The Departed
| The Departed |
|
|---|---|
 |
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| Directed by | Martin Scorsese |
| Produced by | Brad Grey Graham King Roy Lee Brad Pitt |
| Written by | Screenplay (Infernal Affairs): Felix Chong Alan Mak Screenplay: William Monahan |
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio Matt Damon Jack Nicholson Mark Wahlberg Martin Sheen Anthony Anderson Vera Farmiga Ray Winstone and Alec Baldwin |
| Music by | Howard Shore |
| Cinematography | Michael Ballhaus |
| Editing by | Thelma Schoonmaker |
| Distributed by |  Warner Bros. (and worldwide with exceptions) Entertainment Film Distributors TFM Distribution Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company Medusa Distribuzione |
| Release date(s) | October 6, 2006 |
| Running time | 151 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English, Cantonese |
| Budget | $90 million |
| Gross revenue | $289,847,354 (worldwide) |
| Ratings | |
| Argentina | 16 |
|---|---|
| Australia | MA |
| Brazil | 18 |
| Canada (Alberta) | 18A |
| Canada (BC/SK) | 18A |
| Canada (Ontario) | 18A |
| Canada (Manitoba) | 18A |
| Canada (Quebec) | 13+ |
| Denmark | 15 |
| Finland | K-15 |
| France | U |
| Germany | 16 |
| Greece | K-13 |
| Hong Kong | IIB |
| India | A |
| Ireland | 16 (original) 18 (video) |
| Israel | 16 |
| Japan | R-15 |
| Malaysia | 18SG |
| Mexico | C |
| Netherlands | 16 |
| New Zealand | R16 |
| Norway | 15 |
| Philippines | R-13 |
| Portugal | M/16 |
| Singapore | M18 |
| South Korea | 15 |
| Spain | 18 |
| Sweden | 15 |
| Switzerland | 16 |
| United Kingdom | 18 |
| United States | R |
The Departed is a 2006 crime thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson. It is an American remake of the 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller Infernal Affairs. The film won four Academy Awards at the 79th Academy Awards, including the Best Picture, and a long-awaited Best Director win for Scorsese.
This film takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, where notorious Irish Mob boss Francis "Frank" Costello (Jack Nicholson) plants his protégé Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) as an informant within the Massachusetts State Police. Simultaneously, the police assign undercover cop Billy Costigan, Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio) to infiltrate Costello's crew. When both sides of the law realize the situation, each man attempts to discover the other's true identity before being found out.
Contents |
Plot
The film begins in South Boston and Charlestown, featuring a montage of riot footage with voice-over narration by Irish mob boss Francis "Frank" Costello (Nicholson), who expresses his belief that "a man makes his own way" in the world, and that "no one gives it to you... you have to take it." He is able to beguile a young neighborhood boy named Colin Sullivan (Played by Dylan Sherwood), who enters into Costello's criminal underground at a young age.
Years later, Colin Sullivan (now played by Damon) is finishing his training for the Massachusetts State Police, as, in a separate class, is William "Billy" Costigan Jr. (DiCaprio); both eventually graduate to become state troopers. Colin, who quickly distinguishes himself, is assigned to the Special Investigations Unit ("SIU") of the State Police by SIU's Captain Queenan (Sheen) and Staff Sergeant Dignam (Wahlberg). Queenan and Dignam also interview Billy, but are convinced that Costigan's family ties with the Boston underworld make Costigan unsuitable for anything other than undercover work. Costigan agrees to work for Queenan and Dignam's undercover division of SIU and become a mole in Costello's crime family. To make his new identity believable, SIU creates a false assault conviction for Costigan, who serves a jail sentence to comply with the sham conviction. The "conviction" also requires Costigan to be placed on probation upon release, and to attend mandatory psychiatry sessions with staff psychiatrist Dr. Madolyn Madden (Farmiga), who will later becomes Colin's love interest. Costigan's police academy record and file are concealed from the department, leaving only Queenan and Dignam with any knowledge of his true identity.
