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 | Mole | Criminal

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:

Although Sgt. Dignam's first name is never mentioned in the film, William Monahan has stated that Dignam's full name is Sean Dignam.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Costello finishes beating Costigan's broken hand on the pool table, he tosses some money down and begins to walk away. As he is walking away, Costigan is seen in the background slipping down from the edge of the table to sit on the floor and nurse his hand. When the camera angle shifts, however, Costigan is still leaning on the side of the table and slides down to the floor a second time.

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:

Tweedlee Dee

Superb acting on top of brilliant storytelling

Now I know that 'The Departed' is based off of the Hong Kong movie 'WuJianDao', but Scorsese really grabs hold of a great story and brings it to the American Screen. My father grew up in Boston and when we walked out of the theater he couldn't stop talking about how authentic the environment and attitude was. Then there's the acting in which the lead actors (Nicholson, DiCaprio, Damon) not only give stunningly entertaining performances, but you become engulfed in each one's perspective and dilemmas. The smaller roles that of (Baldwin, Walberg, Sheen) are supporting roles that remind me of Jesus Quintana from 'The Big Lebowski', by this I mean that their screen time is limited but they make lasting impressions that you cherish each and every scene they are in, Alec Baldwin especially. The story itself starts off with the basic intro of the players and the setting, but you'll find yourself slowing following each and every plot twist and rooting back and forth for the good guys and for the bad guys. If you're a Scorsese fan, which I am, I think you will appreciate this film. You can clearly see the Scorsese touch ranging from the cinematography and of course the music, it's great to hear "Gimme Shelter" again, but "Comfortably Numb" played in so well. It's another gangster flick from Scorsese, yet this one stands alone because feels so fresh and most would agree Scorsese does gangster films the best; so why not let him. Oscar worthy, the acting I certainly hope; this is DiCaprio's best role since 'The Aviator' which was his best role since 'Gangs of New York', am I seeing a pattern here. But my lasting impression wasn't concerned with the politics of the golden statue; my lasting impression was that I had sat through 2 and half hours of brilliant and especially entertaining storytelling. Thank you Mr. Scorsese.