The Departed
Movie, 2006, The 2000s, Set in Boston
The Departed is #20 of 26 in release order and #20 of 26 in chronological order in the Martin Scorsese.
The story
To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise. While an undercover cop curries favor with the mob kingpin, a career criminal rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.
The Departed recap
The Departed (2006) follows two moles in Boston: a cop undercover in an Irish mob crew, and a mobster's protege rising inside the state police. Martin Scorsese directs from William Monahan's script, a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, who serves fake prison time to get inside the crew of Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan, groomed by Costello since childhood. Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg play Captain Queenan and Sergeant Dignam, the only men who know Billy's identity, and Vera Farmiga plays Madolyn Madden, a police psychiatrist who dates Colin and treats Billy. Each side realizes it has a rat, and each mole is assigned to find the other. Colin tips off Costello to a meeting, and Costello's men throw Queenan from a rooftop. Billy learns Costello is also an FBI informant. It won Scorsese his only Academy Award for Best Director, along with Best Picture. In his filmography it follows The Aviator and precedes Shutter Island.
The Departed ending explained
The Departed ends with almost everyone dead. Colin kills Costello, and Billy, spotting Costello's envelope on Colin's desk, arrests him on the rooftop. In the elevator Billy is shot dead by Trooper Barrigan, a second mole, and Colin kills Barrigan to cover himself. Madolyn, pregnant, leaves Colin after hearing the recordings Billy left. Colin comes home to find Dignam waiting, who shoots him dead and walks out. A rat crosses the balcony railing in the last shot.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Departed has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Departed
The Departed is streaming on YouTube TV and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 91%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Aviator, before Shutter Island.
- Chronological order: after The Aviator, before Shutter Island.
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy
- Matt Damon as Colin
- Jack Nicholson as Costello
- Mark Wahlberg as Dignam
- Martin Sheen as Queenan
- Ray Winstone as Mr. French
- Vera Farmiga as Madolyn
- Anthony Anderson as Brown
- Alec Baldwin as Ellerby
- Kevin Corrigan as Cousin Sean
- James Badge Dale as Barrigan
- David O'Hara as Fitzy
Directed by Martin Scorsese.