The Departed (2006)

Director: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan, Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson as Frank Costello, Mark Wahlberg as Staff Sgt. Dignam, Martin Sheen as Cpt. Queenan, Ray Winstone as Mr. French, Vera Farmiga as Madolyn, Anthony Anderson as Brown, Alec Baldwin as Cpt. Ellerby, Kevin Corrigan as Cousin Sean, James Badge Dale as Barrigan, David O'Hara as Fitzy (as David Patrick O'Hara), Mark Rolston as Timothy Delahunt, Robert Wahlberg as FBI Agent Frank Lazio, Kristen Dalton as Gwen

The Departed

The screenplay: Top Notch

The performances: all-star cast delivering all-star performances

The music: perfect

The Directing: Martin Scorsese at his finest and that is saying
something.

Once again Scorsese delivers a film that meets or exceeds the
expectations of its audience in nearly every way. There are moments of
incredible tension, violence, and drama, moments where characters
reveal their vulnerabilities and weakness. Comedic moments and moments
of sadness and through it all a multi layered and brilliant story is
told by an American film maker who once again proves Harvey Keitel
correct when he said, "Maybe he (Scorsese) got what he
deserves--exclusion from the mediocre."

This film is Scorsese's finest work since Raging Bull, but it is not
simply about Martin Scorsese or the amazing screen play by William
Monahan, it is more than an amazing score, and great cinematography.
While many of the accolades for this film belong to those behind the
scenes people who envisioned and directed this film. One would be
remiss to not point out the great performances of an all-star cast,
many of whom deliver the finest performances of long and storied
careers. Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio
and Matt Damon deliver incredible performances.

However the performance that stood out for me was Wahlberg, Mark
Wahlberg's Sgt. Dignam stole every scene he was in, and he shared
screen time with each of the afore mentioned actors. He gets to deliver
some of the best lines, and with every scene he leaves the audience
wanting more, and anticipating his next scene.

Since The Academy has had its collective heads stuck … for so long,
mentioning a Scorsese picture and Oscar in the same sentence seems to
be a waste of time. That being said I can not say if he will finally
win the Oscar that he has deserved for so long, as his major
competition (Flags of our Fathers) has yet to be released, I will say
that I expect to see Wahlberg nominated for best supporting, and Leo
and Damon will be pitted against one another once more, this time for
best actor, Monahan will be nominated for writing, and of course
Scorsese will be nominated for director. Also, it goes without saying a
best picture nomination will be in order for The Departed.

That was the long version; the short version is if you like a movie
with incredible performances, direction, music and visuals. If you like
a layered story that is not formulaic, in short if you appreciate film
making and story telling at its finest then see this film. Even with
the glowing reviews of myself and others, and the high expectations
they will undoubtedly bring I assure you that you will not be
disappointed.