The Departed (2006)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers (WGA):

William Monahan (screenplay)
Alan Mak (2002 screenplay Mou gaan dou) ...

Release Date:

6 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Lies. Betrayal. Sacrifice. How far will you take it?

Plot:

Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mafia, but violence and bloodshed boil when discoveries are made, and the moles are dispatched to find out their enemy's identities.

Plot Keywords:

Police | State Police | Undercover | Criminal | Mole

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 49 wins & 53 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 18	6:30 PM	FX
Thur. Nov. 19	2:00 PM	FX

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Billy Costigan
Matt Damon	...	Colin Sullivan
Jack Nicholson	...	Frank Costello
Mark Wahlberg	...	Staff Sgt. Dignam
Martin Sheen	...	Cpt. Queenan
Ray Winstone	...	Mr. French
Vera Farmiga	...	Madolyn
Anthony Anderson	...	Brown
Alec Baldwin	...	Cpt. Ellerby
Kevin Corrigan	...	Cousin Sean
James Badge Dale	...	Barrigan
David O'Hara	...	Fitzy (as David Patrick O'Hara)
Mark Rolston	...	Delahunt
Robert Wahlberg	...	Lazio - FBI
Kristen Dalton	...	Gwen

Also Known As:

Infernal Affairs (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material.

Runtime:

151 min

Country:

USA | Hong Kong

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Australia:MA | USA:R (certificate #42877) | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Israel:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:16 | Brazil:18 | Malaysia:18SG | Iran:18+ | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | Greece:K-13 | Ireland:18 (video rating) | Sweden:15 | South Korea:15 | Denmark:15 | Ireland:16 (original rating) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U (with warning) | Japan:R-15 | India:A | Italy:T | Singapore:R21 | China:(Banned) | Italy:VM14 (original rating) | Austria:16 | Romania:I.C.-14 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

12 Farnsworth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Originally, Jack Nicholson turned down his role in the movie, but after a meeting with Martin Scorsese, William Monahan and Leonardo DiCaprio, he was finally convinced to play the role of Frank Costello. The main reason he joined the production was because he had previously done a few comedies, and wanted to play a villain again, and he considered the character of Costello to be the ultimate incarnation of evil.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Frank is in the diner in the beginning with young Colin, the package of lighters, the gum, the Halls candies, and the mints are rearranged each time the shot changes.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Frank Costello: I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me. Years ago we had the church. That was only a way of saying - we had each other. The Knights of Columbus were real head-breakers; true guineas. They took over their piece of the city. Twenty years after an Irishman couldn't get a fucking job, we had the presidency. May he rest in peace. That's what the niggers don't realize. If I got one thing against the black chappies, it's this - no one gives it to you. You have to take it.

Movie Connections:

References "The A-Team" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Well Well Well

Lies, Betrayal, Sacrifice. What will you believe?

First off, this is an American stylized remake of the Hong Kong hit, Infernal Affairs. I have to give credit to that, a good film. I have seen both Infernal Affairs and The Departed. I personally prefer The Departed, and I think because of one thing: Martin Scorsese. This is the master behind such greats as Taxi Diver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and he's at it again. The film has an all star cast with Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Alec Baldwin.

The Direction was amazing. (maybe one of the reasons why he won the Oscar for it) I loved how some of the scenes were shot and set up. Especially regarding the Chinatown, and police interrogation scenes, among many others. The film is perfectly set up with intense, suspense scenes while adding in amounts humor at times. It works really well. The script is top notch. (Also Oscar winning) Realistic strong dialogue from scene to scene.

Another thing I liked more in The Departed, as opposed to Infernal Affairs, was the acting. DiCaprio really seemed to earn a lot of respect from this role. Here, he takes on the tough guy persona so well. Sure it was known he was a good actor from his Oscar nominated performances in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Aviator, but he really takes it to another level here. I can't see anyone else as the character, he fits so perfectly with it. Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg, being Massachusetts natives, also give solid performances, with their natural accents. Nicholson works well in his role, as well. Everyone was extremely solid and everything seemed so real.

Set in Boston, The Departed takes in all the Boston like atmosphere. Beautifully shot scenes of the Massachusetts Golden Dome State Capital building is just one part of the landscape. The Dropkick Murphys song "I'm Shipping up to Boston" really fits, great use of songs. Scorsese usually works music into his films really well.

"Cops or Criminals. When you're facing a loaded gun what's the difference?" This quote really represents the film." Matt Damon plays a state officer in the Police, working for the crime boss of the area, Frank Costello (Nicholson). While Damon's character can be described as a "bad guy," he is really misunderstood. As a kid, he is sort of mentored into crime business by Costello while Costello becomes the father figure Damon's character never had. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a young guy, coming from a bad, crime ridden family. He's decides to become a police officer to get away from the crime life he's been surrounded by. Taking all this into account, Captain Queenen (Sheen) and Seargent Dignam (Wahlberg) decide to send DiCaprio's character undercover to find out more about the criminal underworld and Costello. With his family's crime record, he fit's perfectly into the situation. Now you have a highly ranked officer working for bad guy, and an undercover cop in the criminal underworld working for the State Police. From here it's an all out suspenseful thrill ride. Who's who? Who's working for who? Who can you trust? Paranoia threatens everyone. Lies. Betrayal. Sacrifice. How far will you take it?

At the heart of this film is character development. We really feel for the characters. We feel like we know them. It's really amazing part of this story and film. Tremendous story telling here.

This is one of the most entertaining and suspenseful crime/drama's I have seen in a while. While Infernal Affairs, came first, I think The Departed expands on it in so many ways. Really solid crime/drama. Check both out when you get a chance. It's really worth it. 9/10