Sullivan is assigned to the organized-crime division of SIU, an "elite unit" headed by Captain Ellerby (Baldwin). The unit's only target is Costello, whom the unit attempts to apprehend in cooperation with the FBI. Although Dignam agrees to assist Ellerby's unit, he refuses to reveal any information about undercover informants to the organized-crime division of SIU. Costigan, in the meantime, infiltrates Costello's crew using his family connections and a "nothing to lose" character he fashions for himself while in Costello's presence (Costigan beats up two of Costello's rival (mafia men from Providence), as well as one of Costello's own underlings). Although suspicious of Costigan's motives, Costello adopts Costigan into his crime family after Costigan withstands a physically torturous inquisition into his police background by Costello.
Sullivan, in the meantime, works to tip-off Costello to police activity while moving his way up the ranks in SIU. Sullivan also attempts to work his way up the social strata, by initiating a romantic relationship with Dr. Madden. Shortly afterward, Madden begins seeing Costigan under the terms of his probation, and begins a simultaneous romantic relationship with Costigan of which Sullivan is unaware. Until the end of the relationship, Madden remains unaware that Costigan is actually a State police officer, instead falling in love with Costigan's concocted criminal persona.
After one of Costello's illegal transactions is nearly thwarted by SIU, Costello becomes convinced that there is a rat in his crew. Likewise, Costello's elegant evasion of SIU's heavy surveillance during the transaction tips Queenan and Dignam to the presence of an informer in SIU.
To catch the "rat" in his gang, Costello agrees to obtain the biographical information of his enforcers and transmit it to Sullivan in SIU for a records check. The information, including social security numbers, is collected on paper and placed in a distinctive envelope to be transmitted to Sullivan. Costigan, predicting that the envelope will be transmitted to the mole in SIU, follows the envelope and Costello, where Costigan observes the inter-change between Costello and his mole in a porno house (the film being played is an actual scene from Debbie Does Dallas - The Revenge). Costigan, however, cannot directly identify Costello's mole because of his vantage point. Attempting to discover Sullivan's identity, Costigan follows him through the streets, where Sullivan becomes alerted to Costigan's presence. Costigan eventually loses track of Sullivan in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood; and neither party becomes able to positively identify the other.
Meanwhile, SIU initiates its own measures to capture the mole(s) in its division. Captain Ellerby, beguiled by Colin's "immaculate record," assigns him to investigate SIU officers and locate the mole(s). Colin uses his new authority to instead target the mole in Costello's crew. He orders SIU officers to follow Captain Queenan, which eventually leads them to a building where Costigan has scheduled a meeting with Queenan. Colin quickly realizes that Queenan is meeting the informant in Costello's crew, and calls Costello to alert him. Costello orders his crew to the scene; and they arrive before the two officers can make their escape. Queenan orders Costigan to flee, and stays behind to confront Costello's crew alone, resulting in him being pushed off the roof to his death. Billy witnesses Queenan's body landing on the ground and is traumatized, blood on his hands and clothing from being so close to his body as it slams the pavement. He is able to pull himself together when he encounters the crew on their way out of the building, feigning his late arrival on the scene to help catch Costello's "rat."
The SIU, which is still present at the scene, opens fire on Costello's crew, wounding one of Costello's lieutenants, Timothy Delahunt (Mark Rolston). After a narrow escape, the crew gathers in one of Costello's hideouts where Delahunt lies dying. Delahunt, out of earshot of the others, reveals to Billy his certainty that Costigan is the mole, but states he has not informed any of the others. He reveals this bit of information when he realizes that he gave Billy the wrong address to where the potential mole in Costello's crew was meeting with Queenan, yet Billy is at the site they discover is the right address. Delahunt then expires, and a news report (watched by Costello and his men) states that he was a police informant, but Costello assures the others that "the cops are saying he's a cop so I won't look for the cop."
In the aftermath of Queenan's death, Colin orders Dignam to "unlock" the files on undercover officers for him; Dignam, knowing that this will expose Billy's identity, replies by punching Sullivan in the face and airing suspicions that Sullivan had a hidden motive for following Queenan which becomes a heated exchange. Ellerby, effectively Dignam's new boss since Queenan's death, steps in and places Dignam on a two week probation with pay, but Dignam resigns.
Colin then opens the box of evidence retrieved from Queenan's murder scene, and finds Queenan's cell phone with a stored number to his undercover in Costello's crew. Colin calls Billy and attempts to lure him out of hiding by pretending to be Queenan's replacement. While rifling through the other recovered articles of evidence, Colin finds a notation in Queenan's personal notebook indicating that Costello might be an informant for the FBI.
