Al Pacino isn’t the only person to finally nab an Oscar thanks to a Hollywood remake: Martin Scorsese managed it too. His retelling of the Hong Kong cult favorite Infernal Affairs (2002) finally earned him that Best Director statue. He moved the action to Boston — and the sound track to the Rolling Stones — as we find a cop played by Leonardo DiCaprio pretending to be a bad guy in Frank Costello’s (Jack Nicholson) gang while Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) acts as Leo’s mirror image in the police. For those keeping score, Damon edges DiCaprio in the acting stakes, but they’re both overshadowed by Nicholson’s manic Costello (“Hey — heavy lies the crown!”) It’s as if the veteran knew he was unlikely to get a part of this stature again — and you can read as much into that title of The Departed as you please. When told that an elderly lady is “on the way out,” Nicholson seems to perk up. “We all are!” he booms. “Act accordingly!”
Top 10 Hollywood Remakes
Many Americans can't be bothered to watch foreign films. The subtitles, you know. Luckily, Hollywood is always ready to jump in with an unnecessary remake. TIME picks the best of the bunch.
The Departed (2006) / Infernal Affairs (2002)
Full List
Top 10 Hollywood Remakes
- Let Me In (2010) / Let The Right One In (2008)
- Some Like It Hot (1959) / Fanfaren der Liebe (1952)
- 12 Monkeys (1996) / La Jetée (1962)
- The Magnificent Seven (1960) / The Seven Samurai (1954)
- Scent of a Woman (1992) / Profumo di Donna (1974)
- Solaris (2002) / Solyaris (1972)
- The Departed (2006) / Infernal Affairs (2002)
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964) / Yojimbo (1961)
- The Birdcage (1996) / La Cage aux Folles (1978)
- Funny Games (2007) / Funny Games (1997)