the departed Photo

Departed

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

RS: 4of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3.5of 4 Stars

2006 Warner Bros. Pictures Action

Maybe you've heard the Internet buzz about The Departed being an old-school cop flick, unburdened by profundity. Maybe you'll think so too if you don't pay a lick of attention to what's onscreen. Or maybe you'll recognize The Departed for what it is: a new American crime classic from the legendary Martin Scorsese, whose talent shines here on its highest beams.

A title card sets the scene: boston. some years ago. And we're off, watching Leonardo DiCaprio as a cop pretending to be a hood and Matt Damon as his opposite. Both are trapped in circumstances where you can't tell the good from the bad.

All the actors bring their A games to this triumphant bruiser of a film, its darkly wanton wit the only defense against complete chaos. DiCaprio and Damon give explosive, emotionally complex performances, but it must be said that Jack Nicholson reaches undreamed-of heights of decadent devilment as Irish mob kingpin Frank Costello. Whether he's wielding a gun or a dildo, buying off cops, dissing Catholic priests as pederasts, seducing children into a life of crime, letting it snow cocaine on favored hookers or chatting while elbow-deep in blood, Nicholson is electrifying. Dispassionately executing a woman on a beach, Costello notes to his henchman Mr. French (a terrific Ray Winstone), "She fell funny." But Costello is no campy Joker. Channeling James Cagney in White Heat and Paul Muni in Scarface, Nicholson leeches out the glamour to create a landmark portrait of evil.

William Monahan's stinging script, a revelation after his murky meandering in last year's Kingdom of Heaven, transfers the plot of the terrific 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs to his native Boston so he can drill down to its depraved core. Those familiar with the gangs of Beantown will see Whitey Bulger -- the Irish thug still being pursued by the FBI -- in Nicholson's sick twist of a character. This is vital, visceral filmmaking, indebted to Michael Ballhaus' vibrant cinematography and Howard Shore's evocative score, boosted by Scorsese's typically astute soundtrack choices -- a unique uniting of the Stones, John Lennon, Nas, Van Morrison, the Beach Boys and Patsy Cline. And once again, Thelma Schoonmaker turns editing into an art form. She's the wizard at Scorsese's side, getting the action to jump off the screen while setting up psychological provocations that reverb hellishly in your head.

Ignore the irrelevant fan-boy questions: Will Scorsese finally win his Oscar? Is The Departed as brilliant as GoodFellas? Is it too gory to be a blockbuster? The Departed, flawed by a few underwritten characters and some overwrought imagery (the symbolic rat), pins you to your seat.

Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Damon), unknown to each other, are both trainees at the Massachusetts State Police Academy. For Billy, it's a goodbye to the Southies, the South Boston criminal element that formed him. For Colin, it's a chance to play mole for Costello, who trained him since boyhood. The drama intensifies when Billy is told that he will never wear the Statie uniform. His father figure, Capt. Queenan (Martin Sheen), wants Billy to go undercover and infiltrate Costello's crew. Billy's identity will be known only by Queenan and his flinty enforcer, Sgt. Dignam (a locked-and-loaded Mark Wahlberg gives a supporting role major dimensions). Colin, who thinks the Statie uniform makes you look "dressed to invade Poland," joins the suits led by Capt. Ellerby (the reliably superb Alec Baldwin) in the Special Investigations Unit. And so two rookies, assigned to rat out the people they work with, begin to unravel from the strain of maintaining identities antithetical to their true natures.

As in Infernal Affairs, there's a heap of coincidence. You might want to revoke the film's dramatic license when Billy and Colin both fall for Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), the shrink who treats Billy and moves in with Colin. Luckily, Farmiga (Down to the Bone) is a glorious actress, a combustible mix of smarts and sex appeal, who reveals that Madolyn is as lost and off-the-rails as the two men.

The violence? Most of it is saved for the film's final act, where it's enough to give you whiplash. Scorsese correctly refuses to go wussy on the corruption that extends from Costello's nest of vipers to the State House, whose gold dome Colin sees from the window of his chic apartment on Beacon Hill. Damon, building on his no-bull turns in Syriana and the two Bourne films, brings a coiled-spring intensity to Colin, whose double life is taking its toll (for one thing, he's often impotent). Scorsese allows telling glimpses of the child in these men. Colin dreads betrayal by Costello, the thug who filled his scrawny twelve-year-old arms with groceries and made him his slave. Billy uses drugs to numb his fear but can't find anything -- family, friend, lover, church, government -- to trust. DiCaprio does himself proud in a risky role that stabs at the heart as Billy's bravado loses the battle to his jangling nerves. Though DiCaprio and Damon share only one big scene, their climactic rooftop face-off reflects the film's bleak view of a world where nothing is held sacred.

