The Departed Movie Review

The Departed (2006)

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Written by: William Monahan (screenplay), Alan Mak and Felix Chong (2002 screenplay Mou gaan dou)
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin, James Badge Dale
Rated: R
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Plot
An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.

Verdict
This movie is absolutely incredible. The story twists, turns, and surprises with two men undercover on opposite sides of the law. The dialog is great, and that really helps the actors. While the performances are great, DiCaprio gives his best performance in this movie. There's a lot of depth to the characters, more than a few plot points you can read between the lines with, and this movie gets even better when you watch it again. Easily my favorite Scorsese film. It's such a well made movie. Every component comes together, and the movie just has style.
Watch it.

Review
The first time I saw this movie I was enthralled. I've seen this movie more than a few times since then and I like it just as much every time. In 2007 it won Academy Awards for best picture, directing, editing, and adapted screenplay. This is based on Infernal Affairs, a Chinese movie very good in it's own right. The two movies have nearly the same plot. I saw The Departed first, but I think if I had seen Infernal Affairs first I might like that one better. They're both great movies. Scorsese didn't watch Infernal Affairs until after he completed this movie. He didn't initially realize the script was adapted.

Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan.

The two central characters are similar, their paths diverge seemingly by chance. Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is a cop on the fast track. He has connections to crime boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Sullivan is a mole. We know Frank recruited Sullivan as a kid, but we don't see him growing up. We learn that Sullivan is used to the finer things in life. He's lived well working for Frank. This script is really good. There's no exposition about Colin, but we see him bemoaning a French restaurant that didn't have duck à l'orange, the stereo in his apartment is a high end McIntosh, and he lives in a condo overlooking the Massachusetts State House. Sullivan has big dreams, and he's a bit of whiner used to getting his way. I appreciate these are all things we can read between the lines. The script trusts the audience to pick up on these traits.

Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan.

Billy Costigan is an undercover cop, going back to his Southie roots to infiltrate Frank's gang. He's a try hard with a criminal family. The job eats at him. He's popping pills and living in near squalor. The one thing that keeps him alive is that when he's around mass murderers, his "hand is steady." You can't help but like Billy. Likewise you can't help but dislike Sullivan.

This has such a sharp script. The dialog is rich, the characters are developed, and this story completely pulls you in. The editing does a great job of comparing Sullivan and Costigan in the beginning. Weaving together their paths that will soon intertwine. The material helps the actors, giving them something to work from, and they all do a great job. DiCaprio is amazing from his first scene. You can read how he feels in the room with Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) and Queenan (Martin Sheen). I'd argue this is DiCaprio's best performance, period.

Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg play Ellerby and Digman.

Wahlberg has a great turn, but that's because nearly every single one of his lines is quotable. He's hard edged, but he's a character that is the hero of his own story. That's the difference between a well or poorly done side character. I could say the same about Frank, Ellerby, and nearly all of the side characters. The writing in this movie is stunning. While this movie takes the story from Infernal Affairs, you have to give the dialog credit.

Madolyn (Vera Farmiga) never feels right. I think the reason is that she's just outclassed acting wise. Her expressions seems so blank when acting opposite DiCaprio. The character's role in the script is important. Billy pursues her as a means of human connection. Colin pursues her as a trophy, something nice to put on his shelf like his McIntosh stereo.

Jack Nicholson plays Frank Costello.

Watching this a second time you see a lot of little connections and foreshadowing that seem irrelevent the first time through. The whole movie is slick. It moves at a quick pace, but not so fast that we don't know what's happening or that character development is neglected. Sullian and Costigan are on the razor's edge, a moment away from being caught. The cops and the criminals realize there is a mole in both of their organizations. The entire movie is a trap closing in on these two guys. The question becomes who will get caught first.

The conclusion to the movie is one surprise after another, and it's masterfully done from the reveal to the pacing.

The lingering question is which side is Dignam on. From the first time I saw this, I thought it was clear he's on a revenge mission for Queenan. It's clear Dignam suspects Sullivan from the beginning. Sullivan having Queenan tailed only solidified Dignam's suspicions. Dignam knew what happened and realized there was only one path to justice. Sullivan was the last one standing, but you know there is no way his explanation for what happened at the abandoned building would track forensically.
Madolyn becomes pregnant and tells Sullivan it's his. Could it be Billy's kid? It's clear Sullivan can't always perform. I also have to wonder how Madolyn didn't think something was up with Sullivan's expensive apartment and McIntosh sound system. That's not typical of a cop's salary.  I love the final scene, with Sullivan acting cocky, telling Costigan how the plan won't work. Billy doesn't even care at this point. He just wants justice, or an end. As the elevator descends Colin realizes he can't win and starts crying.  At the ground floor, what a surprise. It's one of those moments where I wish I could delete this movie from my brain and watch it fresh. There were two rats. James Badge Dale's character has a moment early on when Sullivan states there's a rat in the unit and he quickly looks at Sullivan.  I was on the cusp of thinking Billy might make it, then boom.