Costello is later tailed by SIU to a warehouse where he is to acquire packages of cocaine for distribution. Colin, disturbed by the possibility of Costello's informant identity, stages a police ambush at the warehouse. Billy, who has communicated with Colin to set up the ambush, slips away from the scene before the two sides engage in a shoot-out. Costello is badly wounded in the fray, but manages to slip away and contacts Sullivan for aid. Colin, however, confronts Costello about his status as an informant in the FBI, and demands to know whether Costello has alerted the FBI to Colin's criminal activities. A visibly guilty Costello attempts to kill Colin with a concealed pistol, but Colin manages to kill Costello first.
At the station, Colin is showered with praise from his co-workers, who remain unaware of his identity and relationship with Costello. Billy, who has come in after Costello's death to regain his identity, meets with Sullivan for the first time. While Colin leaves the room to retrieve Billy's file, Billy notices the distinctive envelope containing the crew's personal information sitting on Colin's desk and leaves the station. Colin returns to the room and, quickly realizing he'd been discovered, erases Billy's police record and file from the department database. Billy locates Madden and gives her an envelope, without disclosing its contents, only telling her to open it if anything should happen to him in the next few weeks.
Madden, at the apartment she shares with Colin, is tipped to the true identity of each when a piece of mail arrives, addressed from "WM Costigan" to Colin. It contains sound recordings of Colin and Costello's private conversations, along with Billy's phone number. A disgusted Madden plays the recordings for Sullivan, who dismisses them, but who nervously calls Costigan for an explanation. Costigan explains that the tapes, which Costello kept as a potential bid for immunity if he was arrested, had all been released to him by Costello's lawyer upon Costello's death. A gleeful Costigan also brags to Sullivan that when the lawyer approached Costigan about Costello's recordings, Costigan was the only man he trusted in his crew. Using the tapes as leverage, Costigan orders Sullivan to meet him later that day at the building where Queenan was killed.
On the building's rooftop, Costigan confronts and handcuffs Sullivan, intending to arrest him and reveal his part in Costello's organization. Costigan is determined to do so even as Sullivan reveals that he'd erased his record. Sullivan's SIU colleague, Officer Brown, (Anthony Anderson) (who attended M.S.P. training with Costigan and now the only one Costigan trusts) arrives shortly afterward (summoned by Costigan, but unaccompanied by Dignam, whom Costigan told Brown to bring) and orders Costigan to stand down. Costigan backs a soon to be whimpering Sullivan into an elevator at gunpoint, just after telling Brown that he has crucial evidence that Sullivan is guilty, which Brown seems to understand. When the elevator doors open on the ground floor, Costigan is shot through the head by Officer Barrigan, (who attended M.S.P. training with Sullivan) who then kills Brown when Brown reaches the ground floor and see's Costigan's body. Barrigan explains that he too was in Costello's employ, and appeals to Sullivan with solidarity, stating that they "must stick together" to survive. Instead, Sullivan shoots Barrigan in the side of the head to keep his involvement with Costello a secret and begins manipulating the crime scene. In his official report, Sullivan tells investigators that Barrigan, as Costello's lone mole, entered the building and shot both Costigan and Brown, whom Sullivan was unable to save. Sullivan closes by recommending William Costigan Jr. for the department's Medal of Merit.
At Costigan's funeral, the pregnant Madden angrily rebuffs Sullivan's attempts to reconcile their relationship, and it is unclear whether the child she is carrying is Sullivan's or Costigan's (it is implied in an earlier scene that Sullivan may be impotent). Not long after the funeral, in an unexpected twist ending, Sullivan returns home with groceries to find Dignam waiting in his apartment, with notable adjustments to his appearance to indicate he's covering his tracks. Sullivan realizes Dignam somehow knows of his treachery and escaped from punishment (it is implied that he was either tipped off by Madden, or alerted by Brown before the latter's death but received Brown's message too late). Having nowhere to go, Sullivan merely accepts his fate, and Dignam shoots him through the head with a suppressed pistol, and then exits the apartment. The film ends with a lone rat crawling on the apartment's balcony railing, which frames the gold dome of the Massachusetts State House in the background.
