MovieMantz Reviews: ‘The Departed’

Scorsese’s Dearly ‘Departed’ Rat Pack
by Scott Mantz

“The Departed”
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Thanks to an assured slight of hand, a deftly-written screenplay and superb performances from some of the most elite members of the Hollywood Boys Club, “The Departed” easily fits the bill as Martin Scorsese’s finest directorial effort since 1990’s “Goodfellas.” After over-playing his hand just a bit in an attempt to woo Academy voters with his last two films — 2002’s sprawling “Gangs of New York” and 2004’s overly ambitious biopic “The Aviator” — Scorsese finds himself back in his comfort zone with a crime epic about loyalty and deception that’s deeply engaging and viciously entertaining from start to bloody finish.

Re-teaming with Scorsese for the third time in as many films, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, a rookie cop in the Massachusetts Police Department who goes undercover to infiltrate South Boston’s top organized crime ring. What he doesn’t yet know is that Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), the mob’s ruthless boss, has a mole of his own, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), firmly planted in the department’s Special Investigations Unit in an effort to keep him one step ahead of their game. It doesn’t take long for both sides to realize that they have moles in their midst, and from then on, Costigan and Sullivan race against time to expose each other before they’re caught like rats in a trap.

Based upon the popular 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller “Infernal Affairs,” “The Departed” is extremely faithful to the original film while greatly expanding upon its premise in all the right ways. Not only is William Monahan’s terrific screenplay teeming with razor-sharp dialogue, but the story also digs deeper into the deteriorating psychological states of the moles as they struggle to maintain their true identities and moral dignity. There’s also the matter of Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), the psychiatrist who unwittingly falls for both men — a somewhat contrived subplot that was not explored in the Chinese version.

But despite the added romance and the presence of Hollywood’s hottest beefcakes — heck, even Brad Pitt threw his hat into the ring, co-producing the film through his “Plan B” production shingle — “The Departed” is first and foremost a movie for guys who like movies. As is usually the case with Scorsese’s crime dramas, the soundtrack consists mostly of popular music, there’s an awful lot of violence and bloodshed, and the testosterone-fueled cast members get in each other’s faces and drop the “F”-bomb like there’s no tomorrow.

And talk about a dream cast: Leonardo DiCaprio gives his fiercest performance to date as the emotionally battered cop trying to hold onto his humanity, while Matt Damon puts his cocky charm to good use as the arrogant rat who tries to keep his head above water without breaking a sweat. Vera Farmiga holds her own as the love interest caught between the two men, Mark Wahlberg steals his scenes with a strong supporting performance, and Jack Nicholson lets loose with an endearingly charismatic, viciously intimidating and appropriately over-the-top turn as the badass crime boss.

Setting “The Departed” in the world of Boston’s Irish mob rather than New York’s Italian mafia was a wise choice, since the latter would have felt like a cliché for Scorsese after so many movies in that world. And despite expanding upon its source material, moviegoers would be wise to avoid the original Hong Kong version if they want to be surprised by the key plot developments in the new film. Sure, “The Departed” isn’t likely to score any major awards at next year’s Oscars, but that’s okay. All that matters is that it’s a terrific movie and that Scorsese is back at the top of his game.

VERDICT: SEE IT!