The Departed (2006)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

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:

Boston | Cop Against Cop | Tragedy | Friendship | Investigation

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 47 wins & 50 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Oct. 19	2:10 AM	HBO
Mon. Oct. 27	9:00 PM	HBO

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

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/Ontario) | France:U (with warning) | Japan:R-15 | India:A | Italy:T | Singapore:R21

Filming Locations:

12 Farnsworth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Ray Liotta was the original choice for the role of Dignam but had to reluctantly decline due to other commitments.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Costigan and Brown are training at the Mass. State Police Academy, the Throgs Neck Bridge, which connects Queens and the Bronx, is clearly visible. The actual Mass. State Police Academy is in New Braintree, Massachusetts, a small town near Worcester, with no large suspension bridges nearby.

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:

Referenced in Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie and 'The Departed' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Let It Loose

Fantastic Bro

Excellent. A great, great movie. I saw it last night at a special screening and must say it was a tour de force. Even though Boston is not really a gritty town Scorsese was able to capture a darker side of the city. Coming from that area, I am always concerned when actors put on the local accent as it tends to be distracting rather than supportive. However, with local pros like Damon and Wahlberg they were able to really grab hold of it and not go overboard... most of the time. The true stand out performance has to go to DiCaprio. He has really come into his since hooking up with Scorsese, having scored a number of original performances all of which have expanded his range. He really snagged onto a deep and tragic character and created something that will hopefully be recognized come awards season. One of my favorite aspects was the friendly hostility the characters had for each other. It is a specific trademark that I have never noticed in any other city. In Boston, when you are really close with someone (or not really) it is, more or less, a requirement to bust their balls and shoot cruel insults back and forth in rhythmic banter. That detail was extensively realized in THE DEPARTED and I doubt anybody who was raised outside of the metro Boston area, or at least visited at some point, would find it nearly as hilarious as those who were. As for Scorsese's direction, I think he scored big with this one. While many have criticized that his movies have become more commercial I believe that he has just evolved. There were some classic Scorsese moments here, my favorite being a scene where DiCaprio is alone and packing his things in his apartment. Beautifully cut and stylistically directed. Is it his best effort? No. But it still is truly mesmerizing. He has created something truly special from a city that is highly underrated.