But see, that's the plot again. Dwell too much on its implausibilities and you'll miss scenes like a pivotal car chase, which is staged during a downpour. The entire sequence, directed superbly by Gray, isn't set to any music, instead relying to harrowing effect on the persistent, unforgiving sound of windshield wipers. Another scene, in which Bobby first attempts to work undercover, builds the tension slowly and steadily, and progresses in a way that seemed particularly realistic. (It also features one of the best jumps out of a window I've ever seen, which might sound odd, but you'll know what I mean immediately.)

The characters also feel real; no, I didn't fully buy Bobby's character arc, but we're given ample time to flesh out the characters instead of just being shepherded into the next action sequence. Faring best from the added attention is Mendes's Amada; it's a traditional girlfriend role in that it doesn't affect the main plot that much, but there's real feeling there, too; Amada and Bobby really love each other, and we care about whether or not their relationship survives. (And again, a thoughtful use of sound: a haunting melody underscores much of their scenes together that feels like it emerged directly from Bobby's state of mind.)

Wahlberg plays his role quiet and straight, the right choice, and a mature one, given the Oscar-nominated success of his scene-stealing loudmouth in The Departed. Duvall plays his cop with the added weight of being a widower who feels like he couldn't raise his kids right. And there are some throwaway details tossed in -- like when it's mentioned that Wahlberg overcame dyslexia as a kid, or what Duvall immediately says when he sees two policemen approach him -- that could be case studies on how to economically give each character dimension.

Overall it's an above-average venture that wants to be a little bit more epic than it really is; it doesn't achieve the entertainment value nor the (occasional) profundity of The Departed, but after all, few movies do. As it is, it's a solid drama that might make a good rental in a few months.

Movie Grade: B+