Note: I haven’t seen the original film.

Many years ago, I watched Scorsese’s remake of Cape Fear and hated it. I have no idea if that teenage opinion is valid, but I think the experience scarred me for a long time, and so I avoided this remake. (Also, I didn’t like the previous two films he made.)

But, if Hollywood is going to remake a film, this is probably how to do it. (Though I say this in ignorance.) Scorsese’s rather incredible skill as a director is fully on hand here, as he deftly handles the two competing stars and their plot threads, and a plot that could come off as preposterous or ridiculous. The casting is also stellar: obviously the ensemble is excellent but one of the two young stars successfully plays against type – a risky move for him, but it pays off as it makes the character more sympathetic and gives the movie more depth.

I am writing this two weeks after I watched the film, so it’s not so fresh in my mind. But while watching it, I felt like it was yet another crash course in direction from Scorsese.

9/10

• Directed by Martin Scorsese
• Produced by Brad Pitt, Brad Grey, Graham King
• Screenplay by William Monahan, Based on Infernal Affairs by Alan Mak, Felix Chong
• Starring
  • Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy
  • Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan
  • Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello
  • Mark Wahlberg as Dignam
  • Martin Sheen as Queenan
  • Ray Winstone as Mr. French
  • Vera Farmiga as Madolyn
  • Anthony Anderson as Trooper Brown
  • Alec Baldwin as Ellerby
  • Kevin Corrigan as Cousin Sean
  • James Badge Dale as Trooper Barrigan
  • David O’Hara as Fitzy
  • Mark Rolston as Delahunt
  • Robert Wahlberg as Lazio – FBI
  • Kristen Dalton as Gwen
• Music by Howard Shore
• Cinematography by Michael Ballhaus
• Edited by Thelma Schoonmaker
• Production companies: Warner Bros., Plan B Entertainment, Initial Entertainment Group, Vertigo Entertainment, Media Asia Films
• Distributed by Warner Bros.
• Release date: September 26, 2006
• Running time: 151 minutes
• Country: United States
• Language: English
• Budget: $90 million
  Box office: $291.5 million