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Trooper William Matthew "Billy" Costigan Jr.; undercover officer
- Matt Damon as Det. Sgt. Colin Sean Sullivan; Costello's informant in the Special Investigations Unit
- Jack Nicholson as Francis "Frank" Costello; boss of the Boston Irish mob, successor to Jackie Costigan
- Mark Wahlberg as Sgt. Sean Dignam; second in command of the undercover unit
- Martin Sheen as Capt. Oliver Charles Queenan; commander of the undercover unit. (Scorsese had previously offered the role to both Robert De Niro, who had prior commitments filming The Good Shepherd[1], and Irish actor Gerard McSorley.)
- Vera Farmiga as Dr. Madolyn Madden; occupational psychiatrist and Sullivan's girlfriend
- Ray Winstone as Arnold French; Costello's right-hand man
- Alec Baldwin as Capt. George Ellerby; commander of the Special Investigations Unit
- Anthony Anderson as Trooper Brown; member of the Special Investigations Unit and Costigan's classmate at the MSP Academy
- James Badge Dale as Trooper Barrigan; member of the Special Investigations Unit and Sullivan's classmate at the state police academy
- David O'Hara as "Fitzy" Fitzgibbons; one of Costello's enforcers
- Mark Rolston as Timothy Delahunt; one of Costello's enforcers
- John Cenatiempo as Mark Brambilla; Providence mob associate
- Armen Garo as Eugene Fratti: Providence mob associate
- Kevin Corrigan as Sean; Billy's cousin
- Robert Wahlberg as FBI Agent Frank Lazio; FBI liaison to the special investigations unit
Themes
Film critic Stanley Kauffman describes a major theme of The Departed as one of the oldest in drama—the concept of identity—and how it "affects one's actions, emotions, self-assurance, and even dreams."[2]
The father-son relationship is a motif throughout the film. Costello acts as a father figure to both Sullivan and Costigan while Queenan acts as Costello's foil in the role of father-figure presenting both sides of the Irish-American father archetype.[3] Sullivan also refers to Costello as 'Dad' whenever he calls him to inform him of police activities. Additionally, the "good guys" appear to be the only men who are able to have sons; Queenan has a son at Notre Dame and Costigan has impregnated Madolyn with a son. Contrarily, Sullivan is unable to "keep it up" long enough to reproduce and Costello not only is childless, but in one scene his girlfriend is seen reading a book on how to get pregnant, implying there is no childbearing there.
In Rolling Stone magazine, Scorsese linked the zero-sum feeling of the end of his movie to real-world feelings toward terrorism and the war on terrorism.
Additionally, class issues are a major theme throughout the film, Sullivan, a working-class Irish-Catholic who desires to rise in the department, even as a mole, and moves into upper-class apartments and considers leaving the state, and Costigan, who comes from a working-class section of Boston but was raised in, and ultimately rejects, an upper-class environment. In addition, Costigan is referred to as "lace curtain Irish" by Dignam, presumably an officer of more humble Irish background.
Homages
- In homage to the 1932 film Scarface (a film by Howard Hughes, directed by Howard Hawks), Scorsese inserted the X (a symbol of death, or departure) in various shots to signify those who would become "the departed." In several cases, the "X" appears multiple times for a character. This is most prevalent after the title "The Departed" first appears on screen, as a wave of Xs can be seen layered over Sullivan at his apartment, and through a fence over Costigan while he walks the prison halls. Other instances include Xs in the windows at the moment of Queenan's death, and on the bridge above the construction yard at the time of Costello's death. There are also X's in the structure outside the window of the Terminal where Bill Costigan is contemplating flying away, a very obvious placing of one on the envelope of the note with social security numbers, and on the floor outside of Sullivan's apartment. Though it is considered that the most prevalent of all is when Costigan has Sullivan handcuffed in the elevator just prior to his death. A black X can be seen in duct tape on the wall behind them. Also before Officer Brown is killed, you can see a white X in his elevator wall which his head passes by in the same spot where Barrigan shoots him in the head.[4][5] And when Sullivan walks to his apartment at the end of the film, there are red Xs on the carpet, just before he is shot.
- After Sullivan leaves the porn theater, the chase through Chinatown is a tribute to Orson Welles's The Lady from Shanghai, with the shot of the glass mobile recalling the famous house-of-mirrors scene.[6]
- The funeral scene, where Madolyn walks away from Sullivan without speaking to him, pays homage to The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed, where Anna walks away from Holly Martins.[7]
Soundtrack music
There were two albums released for The Departed, one presenting the original score composed for the movie by Howard Shore, and the other featuring earlier recordings, mostly pop/rock songs, which were used on the soundtrack.
