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Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Departed |
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The Departed is set in South Boston, where the state police force is waging war on the Irish mafia run by Frank Costello (Nicholson). At the police academy, two young cops go through training and travel down two different paths. Undercover cop Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) is assigned to infiltrate Costello's mob since his family's ties to the Irish mafia gives him credibility. Colin Sullivan (Damon) a loyal criminal for Costello infiltrates the Massachusetts state police as an informer for the mafia.
As Billy establishes a violent reputation (handing out several brutal beat-downs) and gaining Costello's trust, Colin rapidly rises to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit (unbeknowst to everyone on the force). Each man becomes consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. Although the two don't meet for most of the movie, further complications arise when Billy becomes intimately involved with his police psychiatrist (Farmiga), who just so happens to be Colin's girlfriend.
Soon, both the mob and the police realize that they each have a mole in their midst. Colin (ironically) is assigned to hunt down the mole in the force and Billy teeters on the edge of discovery several times. Each subsequent scene draws the two closer--as they dodge their friends made during their long stints undercover--and try to root each other out into the open while juggling their real bosses. The events leading up to their eventual climactic meeting is exciting and heart-wrenching.
--Sarah Kim, Resident Scholar
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In “The Departed” state police force is trying to waging war on organized crime. The state police assign their young undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) to gain access to the mob organization. The criminal organization is run by Costello (Jack Nicholson).
As Billy is quickly gaining Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is a hard-edged young criminal. Colin has gain access to the police department as an informer for the criminal organization and he is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Both Billy and Colin become deeply devoted to their double life.
Billy and Colin gather information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations Costello has penetrated but when it becomes clear to both the criminal organization and the state police that there's a mole in their middle. It's hard to identify which one of Billy and Colin is working for the police and which one of them is with the gangsters. Billy and Colin both are suddenly in danger of being caught and uncovered by the enemy and each must battle to uncover the real identity of the other man in time to save himself.
This movie is rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material. Filming locations are Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York, New York USA and Quincy, Massachusetts, USA.
--Faiza Iqtidar, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Departed |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 50%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 35%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 15%
Time/Era of Movie:
- present (2000-2010)
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Crime story:
- catching/stopping killer
Criminal enemy is...
- Mafia conflict
Romance
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- blonde
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- cynical
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- muscular (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- general circumstances
Age:
- 60's-90's
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- gory visuals of deaths
- very gory visuals of deaths and torture
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
How many deaths in film?
- 8 or more
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
- touching of personal anatomy
Kind of violence:
- guns
Any profanity?
- A huge amnt of foul language
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Modern rock/pop
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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