The Departed

The Departed

2006

Director: Martin Scorsese

Writer: William Monahan, Alan Mak, and Felix Chong

151 Minutes

In 1991, there was uproar in the film community about Martin Scorsese losing “Best Director” and “Best Picture” to Kevin Costner for Dances with Wolves. Scorsese admitted that Dances with Wolves was more academy appropriate, but he would continue to make films.

Fifteen years later, Scorsese took home his first Academy Award for “Best Director – The Departed.” He has had a great career full of blockbusters, presidential assignations, and a bit on Curb Your enthusiasm.

He never needed an Oscar, but it was well deserved.

The Departed is about the corruption within the Massachusetts State Police and organized crime in the city of Boston. The cast of characters includes DiCapiro, Damon, Nicholson, Wahlberg, Sheen, Baldwin, and the ever-so-sexy Vera Farminga. It was a remake from the 2002 film Infernal Affairs, which their rights were purchased for just under two million dollars.

The Departed went on to gross 289 million dollars worldwide, receiving four Oscars, and had a body count of 22 people.

Not bad, Mr. Scorsese.

In the scene above, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) shoots Barrigan (James Badge Dale) in the head after Barrigan shot both Brown (Anthony Anderson) and Billy (Leonardo DiCaprio). It’s shit show. It’s a blood bath. It’s what wins Oscars.

Everyone dies. Everyone should die. No one is good. Everyone is corrupt. Thus, everyone dies.

But the reason why this scene is important is because you know why everyone is killed. They all had reasons. Barrigan was working for Costello (Jack Nicholson), thus he shoots Billy. Brown walked into a murder scene that had an infinite amount of questions, thus Barrigan shoots him. Sullivan shoots Barrigan because if there are no witnesses, there would be only one story to tell.

And Billy was shot because we weren’t expecting it. BOOM. I mean, who shoots Leonardo DiCaprio in the face?

Martin Scorsese does.

But it was exciting. It was a fun. And it was an entertaining film. It was jammed packed with celebrities, brilliant writing, and great direction. This film came together perfectly, which is why it received not only the Academies approval, but the box office as well.

And Mr. Scorsese, it was a long fifteen years for one of the most celebrated directors in history to gain his prize. Bravo, sir.

In the end, I leave you with this:

“When you decide to be something, you can be it. That's what they don't tell you in the church. When I was your age they would say we can become cops, or criminals. Today, what I'm saying to you is this: when you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?” – Frank Costello

It’s true. What’s the difference.?