Music from the Motion Picture album
| The Departed | ||
|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack by Various Artists | ||
| Released | November 7, 2006 | |
| Genre | Rock Film music Country Pop |
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| Label | Warner Sunset | |
| Producer | Jason Cienkus | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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The movie opens with "Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones and prominently plays "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys with lyrics written by Woody Guthrie, which gained the band some popularity. "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" was also used in the CBS News radio brief the morning following the Oscars, with the intro of "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" playing in the background as the awards were announced. Similarly, in an episode of The Simpsons ("The Debarted"), the song was used multiple times. The film also features a live version of "Comfortably Numb" by Roger Waters and Van Morrison from the 1990 Berlin Wall Concert which was originally by Pink Floyd.
Although "Gimme Shelter" is featured in the film, the song does not appear on the album soundtrack. Also heard in the movie but not featured on the soundtrack is "Thief's Theme" by Nas, "Well Well Well" by John Lennon, "Bang Bang" by Joe Cuba and the Act II Sextet from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.
The movie closes with a cover of Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams," interpreted by Roy Buchanan.
Track Listing
- "Comfortably Numb" (Roger Waters Feat. Van Morrison and The Band, version from The Wall Concert in Berlin) – 7:59
- "Sail On, Sailor" (Beach Boys) – 3:18
- "Let It Loose" (Rolling Stones) – 5:18
- "Gimme Shelter" (Rolling Stones) - 4:31
- "Sweet Dreams" (Roy Buchanan) – 3:32
- "One Way Out" (Allman Brothers Band) – 4:57
- "Baby Blue" (Badfinger) – 3:36
- "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" (Dropkick Murphys) – 2:34
- "Nobody But Me" (Human Beinz) – 2:18
- "Tweedle Dee" (LaVern Baker) – 3:10
- "Sweet Dreams (Of You)" (Patsy Cline) – 2:34
- "The Departed Tango" (Howard Shore, Marc Ribot) – 3:32
- "Beacon Hill" (Howard Shore, Sharon Isbin) – 2:33
Original Score album
| The Departed | ||
|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack by Howard Shore | ||
| Released | December 5, 2006 | |
| Genre | Soundtracks Film music |
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| Label | New Line | |
| Producer | Jason Cienkus | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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The film score for The Departed was written by Howard Shore and performed by guitarists Sharon Isbin, G.E. Smith, Larry Saltzman and Marc Ribot. The score was recorded in Shore's own studio in New York State.
Track Listing
- "Cops or Criminals" – 2:01
- "344 Wash" – 2:03
- "Beacon Hill" – 2:36
- "The Faithful Departed" – 3:01
- "Colin" – 2:09
- "Madolyn" – 2:14
- "Billy's Theme" – 6:58
- "Command" – 3:15
- "Chinatown" – 3:16
- "Boston Common" – 2:53
- "Miss Thing" – 1:45
- "The Baby" – 2:48
- "The Last Rites" – 3:05
- "The Departed Tango" – 3:38
- "Give Me Shelter"
Boston setting
Born to an Irish-American family in the Boston neighborhood of Dorchester, Massachusetts, William Monahan (who adapted the screenplay from Infernal Affairs) incorporates the culture and history of Boston heavily into the film. The first images are news clips from the busing riots of the 1970s, over which Costello muses about the city's troubled racial history. Several times, Dignam refers to Costigan as "lace curtain," a term used primarily in the Boston metropolitan area by working-class Irish-Americans to disparage upper-middle class Irish-Americans who have "strayed from their roots" in their attempt to better themselves.
