Any film starring Jack Nicholson will always deserve a screening and The Departed is no exception. Even at 69 years old, Nicholson is the most interesting character in this film, and any scene he's in is absorbing and often uncomfortable.
In The Departed Nicholson plays Frank Costello, a violently out-of-control, nasty, womanizing, drug-loving, South Boston Irish gangland leader whose mouth is as dirty as the weird wardrobe he clothes himself in.
The film opens with a younger Costello playing up to a young boy, Colin Sullivan (with the older Sullivan played by Matt Damon - whose acting skills still leave much to be desired), and the audience is made well aware that Costello has big plans for Sullivan's future. Costello becomes a father figure to Sullivan who grows up to infiltrate the Boston police department and rises to be the leader of the Special Investigation Unit, which is ultimately tasked with finally making an arrest of Costello.
True to his superior and devious mind, Costello has prepared well for this eventuality, as the adult Sullivan now calls Costello Dad. Playing his doppelganger on the opposite side is Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), a young undercover Massachusetts State Policeman, who is sent under deep cover to become a member of Costello's gang.
Each man becomes consumed with the impossibilities of dealing with their hidden double lives and soon they are running for their lives as both the mob boss and the cops realize they both have a mole in their midst. The ticking clock keeps time as each character tries to outrun being uncovered as a mole by the other.
Complicating things is a thoughtful performance by the wonderful Vera Farmiga, who's work this reviewer has loved ever since she first co-starred in the short-lived sword and sorcery 1997 TV series Roar. Farmiga's time to shine as a leading actress has hopefully come.
Though Farmiga is great, she is the only female in this male-monk cast. The love triangle between her, Sullivan, and Costigan feels a bit too contrived to really work — a common problem with male-monk films. The female role is added to improve cut-away choices for the editor, rather than to help the script move the story forward.
Steeped in testosterone and sweetened with a big measure of profanity and nastiness, The Departed is full of violence, anger, gore, and blood, and tons of actors who look alarmingly alike in many scenes. One standout performance that might garner attention is Mark Wahlberg's (as good cop Sgt. Dignam), who displays the most authentic Southie accent of this bunch and some of the more over-the-top moments of this film.
Article comments
1 - Nancy
Thanks for a good, thorough review. I had heard the film was very violent, which deterred me, and now I probalby won't see it because of the plot holes you mention.
2 - Desmond
Wonderful Show, just like Infernal Affairs when I watched it. Some stories are just good, regardless of edition or language.
Not much of gory scenes but some shootings that happened rather fast, cant really be felt.
Jack Nicholson is rather good, as usual, but Damon and DiCaprio does not seem to know how to act, maybe because they are superstars. Their faces does not show feelings at all. The other co-stars were much better, maybe because they are co-stars and need the money.
DiCaprio in particular seems to have only 1 expression, much like The Rock in the Scorpion King.
Regardless, I still enjoyed the show. Definately worth every penny.
3 - janet planet
Hey Desmond - I'm glad to hear you agree w me about DiCaprio & Damon. I just can't get what people see in either of em. They can't act, and they're not really all that good looking - so how did they become such superstars? I don't get it.
And you're right, regardless of all the violence n other stuff in this film, it's definitely an enjoyable ride.