10. The Departed (2006), remake of Infernal Affairs (2002)

Andrew Lau and Alan Mak made a fleet and compelling film with their Hong Kong crime thriller, meaning it was likely to shine in any comparison to a remake. Unless, of course, that remake is Martin Scorsese’s The Departed, as twisty and frenetic a movie as any the cinematic titan has crafted this century. Both films adhere to roughly the same structure and story, even if they take a few different turns to wind up in the same place. The conceit is pure pulp heaven: Both a crime lord and a police inspector groom a young protégé and send them deep undercover in each others’ organizations. As the undercover cop starts to lose himself in his gang persona, and the gang member rises in the ranks of the police force, they both learn of the other’s existence, and the race is on to take one another out. Even setting aside The Departed’s Best Picture Oscar win, the film boasts a roster of undeniably great talent (Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and a roster of supporting players so deep with talent it outshines Ocean’s Eleven), as well as benefitting from being right in Scorsese’s underworld sweet spot. It’s not his best film, but it’s a damn entertaining one, and manages the unexpected feat of besting the dream duo of Andrew Lau and Tony Leung. Tell me you don’t have a problem with that, right—after all, what are you, one of those fitness freaks? [Alex McCown-Levy]