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{{Short description|2006 American crime thriller film by Martin Scorsese}}
{{other uses}}
{{About|the 2006 film}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = The Departed | name = The Departed
| image = Departed234.jpg | image = Departed234.jpg
| alt = The text "THE DEPARTED" against a black background; the text is filled in with photos of Leonardo DiCaprio (top), Jack Nicholson (right), and Matt Damon (left)
| caption = Theatrical release poster | caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = {{ubl|]|]|]}} | producer = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| screenplay = ] | screenplay = ]
| based on = {{Based on|'']''|]<br>]}} | based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]<br>]}}
| starring = {{ubl|]|]|]|]|]|]|]|]}} | starring = {{Plainlist|
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
<!--Per poster billing block-->
}}
| narrator =
| music = ] | music = ]
| editing = ] | editing = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| production_companies = {{Plainlist|
| studio = {{ubl|]|]|]|]<br />]}}
* ]<ref name=AFI-Cat>{{cite web |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/63777 |title=The Departed |work=AFI Catalog |publisher=] |access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref>
| distributor = ]
* ]
| released = {{Film date|2006|9|26|] premiere|2006|10|6|United States}}
* ]
| runtime = 151 minutes
* ]
| country = United States
* ]
}}
| distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures<br>(United States)<br>Media Asia Films<br>(Hong Kong)
| released = {{Film date|2006|09|26|]|2006|10|06|United States}}
| runtime = 151 minutes<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />
| country = United States<br>United Kingdom<br>Hong Kong<ref name=AFI-Cat/>
| language = English | language = English
| budget = $90 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">. '']''. ]. Retrieved 2011-06-22.</ref> | budget = $90 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0407887/ |title=The Departed (2006) |website=] |access-date=June 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811173320/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=departed.htm|archive-date=August 11, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross = $289,847,354<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" /> | gross = $291.5 million<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo" />
}} }}


'''''The Departed''''' is a 2006 ] ]<ref>{{Cite web|last=BBFC|title=The Departed|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-departed-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtotq5njey|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www.bbfc.co.uk|language=en|quote=THE DEPARTED is a US gangster thriller in which a cop goes undercover with the Irish Mafia in Boston, who in turn have a informant working inside the police department.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bolton|first=Josh|date=2020-05-11|title=Recommended Re-Viewing: Rewatching 'The Departed' Shows Why It's Scorsese's Best Film|url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/film/a32432967/watch-the-departed-online/|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Esquire|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{cite web|last=Berardinelli|first=James|author-link=James Berardinelli|title=Review: Departed, The|url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/d/departed.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121162102/https://preview.reelviews.net/movies/d/departed.html|archive-date=November 21, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2009|website=ReelViews.net}}</ref> directed by ] and written by ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-departed-v310756 |title=The Departed (2006) – Martin Scorsese |website=]|access-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202154242/https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-departed-v310756|archive-date=February 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> It is both an English-language remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film '']'' and also loosely based on the real-life ] ]; the character Colin Sullivan is based on the ] ] ], while the character Frank Costello is based on ] and crime boss ].<ref name="Whitey">{{cite news |first=Helen |last=Kennedy |title=Notorious gangster Whitey Bulger was inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character in 'The Departed' |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-23/news/29714825_1_bulger-crime-boss-gangster |newspaper=] |publisher=] |location=New York City |date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=August 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108191300/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/notorious-gangster-whitey-bulger-inspiration-jack-nicholson-character-departed-article-1.131159|archive-date=November 8, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=directors>{{cite book|editor-first=Jeremy|editor-last=Kagan |title=Directors Close Up 2: Interviews with Directors Nominated for Best Film by the Directors Guild of America: 2006–2012 |chapter=Martin Scorsese, ''The Departed'' |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=500THs9cCnMC&pg=PA50 |publisher=] |location=Lanham, Maryland |date=2012 |isbn=978-0-8108-8391-8 |page=50|access-date=October 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424070512/https://books.google.com/books?id=500THs9cCnMC&pg=PA50|archive-date=April 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.film.com/movies/infernal-affairs-vs-the-remake-the-departed |title=Infernal Affairs vs. the remake, The Departed |website=Film.com |access-date=September 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060026/http://www.film.com/movies/infernal-affairs-vs-the-remake-the-departed|archive-date=October 23, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The film stars ], ], ], and ], with ], ], ], ], ] and ] in supporting roles.
'''''The Departed''''' is a 2006 American ] ] directed by ]; a remake of the 2002 ] film '']'' and rewritten by ].<ref>. ''Film.com''. Retrieved 2011-06-22.</ref> The film stars ], ], ], and ], with ], ], ], ], and ] in supporting roles.


