The Observer, October 6, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 6
Star-studded cast rocks in Scorsese's The Departed
"When I was your age, they said you could become cops or criminals. What I'm sayin' to you is this. When you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?" These words, uttered by ruthless Irish mob lord Francis "Frank" Costello, serve as the wild thesis for the new Martin Scorsese film The Departed.
Based on the Hong Kong smash hit Infernal Affairs, The Departed brings a mind-boggling amount of talent both on and off the screen. The film was produced by Plan B Productions, also known as Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's production company. Two-time Oscar-winning editor Thelma Schoonmaker lent her handiwork to the film. Oscar-nominated cinematographer Michael Ballhaus of Gangs of New York fame also brought his skills to the project. The list of talented actors featured in The Departed almost never ends: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Ray Winstone, Mark Wahlberg, and Jack Nicholson are just some of the heavy-hitters in this ensemble drama.
But what is a film without a director? The Departed is directed by Scorsese, a five-time Best Director nominee who has helmed such projects as Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, and The Aviator.
Few movies boasting similar talent live up to their potential. A recent film with a similar A-list billing was Frank Oz's The Stepford Wives (2004), a critically lambasted dud at the box office. Rumors began to circle about The Stepford Wives months before its release due to constant re-shooting and changing of release dates, causing critics to speculate about prima donnabehavior and over-the-top scene chewing. Could Scorsese, a notoriously demanding and rigorous director, deal with so much pressure from eager fans and critics?
The answer is a resounding yes. The Departed delivers an absolute winner. With Boston accents, Irish references, and blatant Catholic undertones galore, the plot is essentially a battle between the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mob, run by longtime boss Frank Costello (Nicholson). Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) goes undercover for the M.S.P.D. to try to bust Costello for shipping off warfare microchips to the Chinese, but what he doesn't realize is that there is a mole inside the police unit, Colin Sullivan (Damon), a smart-mouthed liar whose loyalties appear to lie with Costello. What emerges is a cat-and-mouse game, with both cops and criminals trying to outwit and out-survive the other unit.
The acting in the movie is passionate and sharp, which may generate Oscar buzz for the performances by Nicholson as the head crime honcho, Wahlberg as the foul-mouthed sergeant Dignam, and DiCaprio as angry lost soul Costigan, a character torn between a family history of crime, a new life as a cop, and a tricky undercover mission to put away the most violent man in the Boston area. As the mental stress piles up along with the bodies in front of Costigan, DiCaprio is at his acting best outside of the fast-paced action, struggling with his undercover solitude and anonymity by resorting to OxyContin and tenderly stalking police psychiatrist Madelin (Vera Farmiga, who makes much out of a throw-away role). Damon definitely summons shades of his dynamite character Thomas Ripley (from the disturbing psychological study The Talented Mr. Ripley) with his performance as slimebag Sullivan. As Sullivan likes to say in the movie, "Remember what I'm best at…being a great liar."
This movie is what people have been waiting for the past couple of years, a sizzling crowd-pleaser that is just plain cool to talk about long after the film is over. Screenwriter William Monahan, a native BOstonian who clearly knows his hometown and presents its characters and their mannerisms very well, almost certainly will get an Oscar nomination for his adapted screenplay. College students will likely run amock with the witty and often hilarious one-liners from all of the actors in The Departed, most notably from Wahlberg and the master character actor Nicholson. The quotes are delicious, on par dramatically and humor-wise with a variety of films, ranging from the sharp wit of The Usual Suspects, the blustering fervor of indie hit The Boondock Saints to the random but brilliant Anchorman.
The music features covers by Dropkick Murphy and music from the classic funk masters Grand Funk Railroad. The music really symbolizes the connection of the emerging face of crime in the 21st century with contemporary issues of funding terrorism and technological warfare merging with classic problems such as drugs and mob violence.
As successful a movie as it is, The Departed leaves viewers wanting more, more about the characters, more about Boston, more brilliant dialogue. The violence is almost tame compared to what we see in contemporary filmmaking, and there is no nudity or unnecessary sex. However there are plenty of classic Scorsese beatdowns and headshots throughout the film, conjuring up memories of his previous look into the mob, Goodfellas.
Ultimately what you have is a hard-nosed, near-perfect crime thriller that is what it is: excellent writing, excellent acting, great plot, and engaging characters. Lines and loyalties are crossed in The Departed, delineating the hierarchical relationships of family, morals, and money. The Departed is the best crime movie since L.A. Confidential and will be a definite contender come Oscar season.
Overall Grade: A-
