed where I actually caught myself squirming…But in a society where Jackass 2 gets two thumbs up and Texas Chain Saw Massacre comes in 2nd at the Box Office with 19.2 million the violence in The Departed wasn’t too awful in comparison.
The soundtrack is quite good indeed, making this an all around good film.
Rachel — October 9, 2006 @ 12:38 am
This movie was so good I can’t stop telling people about it. The soundtrack is amazing as well, but did anyone else notice that Scorcese has used Gimme Shelter in like 4 movies now? The “Comfortably Numb” also features Levon Helm, Rick Danko, and Garth Hudson of The Band.
Anonymous — October 9, 2006 @ 8:05 pm
Sail On Sailor; a lost Beach Boys classic. Awesome post.
Bruce — October 10, 2006 @ 8:13 pm
Thanks for that Comfortably Numb track.
It’s a brilliant song that refers specifically to the biggest influence on my work.
Cheers.
Elliot — October 12, 2006 @ 4:23 am
Can anyone tell me the name to the, i guess you would say, irish, scottish rock song in the movie?
Anonymous — October 13, 2006 @ 6:34 am
The song playing over the title sequence is the Dropkick Murphys – I’m Shipping Up to Boston. Enjoy.
Anonymous — October 13, 2006 @ 8:02 am
I was just coming over here to say that – after a little research, yeah, that’s the Dropkick Murphys. Perfect, perfect song for those opening scenes as I am listening to it again now . . .
heather — October 13, 2006 @ 8:07 am
but is it Sweet Dreams by Roy Buchannan that plays during the last bt of credits or The Messiah Will Come Again as imdb claims?
mcbilla — October 14, 2006 @ 10:41 pm
Excellent Blog, Heather and Thanks!
Would you or anyone know the tune that was played during the first half of the closing credits of Departed?…’twas a blues track with first-rate guitar soloing. I hope it’s on the soundtrack CD, but in my experience, the music that catches my ear in movies never makes it onto the CD…especially if I buy it without confirming in advance.
Thanks again and in advance!
Sean
Anonymous — October 19, 2006 @ 10:57 pm
What a cracking film, can’t stop telling people about it either. I’m dying to get hold of the soundtrack too….was awsome.
But does anyone know the name of that 60′s tune that came on the jukebox, when Leonardo was giving that bloke a proper hiding. Can’t get it out of my head!
Anonymous — October 21, 2006 @ 7:31 am
you didn’t enjoy the violence? pussy.
Anonymous — October 22, 2006 @ 8:05 pm
Great Movie.
Great Sountrack.
Great to see so much common interest.
Thanks for the Comfortably Numb track, i was struggling to find it else where.
I will be reviewing my floyd collection, and taking an interest in VanMorrison.
Tex in Oz — October 23, 2006 @ 6:36 am
the song from the closing credits is “whiter shade of pale” by procal herum. You are doing a great job on here, thanks a bunch
Anonymous — November 20, 2006 @ 2:48 pm
thanks a lot! i was looking all over for the name of the song that plays in the opening titles =)
surajsharma — December 21, 2006 @ 7:33 am
As soon as Let It Loose started up, I thought, “Uh, oh. Someone’s gonna get their ass kicked.” Vintage Scorcese.
Dave Lifton — April 3, 2007 @ 10:21 pm
I thought The Departed wasn’t all that good. At least as a movie that meant something.
Sure there’s plenty of clever dialogue and amusing sequences but it all feels like gloss. There isn’t any substance. There were plenty of better films last year, like Children of Men, Pan’s Labryinth, and The Prestige.
Films that were entertaining and meaningful at the same time.
Keinan — April 4, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Children of Men is next on my Netflix queue. Pan’s Labyrinth looks creepy but good, I think I’ll enjoy freaking myself out with it. Of course, the original Labyrinth (a la David Bowie) can’t be beat. Or maybe it’s really really bad. I can’t tell.
heather — April 4, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Amazing Movie I’ve watched 4 times, I’m so glad I found this blog. I was looking for the song “Comfortably Numb” and stumbled across this site. Great Blog, great comments. keep it up!!
Anonymous — April 11, 2007 @ 8:49 am