The film takes place in Boston and the surrounding metro area, primarily in the ] neighborhood. ] boss Frank Costello (Nicholson) plants Colin Sullivan (Damon) as a spy within the ]; simultaneously, the police assign ] Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) ]. When both sides realize the situation, Sullivan and Costigan each attempt to discover the other's identity before they are found out.
It won several awards, including four ] at the ]: ], ] (Scorsese), ] and ]. Wahlberg was nominated for ].


''The Departed'' was a critical and commercial success, grossing $291.5 million on a budget of around $90 million and receiving acclaim for its direction, performances (particularly of DiCaprio, Nicholson, and Wahlberg), screenplay,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-departed-2007|title=The Departed movie review & film summary (2007) &#124; Roger Ebert|first=Roger|last=Ebert|website=rogerebert.com/|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref> and editing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mattdamoncolumn.livejournal.com/147172.html|title=Departed wins Best Picture, Director, Editing, Adapted Screenplay|website=mattdamoncolumn.livejournal.com|accessdate=May 20, 2023}}</ref>
The film takes place in ], where ] boss Francis "Frank" Costello plants Colin Sullivan as a ] within the ]. (The characters are loosely based on famous gangster ] and corrupt ] agent ], who grew up with Bulger.<ref name="Whitey">{{cite news | last=Kennedy | first=Helen | title=Notorious gangster Whitey Bulger was inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character in 'The Departed' | work=] | date=June 23, 2011 | url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-06-23/news/29714825_1_bulger-crime-boss-gangster | accessdate=2012-08-23}}</ref>) Simultaneously, the police assign undercover cop William "Billy" Costigan to infiltrate Costello's crew. When both sides realize the situation, each man attempts to discover the other's true identity before his own cover is blown.
It won ], including four ] at the ]: for ], ] for Scorsese (his only personal Oscar win to date), ] for Monahan, and ] for editor ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007 |title=2007 |website=Oscars.org |date=October 7, 2014 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417093206/https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007|archive-date=April 17, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The film also received six nominations each at the ] (winning one) and the ], and two nominations at the ].


==Plot== ==Plot==
<!---DO NOT add further detail. Misplaced Pages synopsis should be simple and to the point.--->
Colin Sullivan (Damon) is introduced to ] by Irish-American mobster Frank Costello (Nicholson) in the Irish neighborhood of ]. Costello trains him to become a mole inside the ]. Sullivan is accepted into the ], which focuses on ].
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->
In the 1980s in ], ] boss Frank Costello introduces himself to a young Colin Sullivan. Many years later, Sullivan has been groomed as a ] inside the ] (MSP) and joins the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Another police academy recruit, Billy Costigan, is selected by Captain Queenan and Sergeant Dignam ] as a criminal and infiltrate Costello's crew.


Costigan serves a term in prison for his cover and further commits several crimes, drawing Costello's attention. Sullivan begins dating police psychiatrist Madolyn Madden. Costigan manages to get Costello to recruit him into his organization. Over the next year, Costigan becomes increasingly involved. His mental state declines but Queenan and Dignam convince him to continue. Costigan begins seeing Madden for his court-ordered therapy.
Before he graduates from the ], Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) is asked by Captain Queenan (Sheen) and Staff Sergeant Dignam (Wahlberg) to go undercover, as his family ties to organized crime make him a perfect infiltrator. He drops out of the academy and does time in prison on a fake assault charge to increase his credibility.


