Movie Review #1

Review for "The Departed" directed by Martin Scorsese

"The Departed"is about a group of agents working to take down a major crime boss, Costello.  The agents include characters Dignam, played by Mark Whalberg, Queenan, played by Martin Sheen, Ellerby, played by Alec Baldwin, and Billy, played by Leonardo Dicaprio, who is undercover and works for Costello.  Billy's entire life is erased and he is sent into prison to get into the game of organized crime.  He eventually comes into contact with Costello and starts to work for him, all the while relaying information back to agents.  However, Colin, played by Matt Damon, who is an agent, really works for Costello.  The story then circles around the idea that there are "rats" in both groups and both Billy and Colin struggle to find who the rat is without blowing their cover.  The plot is the main drive in this film because as soon as the realization of "rats" in both the Costello's group and in the agency, everything changes and it becomes a race to who can get to who first and the race becomes some character's demise.

Scorsese is known for his gang, mafia, mobster films and displays another side of crime in the modern day Irish Mafia in Massachusetts.  The dialogue contains a constant amount of cussing but, it only adds to the reality that we are in Massachusetts and witnessing the workings of the Irish Mafia.  Some may say that it detracts from the dialogue and somewhat causes the viewer to focus on the cussing and not the actual dialogue.  "Let the direct direct, and let the viewer learn to view" is what I like to say in these situations.  The best part of the film was the plot line and the fact it was very real and relatable.  The accurate portrayal of mob life is outstanding.  The twist of the two moles in the opposite departments adds an even greater drive to the movie and keeps the viewer to their seat wondering who is going to find who first and who will win, the mafia or the agency?

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and keep it as a classic in my books.  I also highly recommend this film to anyone who is either interested in a terrific story, outstanding acting for a star-studded cast, or a fan of any Scorsese movies in general because it is up there with "Goodfellas", "The Aviator" and "Gangs of New York" if not beyond them.