With films like Gangs of New York, The Aviator and Taxi Driver on the résumé of director Martin Scorsese, it’s no surprise The Departed is a masterpiece. Once again, he has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio, creating the best movie of 2006.
The Departed tells the story of two young men who have grown up on opposite sides of the tracks: Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) from south Boston and Billy Costigan, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio)from the city’s north shore.
Billy Costigan and Colin Sullivan try to answer the movie’s fundamental question asked by Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson): what is the difference between a police officer and a criminal at gunpoint?
Billy Costigan enters Frank Costello’s criminal world as an undercover police officer, while Colin Sullivan is the mob boss’s rat in the Massachusetts State Police. Only Detective Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) know that Billy Costigan exists.
Leonardo DiCaprio proves himself to be one of the finest actors of our generation. The role of Billy Costigan calls for him to be constantly nervous, and DiCaprio captures this tension effortlessly.
Audiences are used to seeing Matt Damon as the hero of every movie he does. Colin Sullivan, the rat, is diabolical, and believably so. Kudos to Matt Damon on this new type of role.
Alec Baldwin (Detective Ellerby) is on-point in the movie. With rolling-tongue comments like, “Want a smoke? What, you don’t smoke? What are you some kind of fitness freak? F–k you,” his character highlights the unique Boston affect.
The soundtrack is dominated by Dropkick Murphy’s cover of a Woody Guthrie song, “I’m Shipping Up To Boston.” Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Nas and John Lennon help create the gritty musical atmosphere appropriate for south Boston.
The Departed is incredibly violent and is suitably rated R. The ensemble cast doesn’t skip a beat; the plot will rock you to your core. This movie makes you walk away thinking about that fundamental question: what is the difference between a police office and a criminal at gunpoint? You’ll have to watch it to find out.