The MSP and Costello both realize they have moles in their respective organizations and task Costigan and Sullivan to find them. Meanwhile, Costigan learns that Costello is a protected ] ], sharing his discovery with Queenan. He and Madden have an affair.
As both men infiltrate their respective organizations, Sullivan begins a romance with psychiatrist Madolyn Madden (Farmiga). Costigan sees her for his probation and develops a relationship with her, as well.


One night, Costigan follows Costello into an ] and witnesses him giving Sullivan an envelope containing information on his crew. Costigan is instructed to get a visual ID of Sullivan but is unsuccessful. When Sullivan realizes he is being followed, he stabs a man, mistaking him for Costigan, and flees. Costigan, fearing Costello will soon discover and kill him for being the mole, calls Queenan to end the undercover operation, but Sullivan has Queenan followed, lying to the other officers that Queenan may be the spy. Sullivan also calls Costello's gang to inform them of the meeting.
After Costello escapes a sting operation, both moles become aware of each other's existence. Sullivan is told to find the "rat" and asks Costello for information to determine who is the informer within his crew.


When Costello's men arrive, Queenan helps Costigan escape before being thrown from the building to his death. This causes a firefight between the police and Costello's men. Angered by Queenan's murder, Dignam attacks Sullivan and is suspended. Timothy Delahunt, one of Costello's henchmen wounded in the gunfight, tells Costigan that he knows he is the mole before succumbing to his wounds.
Costigan follows Costello into a ], where Costello gives Sullivan an envelope containing personal information on his crew members. Costigan then chases Sullivan through Chinatown. When it is over, neither man knows the other's identity. Sullivan has Queenan tailed to a meeting with Costigan, and Costello's men kill Queenan. When they exit, Costigan pretends he has come to join them. Later, Costello's henchman, Fitzgibbons (O'Hara), reveals that Delahunt (Rolston), a crew member, was an undercover cop. Dignam is forced to step down as a consequence.


Looking through Queenan's belongings, Sullivan discovers Costello is an FBI informant. A news report reveals that Delahunt was a ] undercover officer, but Costello suspects it is a false claim so he would stop looking for the mole. Deciding to turn on him, Sullivan directs the MSP to tail Costello, and a gunfight erupts, killing most of Costello's crew. Sullivan confronts a wounded Costello, who admits to being an FBI informant. They exchange gunfire, and Sullivan kills him.
Using Queenan's phone, Sullivan reaches Costigan, who refuses to abort his mission. Sullivan learns of Costello's role as an informant for the ] from Queenan's diary, causing him to worry about his identities being revealed. With Costigan's help, Costello is traced to a cocaine drop-off, where a gunfight erupts between his crew and police, resulting in most of the crew's being killed. Costello, confronted by Sullivan, admits he is an occasional FBI informant. Sullivan then shoots him multiple times. With Costello dead, Sullivan is applauded the next day by everyone on the force. In good faith, Costigan comes to him for restoration of his true identity and to be paid for his work, but notices the envelope from Costello on Sullivan's desk and flees, finally realizing Sullivan is the enemy. Knowing he has been found out, Sullivan erases all records of Costigan from the police computer system.


His assignment finished, Costigan goes to Sullivan to reveal his undercover status, unaware he is another mole. After Sullivan leaves the room, Costigan recognises the envelope from the theater on his desk. Realizing Sullivan was Costello's mole, Costigan escapes.
Madolyn tells Sullivan she is pregnant, but does not reveal who the father is. Later, she discovers a package from Costigan containing a CD with recordings of Costello's conversations with Sullivan. Sullivan walks in as she is listening and tries unsuccessfully to assuage her suspicions. He contacts Costigan, who reveals that Costello recorded every conversation he had with Sullivan. Costello's attorney left Costigan in possession of the recordings and he intends to implicate Sullivan. They agree to meet at the building where Queenan died.


