THE DEPARTED (2006)

THE DEPARTED

Director: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg.
Length: 151 mins.






To start with the basics, Scorsese's The Departed is a film fan's kind of movie. It's also, obviously, an actor's kind of movie as well. Produced by Brad Pitt, it hosts a likely grouping from Pitt's circle of pals including Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg. Going further than that however, the roles that some big actors took to be in this film shows how much they wanted to be a part of it.
Nicholson, believe it or not, actually does a decent Boston accent through much of the film. While some may have expected his character to be the filthy and vile mob head we're used to seeing in some of Scorsese's films like Goodfellas and Casino, Nicholson's actually a fun-loving guy whose thirst for more and more eventually costs him a great price in his luxurious lifestyle. To be certain, Nicholson's Frank Costello isn't the guy you want to mess with, but you also get the feeling he'd be a lot of fun after a few drinks out at the bar.
Matt Damon and Leo DiCaprio's characters are like twin brothers whose paths in life have gone in parallel but opposite directions. They're playing the same people against one another, so much so that they're actually vying for the same girl unaware of the other guy's involvement.
Granted, such a predicament may only take place in fictitious stories and truthfully, it's one of the films only downfalls. The triangle between Damon and DiCaprio's characters and a woman named Madolyn does however expose another angle to the leading men and also serves as yet another example in heavily weighted symbolism throughout the film.
Scorsese clearly has something to say about sin, about lies, selfishness and violence.
In essence, there's a lot to love about The Departed and enough action and twists to keep the viewer entertained throughout the long running time. But make no mistake, despite the entertaining characters and the cat and mouse plot tangents, this is hardly a bubble gum soap opera. Scorsese makes it clear through the course of events in his film that relationship triangles are a dangerous thing. I can tell you that this is a old-fashioned tragedy from the get-go and you'll still be surprised at who gets the short end of the stick and when.