Rating: 5/5 Falcons

The Departed (2006) is a classic crime drama, filmed and directed by famed screenwriter Martin Scorsese, winning five Academy Awards following its release—including the coveted “Best Picture” award in the 2007 Oscars. The film is set in Boston, and tells a thrilling story originally based on crime boss Whitey Bulger and South Boston’s notorious Irish mob. The Departed also has a powerhouse cast, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Balwin, and Martin Sheen. The acting performances combined with the stellar script and thrilling plotlines make the movie a must-watch, even for those who do not prefer the crime genre. 

With “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones setting the mood, Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) gives a chilling yet enticing opening monologue, exhibiting his core values as a pathological crime boss and identifying himself as the antagonist for the movie—“I don’t want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me,” Costello says in the opening scene. Throughout the movie, Scorsese brilliantly illustrates a deeper meaning relating to self-identity, deception, and betrayal, all common themes portrayed in many of Scorsese’s previous films. 

The film conveys these themes by following the lives of two undercover informants: Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), a cop pretending to be a mobster, and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), a mobster feigning as a cop. Sullivan, a career criminal, works his way up the ranks as a state police detective, playing both sides as a cop and a mafia insider. On the other hand, Costigan is secretly employed by the Boston Police Department to infiltrate the Irish crime syndicate. When both organizations learn they have a whistleblower in their midst, Billy and Colin must figure out each other’s identities to save their own lives.

The Boston scenery as well as the engrossing accents and raunchy discourse of the characters make the film hit close to home for many Bostonian viewers. Mark Wahlberg’s character, Sergeant Dignam, brings humor to the film through his vulgar Bostonian persona, presenting himself as a variation of the typical “bad cop,” but with a sassy Boston sting. 

Right before one of the most climactic, action-packed scenes of the film, the movie depicts Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio’s characters driving over the Zakim bridge, with the Dropkick Murphys’ “Shipping up to Boston” (a Bostonian anthem played during the 8th inning of every Red Sox game), resounding in the background, fitting perfectly with the mood. Other good songs on the film’s soundtrack include “Comfortably Numb” (Van Morrison), “Let it Loose” (Rolling Stones), and “Sail on Sailor” (Beach Boys). 

After multiple plot twists, the film comes to a chilling close; the camera pans out to a rooftop shot of the golden Massachusetts State House to end the saga. The Departed deserves 5/5 Falcons, as the filmmaking, acting, and dialogues are all fabulous. The plot continuously keeps the audience on the edge of their seat for the full two hours and 30 minutes.