The Departed (2006)

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:

Opera House | Fly | Gunshot Wound | Cop Against Cop | Fear

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 47 wins & 50 nominations

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:

Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | Israel:16 | Japan:R-15 | South Korea:15 | Ireland:18 (video rating) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Italy:T | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R16 | Denmark:15 | Germany:16 | Greece:K-13 | Iran:18+ | Ireland:16 (original rating) | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Spain:18 | UK:18 | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:16 | India:A | Norway:15 | France:U (with warning) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:18 | Sweden:15 | Singapore:R21 | Finland:K-15 | USA:R (certificate #42877) | Malaysia:18SG

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

According to his file, Billy Costigan's birthday is November 7, 1984. Although a second shot of the same screen then labels his date of birth as November 7, 1980 (See "Goofs" section).

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The building addressed "344 Washington" in the movie is clearly in the Fort Point neighborhood, just off of Congress street near the Courthouse T stop, looking North West toward Atlantic Avenue/Financial District. However, there is no Washington St. in Fort Point

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 Karate Kid (1984)

Soundtrack:

Baby Blue

Better than Goodfellas?

Dare I? Dare I say it? This movie is better than Goodfellas. There, I said it.

I saw this latest Scorsese film at an advance screening. Needless to say I was expecting a lot – more than I thought this director (of classics like Taxi Driver but lately of Gangs of New York) would deliver. I was very wrong.

Though the exact plot is unimportant, The Departed is about the blurred lines that distinguish good guy from bad guy, and cop from robber, in present-day Boston. With a packed cast (which I need not mention) that includes great supporting roles by Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin, the acting in the departed is stellar. Living-legend Jack Nicholson flawlessly delivers one of his best performances in years as the execrable mob boss Frank Costello. Nicholson's nuanced acting was so on-point that at times I felt like I was actually about to be shot by the slimy capo.

The Departed is nothing short of spectacular. Funnier that most comedies, Scorsese is still able to amplify the bloodshed and meticulously deliver a stunning cinematic achievement.

Bravo, Mr. Scorsese; you have outdone yourself.