The Departed - movie review

A field day for Scorcese aficianados, not to mention the likes of Capolla, De Palma and Tarantino, The Departed sets remarkable standards on the art that movie making and editing is. Supported by some strong performances by an elite cast, murky background score, raw if not crisp dialogues - language profane if not persuasive and engaging cinematography, the movie has enough to excite an audience and get the connoisseurs goose-bumpy and raving for more.

Frank Costello, the kingpin mafia boss, is feared in Boston for his sheer brutality as a ruthless and pervert gangster placing him high on the records of Massachussets State Police.
Billy Castigan (Leonardo De Caprio), a Southie rookie cop is sent to infiltrate Costello's mob by becoming one of the goons and send vital information back to Captain Queenan(Martin Sheen) and Sergeant Dignam(Mark Wahlberg), the only two who know his true identity.
Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) as the overachieving cop is Costello's mole in the police department who has practically been brought up by Costello so much so that he goes on to call him "dad", especially when alerting Costello on any new moves of the State Police against him.


The tension sets in once the existence of a mole on each side surfaces and chase is on to reveal the identities of the two. Costigan on a tight rope all the time, fear of imminent and brutal death in the hands of Costello if his identity is revealed, a role which is beautifully played by Leanardo De Caprio. Sullivan, later assigned to find Costello's mole in the police department, rather unearth himself, is Matt Damon at his coldest best.

Thanks to the razor-sharp editing, if the first half was fast paced, the frenzied pace of the second would quite abruptly end in a climax leaving one dazed and filled with muted horror.

There are some excellent performances from veterans Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin, not to mention the surprise package of Marl Wahlberg as the foul-mouthed, I-don't-give-a-damn Seargent effortlessly stealing the shots when he comes on screen.
Then there is this wolf, with cool and scary eyes, starting a chill up your spine everytime it comes on screen, ready to pounce on its prey to feast a blood-thirty appetite. That is Jack Nicholson at his very best, playing the fiery Frank Costello, a role that is as good as it gets.


Leanardo De Caprio, his third (apparently signing another Scorcese-Caprio deal) stint with Scorcese after Gangs of New York and Aviator, seems to have neatly danced to the tunes of the charmer in Scorcese. Let it be the morbid dread of being ravaged by Costello and his goons if his real identity is exposed or his pangs of an identity crisis, is played impressively indeed. Matt Damon, under-rated, but tunes up a truly commendable performance.
Its a well strung cops-n-gangster movie with an impressive cast, brilliant direction and editing (an almost I'll-be-damned-if-this-doesnt-fetch-an-Oscar), critically acclaimed - but all said and done, the Scorcese-Oscar jinx might just not be broken by this.