The Departed - Review

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1. ken Says:
   October 5th, 2006 at 07:02

   I agree. With the complicated plot, the writers took the easy way out of ending the movie. I have seen Infernal Affairs, and sadly, he Departed did not meet my expectations of a good remake.
   
   Nicholson was great.

1. Mike Says:
   October 6th, 2006 at 16:12

   Good review but you just compaired this film to two of Scorsese's lesser films. Bringing Out the Dead is barely watchable and Aviator is an overlong and bloated mess. Why not compaire it his best films like Casino, Goodfellas or Taxi Driver?

1. Doug wade Says:
   October 7th, 2006 at 00:00

   The Departed is brilliant, all the cast step way up to the plate, and the pacing of the movie is perfect....Maybe the ending is a cop out (no pun intended), but Marty is as good as they get. The plot is not complicated, moles on both sides, who gets found out first....? How hard is that?
   Jack makes the movie...He transcends acting, and you just get sucked into his character and presence....Leo is just so ##### ing good is his role, stands toe to toe with Jack in some very tense scenes......
   Donny Wahlberg justs blows you away at the beginning, and ends on the same note....
   This is entertainment.....The plot is solid....But the acting......whew................

1. Drewbacca Says:
   October 7th, 2006 at 14:23

   Agreed. i hated the ending. ESPECIALLY that last 10 second shot. Cheesy and so over the top metaphorical, I was almost insulted.
   
   
   ~Drewbacca
   MoviePatron.com

1. Ichi Says:
   October 8th, 2006 at 13:53

   I havent seen the film yet but probably will soonish. I am a big fan of the original and normally avoid remakes of Asian films like the plague but with the list of actors and Scorsese at the helm it may actually be a decent remake for a change.
   
   Only thing I will say is that im more than slightly annoyed with critics and audiences alike giving Marty any kind of credit when it comes to the story and handling the plot. Im sorry but when you have a blueprint as fine as Infernal Affairs to work from you should be lamblasted if the film you make is anything less than great.
   
   Im hoping to be pleasantly surprised by this film but I cant see it replacing Infernal Affairs as one of my favourite cop films.

1. Pete Says:
   October 9th, 2006 at 14:22

   For those who have not seen the original film - Infernal Affairs then you would say this is a great film, maybe the ending was a let down.
   I have seen the original and that was a master piece, and this remake just cannot live up to it. They had to change certain parts of the original and that was the mistake - you don't mess about with a classic master piece!
   I dont think any of the scenes in The Departed can better Infernal Affairs, i was hoping this would at least live up to the original but i was very disappointed.
   A good film overall but Infernal Affairs will forever stay in my mind while this will just sadly fade away.

1. Bubbagump Says:
   October 9th, 2006 at 23:44

   I thought it was Scorsese's best work ever. However, I agree on the ending. Too abrupt and not enough build up. Billy is finally gaining closure on the situation and out of nowhere, one of Costello's goons (Chase from 24??) busts one in his crown. To add insult to injury (no pun intended) he says, "You think you were Costello's only guy inside?". WTF!?!?
   
   This is how I would have written it (for what it's worth ;-o):
   
   Billy takes Collin into custody and then Dignam comes up and pops him. As Collin's body falls, Dignam and Billy suprisingly point their guns at each other.
   
   BILLY: What the f*** are you doing?
   DIGNAM: What you should have f****n' done.
   BILLY: All of this, for what? So we could just do what they do? Is that what you brought me in for? Is that what this whole thing was about?
   DIGNAM: You dumb f***. Wake up! Sometimes you have to play at their level and if you can't do that, then you better get a f****n job push airport bags, you f****n fairy.
   
   

1. Josh Says:
   October 10th, 2006 at 07:38

   Mike: Because I was referencing the best of his more recent work and because I think he's more than just a director of mob movies.
   
   Scorsese never gets any credit as anything other than a guy who likes gangsters. It's a shame.

1. L.L. Says:
   October 10th, 2006 at 13:45

   I wasn't crazy about the ending either...but I thought the films weakest and most unnecessary link was the female lead. Her acting was weak, her character development was non-existent, and she wasn't even attractive to look at...what was her point. I don't know what was more far fetched; the fact that both moles wound up banging her, or the fact that Damon never found out about it. She added nothing to the script and they could have probably shave 20 minutes off the running time by elimnating her.
   