The majority of the characters have the non-rhotic Boston accent. The Massachusetts State House is also featured in the film as a symbol of Colin Sullivan's ambition. Boston Red Sox apparel is seen and worn, including the appearance of a now-out-of-print "Reverse The Curse" bumper sticker on the wall at SIU headquarters. Also, in a bar scene the logo of the Harpoon Brewery, which has locations in Boston and Windsor, Vermont, is clearly seen. Costello and his gang drive over the Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in one scene. The building off which Queenan is thrown (and where Costigan and Sullivan later meet) is in the Fort Point section of South Boston with the downtown skyline as backdrop (the fictitious "344 Wash" is actually an alley between Farnsworth Street and Thomson Place). The John Hancock Tower is referenced by Costello, who also makes an obscure but, according to urban legend, accurate reference to "the Fens"--a section of the Fenway--as a popular spot for gay cruising. Boston's Chinatown is also portrayed in a crucial scene which is somewhat inaccurate, as the neighborhood is no longer home to pornographic movie theaters. Characters are shown working in the striking, Brutalist Government Service Center downtown. The film includes the song "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys, an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Other references include state locations such as Route 128, regions such as the North Shore, there is a shot of the Park Street and South Station MBTA Red Line stops, local towns such as Brockton, Worcester, Gloucester, and Somerville while having turf wars with crew from nearby Providence, a cameo by the Lynn police, mention of the Dedham Mall (located in Dedham just southwest of Boston), and state slang like "Staties," a local nickname for Massachusetts State Police troopers. Also, Deerfield Academy, a boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, is referenced when Dignam points out that Costigan was expelled from the school after assaulting the gym teacher (though in reality Deerfield, like most Independent Schools, has no gym class). Additionally, the label on Costigan's prescription bottle shows a Beverly Street address in Boston.
The character Frank Costello was largely based on James "Whitey" Bulger, a real life Irish-American mobster in Boston who was secretly an FBI informant for over three decades. The revelation that the FBI had long protected Bulger and his gang from prosecution caused a major scandal in Boston law enforcement. Bulger was believed to have been seen coming out of a theater showing the film in San Diego in November 2006.[8][9] Matt Damon's character is based on John Connolly, the FBI agent who tipped off Bulger for years, allowing him to evade arrest. In real life, Bulger went into hiding and is still presumed to be at large, currently occupying a spot on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list; Connolly is currently imprisoned for his role in Bulger's criminal activities.[10] Costigan's undercover role as a former State trooper who joins the Irish mob parallels the story of Richard Marinick, a former State trooper who later joined Whitey Bulger's crime syndicate. Costigan also lives in Somerville, where Bulger's Winter Hill Gang began. Thomas Duffy, the film's technical advisor (he also plays the Governor at the State Police Academy graduation ceremony), is a former MSP major who was assigned to investigate the Irish mob upon making detective.
Reception
The Departed was highly anticipated when it was released on October 6, 2006 to overwhelmingly positive reviews. The film is currently one of the highest-rated wide release films of 2006 on Rotten Tomatoes at 92% [11].
Popular critic James Berardinelli awarded the film four stars out of four, praising it as "an American epic tragedy." He went on to compare the film favorably to the onslaught of banality offered by American studios in recent years. "The movies have been in the doldrums lately. The Departed is a much needed tonic," he wrote. He also went on to claim that the film deserves to be ranked alongside Scorsese's past successes, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas.[12]
Andrew Lau, the co-director of Infernal Affairs, who was interviewed by Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, said, "Of course I think the version I made is better, but the Hollywood version is pretty good too. [Scorsese] made the Hollywood version more attuned to American culture." Andy Lau, one of the main actors in Infernal Affairs, when asked how the movie compares to the original, said, "The Departed was too long and it felt as if Hollywood had combined all three Infernal Affairs movies together."[13] Lau pointed out that the remake featured some of the "golden quotes" of the original but did have much more swearing. He ultimately rated The Departed 8/10 and said that the Hollywood remake is worth a view, though "the effect of combining the two female characters in the original into one isn't as good as in the original," according to Lau's spokeswoman Alice Tam.[14]
The film also evoked some controversy in Boston. Michael Patrick MacDonald, author of the Southie memoirs All Souls and Easter Rising, wrote an op-ed piece for The Boston Globe[15] praising the film's ability to recreate the "strangulating" culture created by Boston gangsters, politicians, and law enforcement officials at all levels of local, state, and federal government - a culture of violent death and silence that led to years of young suicides and an epidemic of painkilling through heroin and Oxycontin, the latter even shown in the film. The op-ed piece caused a stir in Boston, eliciting a missive from a South Boston state senator as well as letters from South Boston real estate agents concerned about the "negative" depiction of the "trendy" neighborhood of South Boston.
