The Departed (2006)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers (WGA):

William Monahan (screenplay)
Siu Fai Mak (2002 screenplay Mou gaan dou) ...

Release Date:

6 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | 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:

Corrupt Cop | Fly | Sex Scene | Cop Against Cop | Criminal Gang

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 47 wins & 50 nominations

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Billy Costigan
Matt Damon	...	Colin
Jack Nicholson	...	Costello
Mark Wahlberg	...	Dignam
Martin Sheen	...	Queenan
Ray Winstone	...	Mr. French
Vera Farmiga	...	Madolyn
Anthony Anderson	...	Brown
Alec Baldwin	...	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

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

When Queenan and Dignam are interviewing Costigan, Costigan says "Families are always rising and falling in America." Queenan wants to know who said that, and it turns out to be Hawthorne. Dignam quips, "What's the matter smart ass, don't know any fuckin’ Shakespeare?" Later, as Queenan hands the clipboard to Sullivan, it is Queenan who quotes Shakespeare with "the readiness is all," from Hamlet's "Fall of a sparrow speech," Act V, scene ii.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: As Queenan leaves the South Station T stop to walk to the South Boston warehouse where he is to meet Costigan, he is walking north away from South Station. However, South Boston can be seen behind South Station, and is in the completely opposite direction.

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 Going My Way (1944)

Soundtrack:

Baby Blue

Whatever I say does not do this film justice

The Departed

The screenplay: Top Notch

The performances: all-star cast delivering all-star performances

The music: perfect

The Directing: Martin Scorsese at his finest and that is saying something.

Once again Scorsese delivers a film that meets or exceeds the expectations of its audience in nearly every way. There are moments of incredible tension, violence, and drama, moments where characters reveal their vulnerabilities and weakness. Comedic moments and moments of sadness and through it all a multi layered and brilliant story is told by an American film maker who once again proves Harvey Keitel correct when he said, "Maybe he (Scorsese) got what he deserves--exclusion from the mediocre."

This film is Scorsese's finest work since Raging Bull, but it is not simply about Martin Scorsese or the amazing screen play by William Monahan, it is more than an amazing score, and great cinematography. While many of the accolades for this film belong to those behind the scenes people who envisioned and directed this film. One would be remiss to not point out the great performances of an all-star cast, many of whom deliver the finest performances of long and storied careers. Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon deliver incredible performances.

However the performance that stood out for me was Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg's Sgt. Dignam stole every scene he was in, and he shared screen time with each of the afore mentioned actors. He gets to deliver some of the best lines, and with every scene he leaves the audience wanting more, and anticipating his next scene.

Since The Academy has had its collective heads stuck … for so long, mentioning a Scorsese picture and Oscar in the same sentence seems to be a waste of time. That being said I can not say if he will finally win the Oscar that he has deserved for so long, as his major competition (Flags of our Fathers) has yet to be released, I will say that I expect to see Wahlberg nominated for best supporting, and Leo and Damon will be pitted against one another once more, this time for best actor, Monahan will be nominated for writing, and of course Scorsese will be nominated for director. Also, it goes without saying a best picture nomination will be in order for The Departed.

That was the long version; the short version is if you like a movie with incredible performances, direction, music and visuals. If you like a layered story that is not formulaic, in short if you appreciate film making and story telling at its finest then see this film. Even with the glowing reviews of myself and others, and the high expectations they will undoubtedly bring I assure you that you will not be disappointed.