Christopher Todd is a movie critic for the Samford Crimson. The views expressed in this opinion article do not necessarily reflect the views of the Samford Crimson or Samford University.
Alright, we’ve made it to release day for Scorsese’s new epic, “Killers of the Flower Moon.” To celebrate, I’m reviewing yet another one of his heavy-hitting crime thrillers, “The Departed.”
“The Departed” is a fast-paced, intense film set in the seedy underbelly of Boston. It’s a complex, brilliant “Best Picture” Oscar winner that constantly keeps you on your toes. The film follows two central characters, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), as well as Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) and Queenan (Martin Sheen). DiCaprio gives an exceptional performance portraying the complicated Costigan, an undercover cop infiltrating the Irish mob. His scenes with mob boss Costello are especially electrifying.
The main themes of the film are corruption and loyalty. Most of the film’s time is spent with the police department chasing after Costello, with all of their attempts being thwarted by the efforts of a mole. This leads to a cat and mouse chase where the stakes are death or life in prison.
Scorsese’s direction makes for another classic hit. The film feels grounded and authentic to Boston, and his use of classic music like “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones just adds another layer of sophistication to the film. Although complex, the dialogue written by William Monahan is witty, clear and easy to follow. Many films can get caught up in a complicated story, and it can be a detriment to the film. That isn’t an issue here.
As with many Scorsese films, one of the main themes is morality. “The Departed” specifically deals with corruption and the blurred lines of good and evil when caught between both sides. The moral dilemmas in the film create tension-filled sequences that flesh out the characters and their motivations. Scorsese is a master at doing this naturally, never forcing character development.
This film isn’t underrated in the slightest, winning many awards, including Scorsese’s only “Best Director” Academy Award. However, I wanted to highlight it, as we very well could be seeing his next multi-award-winning film this week. This film has everything you want and more in a crime film.
Rating: 8.5/10
References
“The Departed.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 6 Oct. 2006, www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/.
