Review - The Departed

"The Departed" is a crime drama with heavy doses of suspense and thrills. It is based on parts from a trilogy of Hong Kong pictures, "Mou gaan dou" (Infernal Affairs). The movie was nominated for five Academy Awards, and won four (including Best Picture and Best Director).
The movie focuses on Boston crime lord Frank Costello. He has been the head of the Irish Mob for as long as anyone can remember...and he rules his neighborhood with an iron fist. At the same time, two young men graduate from the Massachusetts State Police. Colin Sullivan is top of his class, an intelligent and well-spoken go-getter who is fast tracked into a joint task force with the FBI. Billy Costigan Jr. is arrested for assault and battery, thrown off the force, and finds himself back on the tough streets of South Boston where he grew up. Eventually, he finds a home within Costello's organization. Both men soon learn that there is an informant amongst their own people...a man from Costello's group inside the police, and a man from the police inside Costello's gang. The question becomes: Who will find their rat first?
This is flat-out an excellent picture. The A-list all-star cast delivers top-notch performances. It amazed me that out of all the incredible people playing in this movie, only Mark Wahlberg (playing an acid-tongued police supervisor with the Special Investigations Unit) received an Academy Award nomination in the acting categories. The characters move the story, which weaves an intricate web of lies and blood. The story is interesting enough...how both sides of the law could place one of their own within the others' ranks...and how they could use it to their advantage.
One of the truest signs of a great movie is when you can feel something for even the slimiest character. Frank Costello is a low-life criminal...a drug dealer and a murderer. But at the same time, he looks out for people in his neighborhood and remembers even the slightest detail about someone's family. There are times when you actually see him as just a regular person. That is a tough thing to do...but a talented actor, a good story, and a great director pull it all off with ease.
This is not a short movie by any stretch...and it does leave you with a couple of questions at the end. But all in all, this is a spot-on movie.
"The Departed" - Great actors, great story, great directing = Great picture.
Starring - Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Martin Sheen, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, and Anthony Anderson. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
Time - 2 hours, 31 minutes. Rated - R (Violence, language, adult situations, drug use)