When Sullivan finds Costigan gone, he realizes Costigan has discovered the truth and deletes Costigan's records from police computers. Costigan visits Madden, who has told Sullivan but not Costigan she's pregnant, knowing that Sullivan may not be the father, and hands her an envelope, instructing her to open it if something happens to him.
On the roof, Costigan catches Sullivan off-guard and handcuffs him. As Costigan had secretly arranged, Officer Brown (Anderson) appears on the roof as well. Shocked, Brown draws his gun on Costigan, who attempts to justify his actions by exposing Sullivan as the rat. Costigan asks Brown why Dignam did not accompany him, but Brown does not answer. Costigan leads Sullivan to the elevator. When it reaches the ground floor, Costigan is shot in the head by Officer Barrigan (Dale), who then shoots Brown and reveals to Sullivan that Costello had more than one mole in the police. When Barrigan turns, Sullivan shoots him in the head. At police headquarters, Sullivan identifies Barrigan as the mole and has Costigan posthumously given the Medal of Merit.


Madden finds an envelope in the mail from Costigan to Sullivan containing a CD of Costello's recorded conversations with Sullivan. Fearing Costigan has revealed their affair, she listens to it and leaves Sullivan. Costigan arranges to meet Sullivan on the same rooftop where Queenan was killed, then arrests him. Costigan calls Trooper Brown, an acquaintance from the police academy, but Brown pulls a gun on him when he arrives, unsure who to believe.
At Costigan's funeral, Sullivan and Madolyn stand at the grave. Sullivan attempts to talk to her, but she ignores him. When Sullivan returns to his apartment, he is ambushed by Dignam, who shoots and kills him as he walks out the apartment.

Saying he has evidence tying Sullivan to Costello, Brown lets Costigan take the elevator. Upon reaching the lobby, Costigan is shot dead by Trooper Barrigan, a friend of Sullivan's who is another of Costello's spies. Brown reaches the lobby but is also killed by Barrigan. Sullivan shoots Barrigan dead, so that he can frame him as the mole.

At Costigan's funeral, Sullivan notices Madden silently crying. He realizes they were involved, but when he attempts to talk to her about the baby, she ignores him. Later, when Sullivan arrives home, Dignam is waiting for him and, after Sullivan indifferently accepts his fate, Dignam shoots him in the head, killing him and avenging both Queenan and Costigan before leaving. The final shot shows a rat crawling on the rail of the patio with the ] in the distance.


==Cast== ==Cast==
<!-- Cast is in credits order and named as credited; please do not change. -->
{{div col}}
{{cast list|
* ] as William "Billy" Costigan, Jr.
* ] as Staff Sgt. Colin Sullivan * ] as Trooper William "Billy" Costigan Jr.
* ] as Staff Sergeant Colin Sullivan
* ] as Francis "Frank" Costello * ] as Francis "Frank" Costello
* ] as Staff Sgt. Sean Dignam * ] as Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam
* ] as Capt. Oliver Charles Queenan * ] as Captain Oliver "Charlie" Queenan
* ] as Arnold "Frenchie" French
* ] as Dr. Madolyn Madden * ] as Dr. Madolyn Madden
* ] as Arnold "Frenchy" French * ] as Captain George Ellerby
* ] as Capt. George Ellerby
* ] as Trooper Brown * ] as Trooper Brown
* ] as Sean Costigan
* ] as Trooper Barrigan * ] as Trooper Barrigan
* ] as "Fitzy" Fitzgibbons * ] as Patrick "Fitzy" Fitzgibbons
* ] as Timothy Delahunt * ] as Timothy Delahunt
* ] as FBI Special Agent Frank Lazio
* ] as Sean Costigan
* Amanda Lynch as Carmen
* John Cenatiempo as Mark Brambilla
* ] as Gwen
* Armen Garo as Eugene Fratti
* ] as FBI Special Agent Frank Lazio * ] as Phil
}}
* ] as Gwen Costello
* ] as young Colin Sullivan
{{div col end}}


