Mobsters, cops, good guys, bad guys, rats, finks, subterfuge, double crosses.
These are all words that can describe parts and elements of The Departed, Martin Scorsese’s latest released film. I figured that I was going to like this film, not because it necessarily was a Scorsese film, nor that he’s worked with Leonardo DiCaprio before. Its not that Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson also star in it. While I’m dropping names, I’ll send you to the IMDB link for this movie, as there are too many accomplished actors in this film to link to them all (Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin, etc). This movie is packed with stars.
The Departed is set in South Boston, where the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello (Nicholson). While Billy quickly gains Costello’s confidence, Colin Sullivan (Damon), a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there’s a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy-and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself. But is either willing to turn on the friends and comrades they’ve made during their long stints undercover?
I liked this movie. If you want to watch a show where there’s intrigue and subterfuge at every turn, then this movie is for you. DiCaprio (Costigan) continues to amaze me with the versatility he demonstrates every time he gets in front of the camera. He pulls off a believable mob infiltrator, right down to the stress he shows when his world seems to be falling apart around him. Nicholson (Costello) is perfect for the part of the notorious mafia boss. Damon (Sullivan) shows us a cop with a dark secret. The secrets are many and the adrenaline continues to pump through all the way to the end of this movie. You’ll be kept guessing until the end as far as who is good and who is bad. If you enjoy movies about cops and robbers but you want a twist or two in the plot throughout the movie, then you have to see The Departed.
I’m going to see this tonight. I was going to wait till the DVD came out, If ya know what I mean?.
Well, I watched it, and have to say it was an unexpected ending.
It was a damn good movie. A little slow to start, but ended really good.`
I thought that you’d like it. I’m usually pretty clued in as to whodunnit, but the little twist at the end was unexpected for me too.