Whatever is left of the corruption within the police departments of America is highlighted in Martin Scorsese’s latest picture. The Departed is a pedal-to-the-metal remake of the Hong Kong action Infernal Affairs and a cutthroat tour-de-force of the classic good-cop/bad-cop story. It is an all-out masterpiece, not because it contains enough “f-bombs” and gun violence to fill the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese, but because it is an intricate screenplay directed by a professional and masterful director that is echoed by exceptional acting.

Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is a Massachusetts State Trooper; however, his loyalties remain elsewhere. Ever since Irish mafia boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) treated a young Colin to a bagful of groceries, Sullivan has placed the needs of Frank and his men first. As Frank served as a benefactor, Sullivan penetrated the State Police to serve as an informant. 

Simultaneously, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) earned the position to serve under Captain Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Sgt. Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) as an undercover infiltrator of Frank’s men. Billy witnesses gun battles, drug deals, murders, and more all to clear his family name and earn a spot on the force. 

When both men (the good cop playing bad and the bad cop playing good) are assigned the task of finding the mole on their respective sides, the plot thickens like gelatin and the violence spirals like a whirlpool. The art of lying and the demands of sacrifice are placed in the forefront, and the complexity comes in combining the keys of a character-driven thriller and a cop drama. The result is exquisite, and the execution is flawless.

The Departed is a phenomenal film that is reminiscent of Scorsese’s glory days. This is, unquestionably, his best film since Goodfellas. Besides the fact that he has returned to the mayhem of organized crime, he has also wowed audiences and influenced an ensemble cast in spreading greatness like a virus. 

Showcased are the raw talents of DiCaprio, Nicholson, and Damon — most certainly leading to nominations and warranting wins for all three. DiCaprio’s portrayal of Billy is on another level than any one his previous performances. Likewise, Nicholson’s role as Frank is arresting and dynamic; as his accent slightly falters, his intensity remains firm.  Furthermore, the work by Wahlberg, Sheen, and Baldwin is worthy of note. In all honesty, every last player who received a paycheck for The Departed rightfully earned their wage in full.  The Departed features some of the best collective acting in recent years.

Let us not forget, it is Scorsese who forces his actors to raise their game. The man makes blood stunningly lurid. He makes a gunshot wound to the head brazen. And, he helps to make The Departed one of the most laudable pictures of 2006.