   Despite all that this is clearly Scorsese's best film since Good Fellas...but not quite in that class. I'd nestle it in the middle of his better accomplishments...better than Cape Fear or "Alice..." but not quite as good as Mean Streets or Taxi Driver.

1. TY Says:
   October 12th, 2006 at 17:08

   Agreed The Departed is a great Scorsese film but a masterpiece, it definitely was not. Agreed with Pete that meddling with the original plot was not wise on Marty's part as Infernal Affairs is simply mind-blowing! Personally find Mark Wahlberg's role absolutely unnecessary and seemingly created (his was a new character) for the final act....
   
   For those who enjoyed The Departed, I strongly advised to watch the original Infernal Affairs and you would know why Infernal Affairs is so much more superior!

1. Pete Says:
   October 18th, 2006 at 17:31

   I haven't seen Internal Affairs but I thought this was pretty damn good. I agree that Scorsese is one of the best, maybe THE best. Gangs of New York, Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Color of Money. Some of the greatest movies ever. The ending here was abrupt, but I have a feeling seeing the film a second time will give it a powerful new effect knowing how it ends. I'll have to see Internal Affairs, but I liked this ending. If it's some kind of Hong Kong action style climax, then obviously it shouldn't be compared. I took this movie for what it was and I thought it was very good. It's the best movie I've seen in a long time and one that left a lasting impression. Great acting and great directing.

1. Jim Says:
   October 18th, 2006 at 18:21

   I will begin by acknowledging the good acting in this film by Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen. I left out Jack Nicholson and Mark Wahlberg because they weren't good. Nicholson took every scene over the top and was speaking about nonsense half the time. I think if he had toned it down and at least tried to use and accent he'd have been better. I saw many flaws in him. From his dress to his overacting. He's good in other movies but I thought he was imitating an Itallian Mob Boss. Wahlberg was reaching everytime he took the screen. He was funny but it was too much with the f bomb and could these guys use the word prick more? It was Entertaining but a masterpiece? no chance. The Aviator, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull were much Better. Leonardo, Scorsese and Nicholson will get Oscar nods but only Leo will deserve it. Scorsese will win because of his past losses not because this movie is better.

1. Paul Says:
   October 21st, 2006 at 09:49

   I enjoyed the film. Another great Scorcese effort. Since all the main characters ended up dead, has anyone pondered this: For me the enduring issue of the film was: who was the father of Madolyn's baby, Colin or Billy??!! Is the identity of the father a type of "good" vs "evil" legacy that Scorcese left us all to contemplate?

1. RR Says:
   October 24th, 2006 at 07:27

   Hey, this is for everybody who likes to think too much. In the end, are we just supposed to assume that Matt Damon was the "bad guy" and that Mark Wahlberg the good guy for killing the bad guy?
   
   Isn't it clear that the only person who knew about the Nicholson's FBI link was Mark Wahlberg? Wasn't he the ultimate guy who caused this whole mess? Somebody shed some light onto this!!!
   
   Thanks!
   

1. Ed Says:
   October 31st, 2006 at 07:04

   This is a great film, but similar to most other people I think the ending is too abrupt. In addition, Internal Affairs was able to create that intense atmosphere without the f word on every sentence and so much blood, which I think is brilliant. And Queenan's death falling from the roof was much more shoking in Internal Affairs, and again no blood in that scene too, well just a little.
   
   ***Spoilers if you plan to watch Internal Affairs***
   
   I think what makes the chinese version better is they don't plan to make this a "good" ending. Collin is arrested while he was found at the elevator with several dead bodies, and his result is up to viewers to decide.
   
   One important idea that was missed in The Departed is the (Chinese) Collin actually wants to be a good cop and erase his gangster identity. He actually wanted to kill Costello so nobody knows his real identity anymore, not because Costello shot at him.
   
   There is also Internal Affairs 3 which is also a great movie. The ending is another great one.

