Never has the line between police officer and career criminal been spread so thin.
Martin Scorsese's latest crime epic, "The Departed," is a spellbinding, entrancing, character driven gangster masterpiece. It delivers on all fronts, complete with superb direction and even better acting.
Set against the backdrop of a crime-ridden South Boston, the film is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film, "Internal Affairs," which also received critical acclaim. Although Scorsese is more commonly known for his original works such as "Raging Bull" and "Taxi Driver," the application of his innovative style and masterful storytelling to the initial story is mesmerizing.
The film tells the tale of two men on opposite sides of the spectrum. Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio, "Catch Me if You Can") is a rookie police officer with family ties to the Irish mob and is asked to infiltrate and subsequently rat out mob boss Frank Costello, played by the dynamic Jack Nicholson ("Something's Gotta Give").
Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon, "Syrianna") plays the surrogate son of Costello, who quickly rises within the ranks of the Massachusetts state police and continuously tips off the mob before the cops are able to make a bust.
The underlying theme of the film blurs the difference between cop and criminal. Both men represent different sides of the law, but they have more in common than meets the eye.
Nicholson delivers the most enthralling performance of the film, showing off some serious acting chops as he nears 70. As the mob boss, he ruthlessly portrays the type of villain that audiences love to watch and only Scorsese can deliver, similar to the antagonists in "Gangs of New York" and "Cape Fear."
DiCaprio is quickly becoming Scorsese's next DeNiro, taking the lead role in his last three films and once again producing stellar results. Since "Titanic," DiCaprio has chosen his roles very carefully and has established himself as arguably the most talented actor of his generation.
Damon delivers as well, proving that he can also play a wide variety of roles, from pretty boy, to action star, to cunning criminal. His performance as the emotionally torn and perpetually doomed Sullivan is enough to evoke sympathy from the audience, although they constantly remain aware of his ill intentions and wicked morality.
Although "The Departed" is extremely brutal, it does offer several instances of dark humor. The dialogue is infectious and the film is filled with memorable lines and quotes.
Besides the three lead characters, the film features a talented supporting cast including Mark Wahlberg ("Invincible"), Alec Baldwin ("Fun with Dick and Jane"), and Martin Sheen ("We the People"). Overall, the actors are on point and come complete with authentic Irish accents.
The performances are complemented by the interweaving plot lines that form an intricate web of espionage and deceit. With a climatic conclusion and stunning message, the film is truly disconcerting and will leave viewers thinking about it for days after the movie has ended.
