Nicholson verges on self-parody and Leo just keeps getting better in "The Departed"

Martin Scorcese’s latest feature “The Departed” stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg – an A-list dream cast if there ever was one. With all that fire-power the plot really has to be a thing of wonder. Sadly, it doesn’t quite get there. Although “The Departed” isn’t all it could be, there are some great performances. DiCaprio continues to prove himself worthy of the attention he receives and his work with Scorcese in “The Aviator” and again here, have been his best to date. Nicholson, on the other hand, is precariously balanced on the edge of Al Pacino-ville. His Irish mob-boss is one quirky click away from the courtside Jack we imagine at a Lakers game. It seems at times that Jack is reprising his role in “Anger Management” only this time he’s lethal. “The Departed” is good work from an extraordinary captain and cast.  What it is not, is the best anything since “Goodfellas.” It may not be a masterpiece, but its clearly better than most other directors’ best work.