==Themes== ==Production==
]
Film critic ] describes a major theme of ''The Departed'' as one of the oldest in drama—the concept of ''identity''—and how it "affects one's actions, emotions, self-assurance and even dreams."<ref name="Kauffmann">Kauffmann, Stanley. (October 30, 2006). "Themes and Schemes." '']''. Vol. 235, Issue 18.</ref>
In January 2003, ], producer ], and actor/producer ] bought the rights to remake the Hong Kong film '']'' (2002) from ] for $1.75 million.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Zorianna |last1=Kit |first2=Chris |last2=Gardner |url=http://business.highbeam.com/2012/article-1G1-97614647/warners-pays-have-affairs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054104/http://business.highbeam.com/2012/article-1G1-97614647/warners-pays-have-affairs|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2013 |title=Warners pays to have ''Affairs'' |magazine=] |publisher=] |location=Los Angeles, California |date=February 3, 2003 |access-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name=filmmaker>{{cite web |first=Dade |last=Hayes |url=https://variety.com/2006/film/news/brad-pitt-s-role-as-filmmaker-threatens-to-eclipse-his-actorly-exploits-and-tabloid-profile-1117955806/ |title=Brad Pitt's role as filmmaker threatens to eclipse his actorly exploits and tabloid profile |magazine=] |publisher=] |location=Los Angeles, California |date=December 14, 2006 |access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184416/https://variety.com/2006/film/news/brad-pitt-s-role-as-filmmaker-threatens-to-eclipse-his-actorly-exploits-and-tabloid-profile-1117955806/|archive-date=November 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ] was secured as a screenwriter, and later ], who admired Monahan's script, came on board as director.<ref name=filmmaker /><ref name=directors /><ref name=pitt>{{cite magazine |first=Elvis |last=Mitchell |author-link=Elvis Mitchell |url=http://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/brad-pitt |title=Brad Pitt's Great Escape |magazine=] |publisher=Crystal Ball Media |location=New York City |date=February 2007 |access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108190212/https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/brad-pitt|archive-date=November 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


In March 2004, ] announced that Scorsese would be remaking ''Infernal Affairs'' and setting it in Boston, and that Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were slated to star.<ref name=upi>{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/03/02/Leo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-lead-Affairs/UPI-62891078255749/ |title=Leo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt lead ''Affairs'' |publisher=] |date=March 2, 2004 |access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107015320/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2004/03/02/Leo-DiCaprio-Brad-Pitt-lead-Affairs/UPI-62891078255749/|archive-date=November 7, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Pitt, tentatively scheduled to play Sullivan, later declined to play the role, saying a younger actor should play the part; he decided to produce the film instead.<ref name=pitt /> Scorsese's associate ] suggested Matt Damon, who grew up in Boston, for the part of Sullivan, and Scorsese asked Jack Nicholson to play Costello.<ref name=directors /> ] was approached to play Queenan, but De Niro declined in order to direct '']'' instead.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/leonardo-dicaprio-martin-scorsese-robert-de-niro-movie |title=Can Martin Scorsese Just Make a Movie with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio Already? |magazine=Vanity Fair |last=Desta |first=Yohana |date=November 28, 2016 |access-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref> Scorsese would later say that De Niro turned down the role as he was not interested.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/martin-scorsese-interview-killers-of-the-flower-moon-leonardo-dicaprio-robert-de-niro-1235359006/ |title=Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio & Robert De Niro On How They Found The Emotional Handle For Their Cannes Epic 'Killers Of The Flower Moon' |work=Deadline |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=May 16, 2023 |access-date=May 29, 2023}}</ref> ] was approached for a role in the film, but declined due to a commitment to another project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ray-liotta-on-shades-of-blue-working-with-jennifer-lopez-and-woody-allen-2018-6|title=Ray Liotta on working with Jennifer Lopez, why he's been in only one Scorsese movie, and not believing the Woody Allen sexual-misconduct allegations|first=Jason|last=Guerrasio|website=Business Insider|access-date=May 20, 2023}}</ref>
The father-son relationship is a motif throughout the film. Costello acts as a father figure to both Sullivan and Costigan while Queenan acts as Costello's foil in the role of father-figure, presenting both sides of the Irish-American father archetype.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06279/727779-120.stm|title='The Departed'<!--Both generated title-->|work=Post-Gazette.com|date=2006-10-06|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> Sullivan refers to Costello as "Dad" whenever he calls to inform him of police activities.