The film grossed $26,887,467 in its opening weekend, becoming the third Scorsese film to debut at #1. The film saw small declines in later weeks, remaining in the list of top ten films for seven weeks. The film grossed $132,384,315 domestically and $289,835,021 worldwide. Budgeted at $90 million, the film is believed to be the most commercially successful of Scorsese's features and is his highest-grossing film to date, easily beating The Aviator's previous record of $102.6 million.
The film won four Academy Awards at the 79th Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Martin Scorsese) (The latter was thought to be long overdue, and some entertainment critics subsequently referred to it as Scorsese's "Lifetime Achievement" Oscar), Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), and Best Adapted Screenplay (William Monahan). Mark Wahlberg was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance, which he lost to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine.
Top ten lists
The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2006.[16]
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Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal, Ruthe Stein of the San Francisco Chronicle, and Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer named it one of the top ten best films of 2006.[16] Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times named it the best film of 2006.
Awards and nominations
| Award | Category | Winner/Nominee | Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Best Editing | Thelma Schoonmaker | ||
| Best Picture | |||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Mark Wahlberg | No | |
| American Cinema Editors (ACE) | Best Edited Feature Film - Dramatic | Thelma Schoonmaker | Yes |
| Art Directors Guild (ADG) | Excellence in Production Design - Contemporary Film | No | |
| Austin Film Critics | Best Actor | Leonardo DiCaprio | Yes |
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | ||
| Boston Film Critics | Best Cast | No | |
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes | |
| Best Film | |||
| Best Screenplay | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Mark Wahlberg | ||
| BAFTA Film Awards | Best Actor | Leonardo DiCaprio | No |
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | ||
| Best Editing | Thelma Schoonmaker | ||
| Best Film | |||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | ||
| Broadcast Film Critics | Top 10 Films of the Year (#3) | ||
| Best Actor | Leonardo Dicaprio | No | |
| Best Cast | |||
| Best Composer | Howard Shore | ||
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes | |
| Best Film | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | No | |
| Best Writer | William Monahan | ||
| Chicago Film Critics | Best Actor | Leonardo DiCaprio | No |
| Best Cinematography | Michael Ballhaus | ||
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes | |
| Best Film | |||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | No | |
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics | Top 10 Films of the Year (#2) | ||
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes | |
| Directors Guild of America (DGA) | Outstanding Directorial Achievement | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Florida Film Critics | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Best Film | |||
| Best Screenplay | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | ||
| Golden Globe Awards[17] | Best Actor - Drama | Leonardo DiCaprio | No |
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes | |
| Best Film - Drama | No | ||
| Best Screenplay | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Mark Wahlberg | ||
| Kansas City Film Critics | Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | Yes |
| Las Vegas Film Critics | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Best Editing | Thelma Schoonmaker | ||
| Best Film | |||
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Villain | Jack Nicholson | Yes |
| National Board of Review | Top 10 Films of the Year (#4) | ||
| Best Cast | Yes | ||
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | ||
| New York Film Critics | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Best Film | No | ||
| Best Screenplay | William Monahan | ||
| National Society of Film Critics | Best Supporting Actor | Mark Wahlberg | Yes |
| Online Film Critics | Best Actor | Leonardo DiCaprio | No |
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes | |
| Best Editing | Thelma Schoonmaker | No | |
| Best Film | |||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Mark Wahlberg | ||
| Producers Guild of America (PGA) | Motion Picture Producer of the Year | Graham King | No |
| Phoenix Film Critics | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Best Editing | Thelma Schoonmaker | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | ||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Cast | Yes | |
| Best Director | Martin Scorsese | No | |
| Best Film - Drama | Yes | ||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Leonardo DiCaprio | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jack Nicholson | No | |
| Screen Actors Guild (SAG) | Best Cast | No | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Leonardo DiCaprio | ||
| Southeastern Film Critics | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Best Film | |||
| Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | ||
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics | Best Director | Martin Scorsese | Yes |
| Writers Guild of America (WGA) | Best Screenplay - Adapted | William Monahan | Yes |
London Film Critics Circle:
- Nominated: Film of the Year
- Nominated: British Producer (Graham King)
- Nominated: Best Director (Martin Scorsese)
Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards:
- Won: Best Gangstertainment
Toronto Film Critics Association:
- Nominated: Best Picture
- Nominated: Best Director (Martin Scorsese)
- Nominated: Best Supporting Male Performance (Mark Wahlberg)
- Nominated: Best Screenplay (William Monahan)
Home video releases
The Departed was released by Warner Brothers on DVD on February 13, 2007 in Region 1 format and on February 19, 2007 in Region 2 format, and has also been released on March 14, 2007 in Region 4 format. The film is available in a single-disc full screen (1:33:1), single-disc widescreen (2:40:1) edition, and 2-disc special edition. The second disc of this film predominately contains features that concerned the crimes that influenced Scorsese with deleted scenes being the only feature that are actually film related. The Region 1 version has three available audio tracks: English, Spanish, and French (all of which are in Dolby Digital 5.1), and also three subtitle tracks (English, Spanish, French). The film was also released on HD DVD and Blu-ray at the same time as the standard-definition DVD. The 2-Disc Special Edition was also packaged in a Limited Edition Metal Steelbook. It also marked the first time that an Oscar winning Best Picture was released to the home video market only in the DVD format, as VHS was totally phased out by the start of 2006; the 2005 Best Picture, Crash, was the last Oscar winner to be issued in the VHS format.