Scorsese doesn't need gore to make his points. A scene with Billy and a vibrating cell phone matches Hitchcock for suspense. Another, deftly borrowed from The Third Man, simply involves Madolyn walking past Colin at a funeral, her impassive gaze deadlier than a speeding bullet. Issues of sin, redemption, identity and loyalty resonate in Scorsese's films, including the atypical Kundun, Age of Innocence and The Aviator. Each new film absorbs the others, creating a body of work that can stand with the greatest. Scorsese tops the list of American directors because, even when he fails, he strives passionately to make movies that matter. The Departed, a defiantly uncompromised vision of a society rotting from the inside, is one of his best. Act accordingly.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Sep 28, 2006)

Your Turn

Give us your review of
Departed

Review 1 of 32

4of 4 Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Filled with the grit and
opprobrious magic of any street suspense-thriller, Nicholson,
Walhberg, Sheen, Damon, Baldwin, and DiCaprio are excellent.
The double lives of Sullivan and Costigan perfectly foil each
other and prepare us for an excellent surprise and climax.
Farmiga shines through excellent acting as well, and her eyes
are electirfying each scene. Anderson is a surprise - and
unfortunately underdeveloped- supporting actor for most
affiliated with his light-hearted comic-relief roles in films like
"Two can play that Game," "Romeo Must Die", and
"Transformers." Not here; he's got the edge and focus to carry
his role with great swagger and seriousness. Although this
movie is long, its got enough death, misogyny, lechery and
treachery to fuel an HBO miniseries. But it remains a class
above sitcom status with superior directing, camera, lighting,
and editing. Needless to say acting. Scorsese's film has many
magic moments - like Costello's death and the alarming
surprise that he's an FBI informant - which vividly enriches
this dark movie, and others which make you laugh during
tense times rather than shrivel up in fear - the sadistically
amusing elevator-rooftop shooting scenario, in which
characters are murdered so consecutively that it reeks of
parody. Despite an all-too fitting, yet unsurprising ending -
that leaves you with a bittersweet taste in your mouth - you
may feel somewhat dissatisfied. I did, but that abrupt,
methodical viciousness is the essence of what The Departed
truly represents. This is the new Scarface.

Nov 19, 2007 07:58:48

Review 2 of 32

4of 4 Stars

The only question I had going into this was "Am I going to be dissappointed?" I had my doubts. Scorcese's last two installments of his film legacy, "Gangs of New York" and "The Aviator", were gratuitous mediocracy at best (How's that for film review jargon?). Both were huge, grandiose piles of steaming dissappointment, powered by great individual performances but ultimately fell short of their objective: to entertain. And so it was that on October 6, 2007 at 2:00 PM, I went in to see what Scorcese had left in him. I went to see if he could still do the city in all of it's gritty, violent nature. I went to see "The Departed" and be amazed in doing so.

Wow. Martin Scorcese, director of such classics as "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull", "The Last Temptation of Christ" and "Goodfellas", decided to say 'screw it' and completely turn the cop drama on it's head and decree "this is how it's to be done from now on". I saw "Infernal Affairs". I loved it. But "The Departed" makes no apologies for making it better. Like Mann's "Heat", "The Departed" has set a bar so freakin' high, that all others in this genre will be mere imitators to the throne.

Jack Nicholson. A name that better be mentioned come oscar time. Jack makes this HIS movie. And it's prevelent in the genius lighting in the beginning. Jack's in the shadows spouting crime boss rhetoric to the young Colin Sullivan who will later be played by Matt Damon. He finally comes into the light of young Colin's life with the now immortal line of "When I was your age, they would say you could become cops or criminals. What I'm saying is this: When you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?" And indeed, the whole film deals with that very question. And the two differences, played by Damon and DiCaprio, are played as close to brilliance as humanly possible. Matt damon (and Ill just go ahead and say it, a "Great One" in the making) plays Colin Sullivan to perfection. And DiCaprio is, other than Nicholson, the best acting in the film. Not once did I say to myself "oh, there's Leo". I believed every single word that came from his mouth, every single movement that sprouted from his body, and every single reaction that came from his character, Billie Costigan. I wouldn't be suprised to see his name on the oscar list as well.

Now, not only does this film flex it's dramatic muscle, but it's...also...absolutely...hilarious. Just wait and hear what Damon's character has to say about the Boston Fire Department winning the rugby match. Or what Wahlberg's character has to say to just about everybody in the film. Hell, even Baldwin gets in on the act when he asks Damon if he wants to go smoke. And that's how the film deals with it's long bravado, clocking in at a healthy 2 hrs. and 31 min. It's long, powerful, and hilarious.

Hands down, the best film of the year so far. It's only competition will be "Flags of Our Fathers", due to hit in December. I suggest you go see it as soon as possible so you can weigh in on the debate of the year.