Nicholson wanted the film to have "something a little more" than the usual gangster film, and screenwriter Monahan came up with the idea of basing the Costello character on Irish-American gangster ]. This gave the screenplay an element of realism—and an element of dangerous uncertainty, because of the wide-ranging ''carte blanche'' the FBI gave Bulger in exchange for revealing information about fellow gangsters.<ref name=directors /> A technical consultant on the film was Tom Duffy, who had served three decades on the Boston Police Department, particularly as an undercover detective investigating the Irish mob.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://emanuellevy.com/comment/the-departed-dicaprio-6/ |title=Departed, The: DiCaprio |website=emanuellevy.com |date=August 17, 2006 |access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616143150/http://emanuellevy.com/comment/the-departed-dicaprio-6/|archive-date=June 16, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Julian |last=Roman |url=http://movieweb.com/matt-damon-and-leonardo-dicaprio-smell-a-rat-in-the-departed/ |title=Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio Smell A Rat in 'The Departed' |website=] |publisher=Watchr Media |location=Las Vegas, Nevada |date=October 2, 2006 |access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224523/https://movieweb.com/matt-damon-and-leonardo-dicaprio-smell-a-rat-in-the-departed/|archive-date=November 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
In the final scene, a rat is seen on the window ledge. Scorsese acknowledges that while it is not meant to be taken literally, it somewhat symbolizes the "quest for the rat" in the film and the strong sense of distrust between characters, much like post-] America. The window view behind the rat is a nod to gangster films like '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name="scor">{{cite web | url=http://www.canmag.com/news/4/3/5292 | title=Martin Scorsese Talks ''The Departed'' Rat | work=canmag.com | date=October 5, 2006 | accessdate=February 25, 2013 | author=Topel, Fred}}</ref>

''The Departed'' was officially greenlit by ] in early 2005 and began shooting in the spring of that year.<ref name=filmmaker /> Some of the film was shot on location in Boston. For budgetary and logistical reasons many scenes, in particular interiors, were shot in locations and sets in New York City, which had tax incentives for filmmakers that Boston at the time did not.<ref name=directors /><ref>{{Cite news |first=Gayle |last=Fee |url=http://www.mafilm.org/2009/11/23/damon-headed-back-to-bay-state/ |title=Damon to shoot in Massachusetts again? |newspaper=] |publisher=] |location=Boston, Massachusetts |date=November 23, 2009|access-date=September 16, 2016 |via=mafilm.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917091437/http://www.mafilm.org/2009/11/23/damon-headed-back-to-bay-state/|archive-date=September 17, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Themes and motifs==
Film critic ] said that for ''The Departed,'' Scorsese "was apparently concerned with the idea of identity, one of the ancient themes of drama, and how it affects one's actions, emotions, self-knowledge, even dreams." Kauffmann, however, did not find the theme conveyed with particular effectiveness in the film.<ref name="Kauffmann">{{cite magazine|author=Kauffmann, Stanley|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/65026/martin-scorsese-matt-damon-leonardo-dicaprio|title=Themes and Schemes|date=October 30, 2006|magazine=]|url-status=live|issue=18|volume=235|archive-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221082414/https://newrepublic.com/article/65026/martin-scorsese-matt-damon-leonardo-dicaprio}}</ref> Film critic ] compared Costigan and Sullivan's seeking of approval from those they are deceiving to ].<ref name="ebert">{{cite news|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=July 5, 2007|title=Good and evil, in each other's masks|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-departed-2007|work=RogerEbert.com|access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref> Ebert also noted the themes of ].<ref name="ebert"/>

In the final scene, a rat is seen on Sullivan's window ledge. Scorsese acknowledges that while it is not meant to be taken literally, it somewhat symbolizes the "quest for the rat" in the film and the strong sense of distrust among the characters, much like post-] U.S. The window view behind the rat is a nod to gangster films like '']'' (1931), '']'' (1932), and '']'' (1949).<ref name="scor">{{cite news |url=http://www.canmag.com/news/4/3/5292 |title=Martin Scorsese Talks ''The Departed'' Rat |work=Canmag |date=October 5, 2006 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |author=Topel, Fred|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101000549/http://canmag.com/news/4/3/5292|archive-date=November 1, 2011|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The film's penultimate scene at Costigan's funeral, when Madden walks straight past Sullivan and out of camera without looking at him, is a visual quotation of the famous closing scene from '']''.

