What sort of content provider for an internet site devoted primarily to movies skips the Oscars to see his daughter’s play? One that should be putting in more of an effort for the tens of dollars he makes each year. Fortunately, people who are more on the ball have posted the winners online. A well directed internet search reveals that Martin Scorsese finally broke his Oscar cherry, winning Best Director and Best Picture for The Departed, the story of a bunch of men and how much they love shooting each other in the head.
After the awards, Scorsese met the media hordes and proceeded to say nothing. Well, nothing of substance about a The Departed sequel or prequel. But you wouldn’t know that if you read stories that said a version of “Scorsese may do sequel with De Niro.” Will Scorsese do a sequel? Maybe. Will De Niro be in it? Maybe. Will Scorsese not do a sequel? Maybe. Will De Niro not be in it? Maybe.
Usually, we don’t want to let tiresome facts get in the way of a good story, but let’s see what Scorsese actually said. When asked if he would do a The Departed sequel, he replied it depends on the script. Yeah, and the cast, and the money, and other projects he might want to do, and probably twenty other things. He’s not dismissing it out of hand, but let’s not start lining up with our Red Sox caps just yet. As far as De Niro’s involvement, Scorsese said “that would be a good idea.” Oh really? A gangster movie with De Niro is a good idea, who would’ve thunk it. Still, that’s a far cry from a sure thing.
So, don’t believe everything you read. At this point, although Mark Wahlberg is like a leaky boat, the big man himself hasn’t agreed to direct a sequel, hasn’t said it will include De Niro, hasn’t said much that’s worth noting. And yet, somehow, I just wrote a brief news item about it. Imagine what will happen if Scorsese actually says something.