Mar 8, 2007 15:25:33

Review 3 of 32

Not Rated

Martin Scorcese, why hasnt this man won an Oscar yet? Maybe its his small errors like casting Ray Winstone as an american gangster, I love old Ray but this was a little too big a task even for him. While the film doesnt hold ground with the likes of Gangs of New York or Taxi Driver its still a damn good film. SPOILER WARNING!!! I love it when a director isnt afraid to kill of the big stars and I was truly shocked when Leo and Matt take the bullet. The acting is second to none, Di Caprio is brilliant and keeps getting better, Damon holds his own and Nicholson is legendary. OK, Winstone doesnt do to bad either.

Feb 21, 2007 18:26:20

Review 4 of 32

4of 4 Stars

The Departed is by far one of the best movies in a year of great movies! I've watched it three times already and something new becomes apparent with each viewing. There is so much that is just under the surface. Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg are truly magnificent; Damon, Sheen, Baldwin, Nicholson shine as usual. What a party!!

Feb 19, 2007 13:16:34

Review 5 of 32

4of 4 Stars

Great movie. Its only problem is that it is predictable what will happen. Also, Jack Nicholson´s acting is just like all of his past movies,same facial motions,smiles and body motions.

Feb 5, 2007 14:31:44

Review 6 of 32

4of 4 Stars

i give this movie the highest rating a movie can get just giving this masterpiece of a movie a 4 of 4 just didnt seem good enough for me this movie is amazing. i havent seen a movie i liked as much as this in along time! scorsese better be taking home the oscar for his brilliant direting and dicaprio and walberg for there acting although i was shocked that damon didnt get a nomination for actin cuz he was superb in this film. hopfully theres a shot at an oscar. but this is a must see masterpiece that fans of mean streets and goodfellas will love its the best crime film since heat. the best movie in YEARS!!!

Jan 10, 2007 04:15:26

Review 7 of 32

4of 4 Stars

Mr. Martin Scorsese had began his career with films with small budgets with big impacts. Beginning with "Who's That Knocking at my Door?," "Mean Streets," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," and "Taxi Driver." And to finish off the seventies, lets not forget about "New York, New York." Then, the eighties. "Raging Bull," "King of Comedy," "After Hours," "The Color of Money," and "Last Temptation of Christ." As the past two decades, the nineties were no different, Scorsese scorches the screen with his flaming hot directing. "GoodFellas," "Cape Fear," "Age of Innocence," "Casino," "Kundun" and "Bringing on the Dead." And now, the new millenium. "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," and the resent documentary, "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan." Now hearing all them films, can you say that Scorsese doesn't have talent? Of course not, because he does. And now he is bringing a new form of style in his book. You may have heard what Peter Travers has heard as well, that "The Departed" is just a old copflick style of a movie, go watch the original. Well, fuck them is all I can say. And when I say original, I mean the Hong Kong version, "Infernal Affairs." And you may have heard it is alot like "GoodFellas", only with Jack Nicholson and not Joe Pesci. Well, sure. Scorsese is going back to the well, but it doesn't mean you can't draw fresh water. Now, some directors go back to the well when they shouldn't. Just look at Kevin Smith with "Clerks II." But that's another issue for another time. I'm here to talk to you about "The Departed." Hopefully, you have read Peter Travers' review on the flick, because I assure you, most of the time, he knows what he's talking about. So with that being said, I'm not going to explain the plot in an expanded form. But I will make it short and simple. Leo DiCaprio playing a cop undercovered as a gangster, Matt Damon playing his opposite, and Nicholson is the hardass mob boss that ties it all together and plays everybody like chess pieces. The film is supplied with an all star cast, typical for a Scorsese film, everyone wants to work with him. The cast includes DiCaprio, Damon and Nicholson of course. It also stars, Mark Wahlberg in his most brilliant and talented acting in his whole career as Sgt. Dignam, the historian, Martin Sheen as Capt. Queenen in a father figure type mode, Alec Baldwin as Damon's "police" boss who brings his typical ball busting acting that will leave you exiting the theater satisfied. It also stars Vera Farmiga as the woman in the middle of the love triangle between DiCaprio and Damon. And Scorsese was able to squeeze Anthony Anderson in there for a couple of cameos. All-star cast for an all-star flick. And yes, I agree with Peter Travers in his review when he informs us that the ending is so unexpected and mindblowing, it will give you whiplash. Damn straight! This is a crime film that even the females can enjoy. This is not only the best film of the year, this is the best film since 1994 when Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" was released. A film which you will have no problem watching over and over and over and over and over again. Flat out fucking phoenomenal!

Jan 6, 2007 15:15:39

Review 8 of 32

3of 4 Stars

I give it a 3 star because of the rat at the end. It spoilt the impact. The triangular relationship could have been exploied a bit to give more suspence.

Nov 24, 2006 07:45:03

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