<!--Note: an earlier version of this article had a section on homages that was deleted on 2007-02-26 as being unsourced. The URL of that section just before deletion is ] -- it can be referred to but anything added here needs sourcing.-->
Throughout the film, Scorsese uses an "X" motif to foreshadow death in a manner similar to ]' film '']'' (1932). Examples include shots of cross-beam supports in an airport walkway when Costigan is phoning Sgt. Dignam, the lighted "X" on the wall in Sullivan's office when he assures Costello over the phone that Costigan is not the rat, the taped windows of the building Queenan enters before being thrown to his death, behind Costigan's head in the elevator before he is shot, and the carpeted hallway floor when Sullivan returns to his apartment before being shot by Dignam at the film's end.<ref name="ReneRodriguez">{{cite news |first=Rene |last=Rodriguez |url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/reeling/2007/01/x_marks_the_spo.html |title=X marks the spot in 'The Departed' |newspaper=] |publisher=] |location=Miami, Florida |date=January 11, 2007 |access-date=November 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091126004607/http://miamiherald.typepad.com/reeling/2007/01/x_marks_the_spo.html|archive-date=November 26, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Reception== ==Reception==
===Box office===
''The Departed'' was highly anticipated, and was released on October 6, 2006 to universal acclaim. <ref name=Meta/> The film scored a 93% approval rating on review aggregator ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/departed|title=The Departed Movie Reviews|work=]|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> and an 86 (out of 100) rating on another aggregator ].<ref name=Meta>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-departed|title=The Departed|publisher=]|accessdate=2013-02-01}}</ref>
''The Departed'' grossed $132.4 million in the United States and Canada and $159 million in other territories for a total gross of $291.5 million, against a production budget of $90 million.<ref name=BoxOfficeMojo />

The film grossed $26.9 million in its opening weekend, becoming the fourth Scorsese film to debut at number one.<ref>{{cite web |first=Brandon |last=Gray |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2172&p=.htm |title='Departed' Out-Muscles 'Massacre' |website=] |date=October 9, 2006 |access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108224631/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2172&p=.htm|archive-date=November 8, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In the following three weeks the film grossed $19 million, $13.5 million and $9.8 million, finishing second at the box office each time, before grossing $7.7 million and dropping to 5th in its fifth week.<ref>{{cite web |first=Brandon |last=Gray |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2194&p=.htm |title='Borat' Bombards the Top Spot |website=] |date=November 6, 2006 |access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070647/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2194&p=.htm|archive-date=November 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical response===
As per the ] website ], 91% of critics have given ''The Departed'' a positive review based on 287 reviews, with an average rating of 8.30 out of 10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Featuring outstanding work from an excellent cast, ''The Departed'' is a thoroughly engrossing gangster drama with the gritty authenticity and soupy morality we have come to expect from Martin Scorsese."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/departed |title=THE DEPARTED |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806123940/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/departed/|archive-date=August 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> On ], the film has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, with 92% positive reviews based on 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-departed |title=The Departed |website=] |publisher=] |access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305045203/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-departed|archive-date=March 5, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by ] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemascore.com |title=CinemaScore |website=] |access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119025202/http://www.cinemascore.com/|archive-date=January 19, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

'']'' ranked it on its end-of-the-decade "Best of" list, saying: "If they're lucky, directors make one classic film in their career. Martin Scorsese has one per decade ('']'' in the '70s, '']'' in the '80s, '']'' in the '90s). His 2006 Irish Mafia masterpiece kept the streak alive."<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Thom |last1=Geier |first2=Jeff |last2=Jensen |first3=Tina |last3=Jordan |url=https://ew.com/article/2009/12/04/100-greatest-movies-tv-shows-and-more/ |title=The 100 Greatest Movies, TV Shows, Albums, Books, Characters, Scenes, Episodes, Songs, Dresses, Music Videos, and Trends that Entertained Us Over the Past 10 Years |magazine=] |publisher=] |location=New York City |date=December 11, 2009 |access-date=November 8, 2018 |issue=1079/1080 |pages=74–84|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607002836/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20312226_20324138%2C00.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>


