The Departed [Blu-ray] [2006]

I don't know exactly what it is that makes me like this movie. The direction was impeccable, the acting was robust and precise. But I guess, more than most movies I just like the feeling. A melancholic despair and struggle to stay alive. Like most of the main characters, I find it hard to really know who I am and what side I am on. Living in a grey area is hard and wearing masks and changing them frequently to keep everyone fooled makes your bones feel old. The constant feeling that its all going to come crashing down on your head and any minute your going to get that call, or that knock on the door when they have come to tell you that got you figured out and its all over. That feeling that no matter how hard you try, you are living in someone else's story and your fate is as easily changed by the whims of more powerful and sometimes more monstrous people. This movie, about people with multiple lives and roles to play, played by people who are themselves actors is a meta-lesson that reminds us that the Bard said it best "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits..." And as Francis reminds us in the film "Act accordingly."

I went into this movie FULLY expecting just some stupid "Bad Boys" type garbage with just mindless shooting and explosions. At the time I knew nothing of the director or writers, but now that I do, I feel foolish for the expectations that I had for this movie. This movie completely knocked me over with how amazing it was. The movie constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat and is incredibly suspencful! This movie is a prime example of Leo DiCaprio's true acting ability. I am a huge fan of him and Matt Damon, so when I heard all of the buzz about this movie from my friends, and learned that they were BOTH in it, I bought it that day, and I was most definitely not let down! This movie had some of the best acting I've ever seen! If you buy this movie, i can almost guarantee that you will love it. I honestly cannot find one thing I didn't like about this movie except part of the end, which I cannot say because it will spoil it. Let me leave it at, "The elevator scene left me unsatisfied with how things played out." BUT, the end TOTALLY made up for it. This movie has an end to it that makes you want to jump up and say "Yes!!" Besides that, this movie is a definitely buy! It has intense language, prettyu good action, a VERY suspencful story with a few twists, and very interesting characters.

First of all, the acting, directing, and just about everything else was state of the art. Jack Nicholson was perfect as Frank Costello, a mob boss who is in charge of the organized crime ring in Boston. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, an undercover cop who sneaks his way into Costello's gang so he can be an informant for the police department. Meanwhile, Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan, an informant for Costello's mob who works for the police department, and is on his way to be promoted in the Special Investigations Unit. Both men cross paths, and fall in love with the same woman - a psychologist played by Vera Farmiga from the little-known indie Running Scared. Each man starts to become consumed by their work, and when they are both in danger of being found out, only then do tensions rise, and things get a little out of hand. The performances from the leads are all Oscar-worthy. Great American adaptation of a Foreign Film.

Although not as good as "Casino," "Goodfellas" or "Taxi Driver," "The Departed" is still a great film from Martin Scorsese. The film is about a criminal (Jack Nicholson) who has a friend working for the police in Boston (Matt Damon). There's also an undercover officer working for the criminal (Leonardo DiCaprio). During the film's two and a half hours, these storylines intersect and make for one excellent film. Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen are outstanding as superior officers. The plot twists are natural and engaging. The violence is quick and brutal. The characters are believable -- it's good to see Matt Damon playing a real character who has a personality instead of the boring, soulless Bourne. While big fans of "The Departed" will want the two-disc edition, the single-disc version is sufficient for causal fans. The film has a nice widescreen transfer and the theatrical trailer. Highly recommended.

Scorsese has a streak for having a masterpiece each decade, Taxi Driver in 70's, Raging Bull in 80's, Goodfellas in 90's and now The Departed in the new millenium. He handled this piece of work with masterful techniques. The bad language is no problem, like other reviews here said, after all, a film is suppose to be accurate to what it's portraying, and this is a crime film that has to do with gangsters and moles. Leo is great overall but in some scenes his character is transformed into someone different from the two characters he's already playing (the paranoid cop, and the raging mole). after a while i forget about this because that flaw is layered with the other stars magnificent performances..especially Mark Wahlberg's shoulda-been Oscar winning performance, that with every appearance he makes on screen, makes me laugh. It is definetly a masterpiece, and no, I dont get tired of watching it.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, the story of The Departed was adapted from Infernal Affairs, the original Hong Kong crime thriller film that gained overwhelmingly acclaims in Asia when first released in 2002. The film is considered to be Scorsese's masterpiece crime classic since the production of GoodFellas. This steelbook version has very unique art design compares to the regular dvd and bluray release, with a gun that has the profile of the city on top. The only thing that's missing is the inside arts of the steelbook, but nevertheless that brings the opportunity to customize it. I purchased this steelbook for $9.99 when it was on sale even I already have the regular versions, don't hesitate to get this if anyone likes the film because this would make a good collectible item on the shelf.

This is probably scorseses best film, to which he won best director. The movie is about the irish mob in boston which isn't something many people are aware of. The casting in this film is probably one of the best i have ever seen, you have leonardo dicaprio, mark wahlberg, matt damon, jack nicholsen, martin sheen, and alec baldwin and all of them did absoutely perfect. The movie is based off a triology called Internal Affairs, and this one was based off the second movie in the trilogy so lets just hope they plan on making a prequel and a sequel as well. There is nothing negative about this film even though i am not a fan of the ending. You owe yourself to watch this film, you will not be disappointed.

The Departed is my favorite movie of all time. Not only was it directed beautifully, but the acting was fantastic. Leonardo Di Caprio had some of his best acting ever in this movie, it was all very believable. Another good point of this movie was the greusome/ bloody shootouts between Boston's Finnest in the Police Force and the Italian-American Mafia. Jack Nicholson played the Mob-boss Frank Costello and was a very believeable character. After purchasing this movie I watched four times within the next five days! It was that fantastic, in fact I still catch myself looking through my movies and always picking The Departed to watch. BUt make sure that you have a good three hours to watch it because once you start it you won't want to turn it off.