The Departed

UK Release Date: 6 October 2006

Certification: 18

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Alec Baldwin, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Vera Farmiga, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Ray Winstone

Rating: 86%

No better thing to say in a Boston accent than The Departed. 

Review:

The Departed won four academy awards including best picture, best film editing and best director and it's Martin Scorsese's direction in The Departed that makes it unique compared to his other filmography. From the symbolism of certain shots to the near perfect storytelling and world building everything Scorsese does in The Departed has a purpose and a meaning.  

The Departed continues Leonardo DiCaprio's run of films with Martin Scorsese following on from Gangs of New York and The Aviator. It's difficult to say who's performance is the greatest in The Departed with such a stellar cast but DiCaprio still shines through to display why he's one of the best actors of all time. His performance is pure dedication, having to play a character in Billy Costigan with two totally contradicting personalities and morals. He effortlessly switches between undercover cop and undercover mobster. He struggles to connect with himself in the film - losing his identity during the run time. All he really wants is to be a normal guy which allows the audience to root for his character despite crossing the line multiple times. But what enhances his performance is his chase to find the mole in the police department, someone who is looking for him at the same time. That mole is Matt Damon's character Colin Sullivan, a detective working for the mob due to his heavily influenced upbringing amongst Frank Costello. Sullivan is a fascinating character as throughout the film the audience realises that this man has no idea who he really is. He's lost his self-identity. In the space of two and a half hours he goes from a charming enough guy towards the beginning of the film to a slimy, undesirable man as it ends. 

A lot of complaints surrounding The Departed are around Jack Nicholson's performance as South Boston's Irish Mafia leader, Frank Costello. I though he was fine and was able to portray a threatening and imposing figure. However, I can't help but feel someone from Scorsese's earlier filmography such as Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci would have brought an ominous dynamism to the role. 

The soundtrack cements Scorsese's love for The Rolling Stones. After playing the song in Goodfellas and twice in Casino, he became attached to 'Gimme Shelter' and felt obliged to use it in The Departed as Costello is introduced. On top of this, The Rolling Stones' 'Let It Loose' also plays during the film's runtime.  

My only slight gripe with the film is that nothing is able to top, or even match, the first act. It just feels so seamless to me. The first act is so slick, moving effortlessly as the pacing is flawless. To me, it's some of the best 45 minutes ever put to screen. The second act holds up, if a little forgettable compared to the beginning. And unfortunately, the third act meanders until the final ten minutes. And even then a certain death frustrated me.