1. Me Says:
   November 21st, 2006 at 11:08

   "One important idea that was missed in The Departed is the (Chinese) Collin actually wants to be a good cop and erase his gangster identity. He actually wanted to kill Costello so nobody knows his real identity anymore, not because Costello shot at him."
   
   Ed, he cold-bloodedly murders the gangster boss in the original so he can hardly be called a "good cop."

1. Juice Says:
   November 30th, 2006 at 10:09

   I thought the Departed was good but not great. Great acting and this movie would be nothing without the cast. I think the worst part for me was the implausible female character. I have a couple questions, however, that I am hoping someone could answer:
   
   1) Is Mark Wahlberg's character good or bad? Just because he killed Collin at the end, cannot mean he is a "good cop". I don't see how it would be realsitic for a state police officer to be on an assasination mission. Was he working for someone? Did I miss something major here? Or was Scorsese just trying to find a "cool" way to kill Colin?
   
   2) I missed Costello's involvement with the FBI. Who was the FBI trying to bring down as the reasoning of using Costello as an informant? Why was he trying to shoot Collin before he got killed?
   
   and finally
   
   3) Was thus deplorable, unneccessary, unbelievable, female character in "Infernal Affairs"?
   
   there seems to be a lot of holes in the Departed that do not make sense, seems "Infernal Affairs" may have gotten it right.
   
   Please advise
   
   Thanks

1. Drew Says:
   January 12th, 2007 at 12:44

   I enjoyed the flick, acting, music, etc and finally saw Dicaprio reach full potential but the end was a total let down (I ain't never seen a rat creeping around in daylight like that- LAME!). I saw it overseas first (egypt) so I assumed I missed some key parts in censorship or edits, but after seeing the US version I realize I didn't miss anything, but the plot did. The baby issue is vexing but my immeditate thought on "departure" from the theater was that Wahlberg was the real "inside" man for organized crime. Plus what about the envelope? And the way the neighbors looked at and treated Damons character right before Wahlberg killed him. I have to assume that the envelope contained info to be released to the press and it broke, the neighbors saw it maybe on the news (unbeknownst to Damon). Arrghhh! I don't need to be spoonfed a plot or message but this left me with more questions than answers.

1. jkill Says:
   January 22nd, 2007 at 08:46

   Great cast, great movie, great ending. A bullet right in Leo's head as the elevator doors opened, whew! gotta love what that does to your 'WTF!? did what i think happened just happen!?' factor. unless of course your familiar w/ IA.
   
   The Departed suits western audiences much better, and plays just as well as the original. It wasn't so much an abrupt cop-out ending as it was an explosive climax. The entire film was a suspenseful chase which was inevitbaly going to lead to a conclusion where someone is going to have to die.
   It couldnt have stayed as it was otherwise it would've either never ended or the ending would've been to unsatisfactory or underwhelming. If you can see it in the light of some shakesperian tragedy it feels more suitable. Leo dying so.. normally (as any expendable bad guy extra-actor would), strikes a hefty emotional tone and let's u know who's lost and who's won (Damon).
   
   The final murder in the end did seem less... sensical. Until you refer back to the envelope Leo gave the female lead and what information it might have contained possibly linking Damon to his crimes. And that Mark's charatcer was the only one Leo knew he could trust. and since Mark had resigned he was out of contact. So how could Leo get the information to him IF he was killed? Connect the dots people.
   

1. Howard Says:
   February 5th, 2007 at 15:22

   Just saw the movie - amazing! For me - Nicholson, Nicholson, Nicholson! Just imagine the movie without him. Great acting, Scorcese at his best - welcome back Martin! I couldn't figure out Wahlberg's character - good or bad? I thought the language was way over the top and the rat at the end - well!

1. Joel Mueller Says:
   February 20th, 2007 at 17:05

   The Departed was awesome! Martin Scorsese was the best director for this movie because he put one of the greatest actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, the legendary Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson, Ray Winstone and the beautiful Vera Farminga. It had tons of action, good plot, good charachters and good stroyline. I think this movie is a winner!

1. brig Says:
   February 20th, 2007 at 23:24

   i didn't mind the ending but i do have a question; Mark Wahlberg is the mob right? I think he is and that actually takes the ending from a copout to a ligit ending. I didn't even question Marks role untill someone told me they hadn't even thought of that.

