The Departed (2006)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Screenplay: William Monahan (based on the film ‘Internal Affairs’)
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Music: Howard Shore
Time: 151 minutes
Bottom-line: A good story, some action sequences, along with a star-studded cast make this film a thrill ride.

  Scorsese’s third collaboration with DiCaprio (after Gangs of New York and The Aviator) is one of his best films. Filled with big stars like DiCaprio, Nicholson and Alec Baldwin, The Departed is an action-packed two-and-a-half hour film.

DiCaprio as Costigan

The story takes place in Boston. Jack Nicholson plays an Irish mob boss Frank Costello, who takes an orphan, Colin Sullivan (Damon) under his wing, trains him, and plants him as a mole in the Massachusetts State Police. He is accepted into the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Simultaneously, Captain Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Staff Sergeant Dignam (Wahlberg) ask Billy Costigan Jr. (DiCaprio) to go undercover and become part of Costello’s gang. Both Sullivan and Costigan develop a relationship with psychiatrist Madolyn (Vera Farmiga). Everything goes well for both the ‘rats’, until a sting operation, which Costello escapes. Now, both rats become aware of each other’s presence. The rest of the film is how both Costigan and Sullivan prevent themselves from being caught and keep themselves afloat.

Damon and Nicholson 

All the actors, particularly DiCaprio, have acted in a terrific manner. The first one hour mainly builds up the plot: how Sullivan wins admiration of others in the SIU, and how Costigan becomes part of Costello’s group. After the first hour, the sting operation takes place. That’s when the real story begins. From then on, it is a solid thriller.

Wahlberg (right) and Martin Sheen

Few things in the movie seem unrealistic, like the fact that Costello never suspects Costigan even after the sting operation. Costello, in a dialogue, says that Costigan is the new guy in his group, so he might be the rat, but Costello never does anything to check whether Costigan is the rat. He just believes Costigan when he says that he is not the rat. There are many more loopholes in the film, and in that aspect, the script  could have been greatly improved.

There is some violence in the film, but Scorsese does not just show lots of blood like Tarantino. The film has a fair amount of suspense, especially in the chase through Chinatown, and during the sting operation, though not as much as Hitchcock’s good films. The story is very good.

The main strengths of The Departed are the storyline, twists, dialogues and acting. Nicholson plays a cool fearless villain, who has catchy dialogues, including this one, which in a way, summarizes the plot: “When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?” Wahlberg plays a foul-mouthed sarcastic cop. DiCaprio expresses anger and other emotions well. The scene with Damon on the roof of a building is one of the best scenes of the film, where DiCaprio is blazing with anger, after being betrayed from all sides.

The ending is kind of weird and unorthodox and most definitely unexpected, but it is the most fitting ending in my opinion... perhaps no other ending could have taken its place. The score is decent, but the song ‘I’m shipping up to Boston’ is awesome.

The poster of Internal Affairs;
the film's original Hong Kong version

A famous still from the film: Costigan vs Sullivan

There is a lot of profanity throughout the film. People say that profane language is common in Boston, but still, I feel the language could have a little less vulgar.

So, to conclude, The Departed is a good thriller, filled with lots of action and a fair amount of suspense. If you are a Scorsese or DiCaprio fan, you will definitely like this film. If not, you will, after watching this masterpiece. The Departed did not deserve the Best Picture or Best Director at the Oscars...despite its plus points, the film, as a whole, is not Oscar-worthy.

My Rating: 4/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating: 92%