Potential sequel
In February 2007, Mark Wahlberg had an interview with Empire Magazine about The Departed 2. Although the film hasn't been greenlit yet, Wahlberg stated that there might be a sequel focusing on his character, Dignam, and they're considering bringing in Robert De Niro to play a corrupted senator or a congressman. Scorsese regular Harvey Keitel is also mentioned. He also stated that William Monahan is busy penning the script and that shooting could begin sometime in "the beginning of next year or end of this year."[18]
However, the film is said to be on hold, due to producer Brad Grey's involvement since he's now the head of Paramount Pictures and the film is a Warner Bros. project.[19]
See also
- Infernal Affairs
- Infernal Affairs II
- Infernal Affairs III
- Irish American
- Irish Mob
- 79th Academy Awards
- Plan B Entertainment
- The Debarted
- Triad [underground Societies]
Notes
- ↑ Tom Charity (2006-10-09). "Review: 'Departed' is fiercely entertaining", CNN.
- ↑ Kauffmann, Stanley. (Oct 30, 2006). Themes and Schemes. New Republic. Vol. 235, Issue 18.
- ↑ 'The Departed'
- ↑ John Maguire (2006-10-04). "Departed to the Judgement". Confessions of a Film Critic. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
- ↑ Rene Rodriguez (2007-01-07). "X marks the spot in The Departed". Reeling - MiamiHerald.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
- ↑ John Maguire (2006-10-04). "Departed to the Judgement". Confessions of a Film Critic. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
- ↑ John Maguire (2006-10-04). "Departed to the Judgement". Confessions of a Film Critic. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
- ↑ Was that Whitey departing the departed? California cop believes he saw Bulger flee flick
- ↑ http://www.kfmb.com/features/crimefighters/story.php?id=70214 Mob Boss James “Whitey” Bulger Spotted In San Diego
- ↑ FBI - Most Wanted - The FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
- ↑ The Departed - Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes
- ↑ Review: Departed, The
- ↑ "Andy Lau comments on The Departed (Chinese)" (2006-10-06). Retrieved on 2006-10-06.
- ↑ "Andy Lau Gives 'Departed' an 8 Out of 10" (2006-10-07). Retrieved on 2006-10-07.
- ↑ Revisiting Southie's culture of death - The Boston Globe
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Metacritic: 2006 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ↑ "HFPA - Nominations and Winners". goldenglobes.org. Retrieved on 2008-01-08.
- ↑ Empire Online (2007-02-07). "Exclusive: News On Departed 2... And 3!", Empire. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
- ↑ Stax (2007-02-05). "No Departed 2 Just Yet", IGN. Retrieved on 2007-02-07.
Further reading
- Brad Balfour. "MARTIN SCORSESE, LEONARDO DiCAPRIO, MATT DAMON, VERA FARMIGA AND WILLIAM MONAHAN (records two 40-minute press conference sessions)", PopEntertainment.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-10.
External links
- Official website of The Departed
- The Departed at the Internet Movie Database
- The Departed at Allmovie
- The Departed at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Departed at Metacritic
- The Departed at Box Office Mojo
- The script at imsdb
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Crash |
Academy Award for Best Picture 2006 |
Succeeded by No Country for Old Men |
| Preceded by Open Season |
Box office number-one films of 2006 (USA) October 8, 2006 |
Succeeded by The Grudge 2 |
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