1. greenie Says:
   March 11th, 2007 at 21:56

   I thought that the whole point of the ending was that you did not know if Mark Wahlberg's character was good or bad.

1. Tselentis Says:
   March 17th, 2007 at 01:24

   Dignam could have been a villain or a hero. He is seen as a hero for avenging his dead colleagues; he could also be seen as one of Costello's men for cleaning up the mess that Sullivan left behind. The beauty of this ending resides in the fact that you have to do some investigation yourself before you reach a conclusion. The final scene plays a major role in defining the last two characters we see: Sullivan (major rat) is killed by Dignam, who has a rat walking on the balcony behind him. Rat + Rat = Rat?

1. Dan Says:
   April 14th, 2007 at 08:30

   I have lots of admiration for Martin Scorsese and the actors, but I really think this remake of Infernal Affairs do not come anywhere close and it was shocking to know how the american critics had hyped it up so much and made it sounded like it was such an original masterpiece where truth is: It is not. It is an absolutely lousy intepretation of Infernal Affairs but so little credit was given to Infernal Affairs original script. I could watch Infernal Affairs so many times but I was trying to get The Departed over and done with when I first watched it. It was so boring and shallow. The high context suspense and intricacies of the original script is no where to be seen in the departed, all I saw were desperate attempts to mimic and recreate the Infernal Affairs's mastery for the American audience. I cannot be more disappointed and it's to my utter shock that Martin Scorsese actually won an Oscar for this. I wonder how are things judged at the Osacrs, I really wonder.

1. Bart Verraest Says:
   April 16th, 2007 at 13:48

   Equally dissappointed when watching "The Departed" yesterday on DVD. Can't understand what's happening with the oscar nominations these days. A film like "Babel" is way better than this film. Happy I missed the oscars this year. Feel like never waching them again, they have lost all their credibility by nominating a bad remake of a much better Chinese film and I really loved watching the oscars show. I guess it is too hard for the mainstream American public and even, from the articles I read online, for American film critics to read subtitles on foreign films. Hollywood you are on your way down. Only Jack Nicholson could charm me in "The Departed" and I am happy he gave me the only good excuse for losing two hours of watching a bad film . I like the chinese original "Infernal Affairs" from which "The Departed" was badly copied so much more for the better pacing, better story telling, better cinematography, better actors, and less "fuck you's", "cocksucker's", and other common ways of adressing eachother in dialogues these days. I guess the last has to with martine's and the script writer's obsession for perversions...clearly. I find it old fashion to adress people like that in film today. We have seen it by now and only a few actors are really able to use these words as if they were really meaning it, as this film clearly demonstrates... And maybe I am wrong and is this perverted remake the only kind that the mainstream public in the US will go and see and pay for. That would be sad. But to all producers behind these mediocre films: please don't give this shit to us anymore, it's becoming hard to watch a good film in our cinemas these days...

1. April Says:
   May 30th, 2007 at 22:21

   Ummmm, whats with the yellow envelope?

1. Lee Says:
   August 9th, 2007 at 03:10

   An absolute brutal movie. The Director must hate all law-enforcement officers.
   I guess this really is what our country is all about: murder and blood. Sorry, but it was worthless.

1. Yesmina Says:
   August 21st, 2007 at 12:13

   When death came so shockingly and unexpectedly to DiCaprio the movie stopped imitating real life and became it. Fantastic directing. Deserved the Oscar. It shouldnt have gotten Best Picture though. Di Caprio was electrifying. Jack came a little bit overdone.The woman was...not good. Haven't seen Infernal Affairs but now it seems I must.

1. acitycop Says:
   October 28th, 2007 at 01:48

   I felt that the movie was great, except for one fatal flaw.... In the last seen DColin walks into his apartment wearing a green long sleeve polo and tan pants. Dignam is lying in wait and kills colin and then walks out. the camera then pans from the doorway to the floor where colin was lying, but it's not colin. it's not even matt damon. its some fat faced italian dude wearing a black turtle neck and grey pants.... WTF???!?! Where did this scene come from? What happend? Was matt damon out of town for the last shot? This was a total buz-kill to a great movie...

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