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‘The @#*! Departed’
Submitted by Jorge Sosa on February 20, 2007 - 1:46pm.
My blog entry today is inspired by a conversation I just had with someone here at the Leader office. This person found their enjoyment of “The Departed” ruined because of all the foul language.
For the record, the movie uses the F-word or one of its derivatives 237 times. The C-word is said 22 times. This sounds pretty vulgar, and it is. However, director Martin Scorsese did not top his 1995 film, “Casino,” which uses the F-word 422 times, or an average of 2.4 times per minute.
By the way, I didn’t sit and count the bad words myself. Thankfully, somebody at www.imdb.com did my dirty work.
(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)
If I were in the mood to watch a movie that involved the irish mafia, I would sure hope that they wouldn't say things like "gosh golly, I hope you don't shoot me." The story is based on a real life criminal, and while unfortunate, that language is often used in the organized crime world. If shows like "Friends," "ER," and "Everybody Loves Raymond" had that type of talk it would be horrible to watch, but you expect it in a movie like "The Departed."
While it may make more sense to remove the foul language to expose your show to more viewers, those who are interested in it would probably not go see it because it wasn't real enough. I personally enjoy HBO's "The Sopranos," but not when it is on the A&E channel.
On the flip side, Fox has done a great job with the show "24." They have proven that you can make a fantastic and suspensful show without the hardcore curse or the sex.
I like your comment about not going to see those types of movies because they offend you. That is your choice and you are doing the right thing by not supporting something that while legal, offends you. You are making your stand by not spending your money rather than asking for a ban. Good to hear that come from someone. I am surprised that many residents of this town aren't lobbying for a ban of movies that have smoking IN them. Pretty soon, just looking at secondhand smoke will cause cancer in the minds of some "experts."
John,
Thanks for your input. In all honesty, I am suprised that the language used is important to someone to make it more realistic. Please understand that I am not saying that your viewpoint is wrong I am just suprised by it. I guess I could go see a movie without the language and know that they may not talk without cussing in real life but the fact that the language is cleaned up would not detract from my ability to enjoy the movie. I watch CSI: Miami, Law and Order, etc and I know that the language used on those shows (although still to rough for my taste) has been extremely cleaned up from what you would hear in real life. I mean, they actually have bar scenes without cussing and if memory serves from my drinking days, 2 minutes doesn't pass in a crowded bar without the f-word being tossed out. But, I still enjoy the shows.
Again, thanks for your viewpoint.
I totally see your point as well. There is a sitcom on HBO called "Lucky Louie" that may break the record for curse in a 30 minute show. As far as I am concerned, the language cripples the show and I wouldn't watch it with someone else's eyes. Sitcoms just shouldn't be made that way. Maybe I am just too old fashioned. Judging by their plummeting ratings, maybe not.
Much too much
I passed on watching "The Departed" because of the violence and swearing. Martin Scorsese has made a career of directing gritty movies. Violence, sex and swearing seems to come with the territory.
Las Vegas odds have "The Departed" as the favorite to win the Best Movie of the Year Oscar at Sunday night's Academy Awards. The odds also favor Martin Scorsese for Best Director.
The odds also favor Alan Arkin as Best Supporting Actor (What about Eddie Murphy?), Jennifer Hudson as Best Supporting Actress, Helen Mirren for Best Actress and Forest Whitaker as Best Actor.
E! will start covering the 79th Academy Awards red carpet at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25. The ceremony starts at 7 p.m.
(Kay Johnson is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com)
Kay: I hear ya.
Scorsese does have that fixation with the dark side. To his credit, it's not like his movies feature crude language and questionable behavior just to shock people. OK, maybe he does like to shock people, but usually his movies have good stories at their core.
Some of his movies, like "The Aviator" and "Kundun," work just fine, without anybody dropping the F-bomb or getting their head kicked in :-)
I can't say the same about Quentin Tarantino. Tarantino seems to have copped the attitude, but not the intelligence of Scorsese's works.
It should be an interesting Oscar night.
(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)
Comment: I have a comment on the
Submitted by just1opinion on February 20, 2007 - 2:45pm.I have a comment on the language used in movies. I persoanlly do not use bad language and can't stand hearing it. I realize it has become a part of society but it's not a part of my life. I will not go see a movie laced with the bad language of explicit sex scenes because it is offensive to me. I know many other people who feel the same way. Now, I've never encountered anyone who would refuse to see a movie becasue it has no sex scenes or bad language.
Wouldn't it make more sense for Hollywood to remove that stuff so everyone can see the movie and therefore raise their bottom line? You can let someone know that sex has occured without showing it or using descriptive words. I have talked for years without cussing and people still understand me. Some people act as if you can't have a 'realistic' movie without the cussing and sex. I for one disagree.