> The Departed

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The Departed

Cast
Leonardo Dicaprio
Matt Damon
Jack Nicholson
Mark Wahlberg
Martin Sheen
Alec Baldwin

.......Martin Scorsese' latest installment is a cops and robbers (or gangsters rather) style story which is an adaptation of the script from a 2002 Hong Kong action thriller called "Infernal Affairs"

The Plot

.......First off we have Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) who is recruited by Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) when he is a kid and joins the police force as a mole and quickly moves up the ranks to serve as a very useful informant. Next we have Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) who comes from a criminal background but has an earnest desire to be a cop but is recruited by the Boston State Police to serve as a mole in Costellos mob.This sets up the stage nicely and we have both these cops leading double lives in a quest to out-maneuver each other to give their own home team the advantage.

Story & Direction

.......The tale of how the Boston State police tries to wipe out the Irish mob. Scorsese has done a good job showcasing the city of Boston and the mob but I would say the major part of the story would be a series of events that shows the character of the main stars. The story moves along at a good pace with quite a few comic moments amidst the violence and action but is undone by its weak storyline especially the cliched ending with the obligatory twist in the story.

The Cast

.......Undoubtedly the stregth of the movie.. This movie is supported by a stellar cast. For starters Matt Damon carries off the role of a bad guy in a very convincing manner.This role is similar to that in The Talented Mr.Ripley and he keeps you guessing all the time. Leo DiCap as the good cop undercover does a good job too as a person working against his convictions in a very vulnerable and volatile situation that could turn sour at any moment.Then we have Jack Nicholson who i guess the movie is all about. He clearly is the class of the film playing the the eccentric gangster in a larger than life role... what ever scene he was in he excelled and he seemed perfect for the role

There were also the minor characters like Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg who played Costigans only contact in the police force and Alec Baldwin as Sullivans superior. All of them had small parts to play but shined in their roles too.

Watch out for a hilarious exchange between Alec and Mark!

Verdict - Definitely worth a watch

.......The pace of the movie and the calibre of the cast dont leave you bored but some parts were weak and leave you a bit unsatisfied at the end. So all in all I would rate it as a good time pass movie and not more.

Wouldn't recommend this as a family movie though due to the excessive use of off color language.