Director: Martin Scorsese
Writer: William Monahan (Screenplay) Alan Mak, Felix Chong (Original Screenplay)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Corrigan, James Badge Dale
Plot: An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Brilliant Crime Thriller
Story: The Departed starts with the tradition introduction of all the characters starting with Frank Costello (Nicholson) who has been running Boston for years, we meet Colin Sullivan (Damon) who Frank has been grooming to become his connection inside the police force as we watch how fast he rises through the ranks. We also meet Billy (DiCaprio) who has come from the rough side of Boston but become one of the best cadets Queenan (Sheen) & Dignam (Wahlberg) have seen, who talk him into going undercover with the Costello.
We follow as Frank Costello and Queenan work with their informants as they each try to keep one step ahead of each other before all of the twists and turns are around every corner.
The Departed will go down as one of the greatest crime thrillers of all time, it is filled with plenty of twists and turns throughout. I am not usually a fan of the gangster genre but this one pulled me in from the start to finish because we never knew what would happen next. This was a remake of the trilogy of Infernal Affairs and I can safely say this squeezes all of the action from the three films into one. Each character is developed to keep on interested in all of them as we learn what the real motives are. I can safely say this deserved the Oscar praise it gained.
Actor Review
Leonardo DiCaprio: Billy is the special police trainee that gets recruited to go undercover in Frank Costello’s gang. He has come from the rough side of Boston but stayed out of trouble which makes him a prime candidate for this role. While undercover he gets pulled to levels he never thought he would have to go to get his mission complete and stay one step ahead of Sullivan who is tracing him. Leonardo is great in this undercover role showing how he needs to play both sides of the law throughout.
Matt Damon: Colin Sullivan is the man who has been working for Costello for nearly his whole life, he is put through the training to become his connection on the inside where he keeps Frank one step ahead of any activity against his men. He also has to track down the men who is undercover in the gang tracking keeping himself away from Billy’s attention. Matt shines in this role of the informant inside the department.
Jack Nicholson: Frank Costello is the gangster the authorities are after he runs Boston and keeps his men on the inside while never trusting too many people on the inside of his gang. Jack is wonderful as this gangster playing the role you expect from him and the freedoms he requires.
Mark Wahlberg: Dignam is one of the officers that is planting his undercover men in a desperate attempt to stop Costello once and for all. He is direct straight to the point but his temper could also be his weakness. Mark is great as the hot head authority character.
Support Cast: The Departed has a huge supporting cast that all give brilliant performance in the plot filled twist filled story.
Director Review: Martin Scorsese – Martin finally won his Oscar for this role and yes it is brilliant as he balances the stories from all three Infernal Affairs stories into one.
Crime: The Departed is a web of conspiracy between the cops and gangsters in the crime world.
Thriller: The Departed keeps us guessing from start to finish through the whole film.
Settings: The Departed uses the Boston setting for the film which shows the gritty side of the story.
Suggestion: The Departed is a film that I feel everyone should have seen at least once. (Must Watch)
Best Part: Story keeping us gripped.
Worst Part: Nothing.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: Won 4 Oscars including Best Picture
Budget: $90 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 31 Minutes
Tagline: Lies. Betrayal. Sacrifice. How far will you take it?
Trivia: The only remake of a foreign film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Overall: Simply brilliant crime thriller that keeps us on edge throughout.
Rating
