"When I was your age they used to say you could become cops or criminals. What I'm saying to you is this... When you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference? "
According to Martin Scorsese's latest film, The Departed, there is no difference between being a cop and being a criminal: they are all corrupt, have foul mouths, and are played by good actors. I must say I was surprised...I have seen four other Scorsese films but did not like them, they were well done but they are the kind of films you watch once and it takes awhile to recover from the emotion, violence, and language (I've seen "New York, New York", "Raging Bull", "Goodfellas", and "New York Stories: Life Lessons")...but I actually like this film. Yes its just as violent as the others...yes they swear ALOT (they drop the f-bomb 237 times and say the word 'cunt' 22 times, along with a slew of other colorful language), BUT this film has a storyline and you are mildly satisfied at the end (call it poetic justice)
The film follows the undercover actions of two men in opposite roles. First is Colin Sullivan (Damon): grew up doing small errands for Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson) and then enrolled in the Police Academy. After that his career skyrocketed (thanks to his 'father'...Nicholson...sending him tips) and he becomes a Detective for the Massachusetts State Police, working for Ellerby (Baldwin) the outspoken head of the department with an immaculate record. As he enjoys his career success he meets psychologist Madolyn (Farmiga) and they begin dating. Meanwhile, Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) is a ne'er-do-well from with quite the history of criminals, but he wants to turn over a new leaf and becomes a cop. After completing his training he is assigned to a special unit for the Masschusetts Police. This unit has undercover agents in different areas they want to bust. Only the head of the department, Queenan (Sheen) and his right-hand man Dignam (Wahlberg) know the identities of their undercover agents, and they want Costigan to go deep undercover working for mob boss Costello. They get him some jail time and when he is released things fall into place and he joins Costello's crew. Over time it is apparent to both sides of the law that they have a rat...and now it is up to their mole in opposite side to find the rat (basically Sullivan is trying to find Costigan for the mob, and Costigan wants to find Sullivan for the police).
This film is intense...but worthwhile if you can handle blood (and lots of it). The acting is superb: DiCaprio is believable as the reluctant mobster (he doesn't like all the killing), Damon pulls off the bad boy part, Wahlberg is...wow!, Nicholson IS the mob boss (and he is so dirty), etc. This all-star cast of attractive men prove why they are considered actors and all manage to blur the line between good and bad (who is the protagonist, and who is the antagonist?). And the supporting cast is also amazing... From a critical standpoint there is so much to talk about with this film, but I don't have enough time to indulge in that information (plus I would be giving away the ending)...so I would recommend it!
Dude, it's quotable: although you probably shouldn't repeat the lines (sometimes they are funny...but entirely unappropriate)
See it on the big screen: if you get the chance...it is intense, but worthwhile on a big screen...regardless it is excellent, but I would not suggest seeing it if you can't handle blood or language (b/c both are abundant)
The film follows the undercover actions of two men in opposite roles. First is Colin Sullivan (Damon): grew up doing small errands for Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson) and then enrolled in the Police Academy. After that his career skyrocketed (thanks to his 'father'...Nicholson...sending him tips) and he becomes a Detective for the Massachusetts State Police, working for Ellerby (Baldwin) the outspoken head of the department with an immaculate record. As he enjoys his career success he meets psychologist Madolyn (Farmiga) and they begin dating. Meanwhile, Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) is a ne'er-do-well from with quite the history of criminals, but he wants to turn over a new leaf and becomes a cop. After completing his training he is assigned to a special unit for the Masschusetts Police. This unit has undercover agents in different areas they want to bust. Only the head of the department, Queenan (Sheen) and his right-hand man Dignam (Wahlberg) know the identities of their undercover agents, and they want Costigan to go deep undercover working for mob boss Costello. They get him some jail time and when he is released things fall into place and he joins Costello's crew. Over time it is apparent to both sides of the law that they have a rat...and now it is up to their mole in opposite side to find the rat (basically Sullivan is trying to find Costigan for the mob, and Costigan wants to find Sullivan for the police).
This film is intense...but worthwhile if you can handle blood (and lots of it). The acting is superb: DiCaprio is believable as the reluctant mobster (he doesn't like all the killing), Damon pulls off the bad boy part, Wahlberg is...wow!, Nicholson IS the mob boss (and he is so dirty), etc. This all-star cast of attractive men prove why they are considered actors and all manage to blur the line between good and bad (who is the protagonist, and who is the antagonist?). And the supporting cast is also amazing... From a critical standpoint there is so much to talk about with this film, but I don't have enough time to indulge in that information (plus I would be giving away the ending)...so I would recommend it!
Dude, it's quotable: although you probably shouldn't repeat the lines (sometimes they are funny...but entirely unappropriate)
See it on the big screen: if you get the chance...it is intense, but worthwhile on a big screen...regardless it is excellent, but I would not suggest seeing it if you can't handle blood or language (b/c both are abundant)
Rating: R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan
Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan
Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello
Mark Wahlberg as Dignam
Martin Sheen as Queenan
Alec Baldwin as Ellerby
Vera Farmiga as Madolyn
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