] gave the film four stars out of four, praising Scorsese for thematically differentiating his film from the original.<ref name="ebert"/> Online critic ] awarded the film four stars out of four, praising it as "an American epic tragedy." He went on to claim that the film deserves to be ranked alongside Scorsese's past successes, including ''Taxi Driver'', ''Raging Bull'' and ''Goodfellas''.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |first=James |last=Berardinelli |author-link=James Berardinelli |url=http://preview.reelviews.net/movies/d/departed.html |title=Review: Departed, The |website=ReelViews.net |access-date=October 17, 2009 |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121162102/https://preview.reelviews.net/movies/d/departed.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
'']'' put it on its end-of-the-decade, "best-of" list, saying, "If they're lucky, directors make one classic film in their career. Martin Scorsese has one per decade ('']'' in the '70s, '']'' in the '80s, '']'' in the '90s). His 2006 Irish Mafia masterpiece kept the streak alive."<ref>Geier, Thom; Jensen, Jeff; Jordan, Tina; Lyons, Margaret; Markovitz, Adam; Nashawaty, Chris; Pastorek, Whitney; Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak, Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker, Ken; Vary, Adam B.; Vozick-Levinson, Simon; Ward, Kate (December 11, 2009), "THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES, EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND TRENDS THAT ENTERTAINED US OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS". Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080): 74-84.</ref>


], co-director of '']'', in an interview with Hong Kong newspaper '']'', said: "Of course I think the version I made is better, but the Hollywood version is pretty good too. made the Hollywood version more attuned to American culture."<ref>{{cite news |title=My Infernal Affairs is better than Scorsese's says Lau |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/oct/10/news1 |newspaper=] |location=London, England |date=October 10, 2006 |access-date=October 10, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605053518/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/oct/10/news1|archive-date=June 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> ], one of the main actors in ''Infernal Affairs'', when asked how the movie compares to the original, said: "''The Departed'' was too long and it felt as if Hollywood had combined all three ''Infernal Affairs'' movies together."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html |title=Andy Lau comments on The Departed |date=October 6, 2006 |access-date=October 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216120725/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html |archive-date=December 16, 2006 |language=zh}}</ref> Although Lau said the script of the remake had some "golden quotes," he also felt it had a bit too much profanity. He ultimately rated ''The Departed'' eight out of ten and said that the Hollywood remake is worth a view, though according to Lau's spokeswoman Alice Tam, he felt that the combination of the two female characters into one in ''The Departed'' was not as good as the original storyline.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html |title=Andy Lau Gives 'Departed' an 8 Out of 10 |date=October 7, 2006 |access-date=October 7, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216120725/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html |archive-date=December 16, 2006}}</ref>
Online critic ] awarded the film four stars out of four, praising it as "an American epic tragedy." He went on to compare the film favorably to the onslaught of banality offered by American studios in recent years. "The movies have been in the doldrums lately. ''The Departed'' is a much needed tonic," he wrote. He went on to claim that the film deserves to be ranked alongside Scorsese's past successes, including '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelviews.net/movies/d/departed.html|title=Review: Departed, The|work=ReelViews.net|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref>


A few critics were disappointed in the film, including ] of the '']'', who wrote: "''Infernal Affairs'' was surprisingly cool and effectively restrained for HK action, but Scorsese raises the temperature with every ultraviolent interaction. The surplus of belligerence and slur reach near-] levels—appropriate as he's staking a claim to QT's turf."<ref>{{cite web |first=J. |last=Hoberman |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-09-26/film/bait-and-switch/ |title=Bait and Switch |newspaper=] |publisher=] |location=New York City |date=September 26, 2006 |access-date=November 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516185103/http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-09-26/film/bait-and-switch/|archive-date=May 16, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
], the co-director of '']'', who was interviewed by Hong Kong newspaper '']'', said, "Of course I think the version I made is better, but the Hollywood version is pretty good too. made the Hollywood version more attuned to American culture." ],<ref>{{cite news|title=My Infernal Affairs is better than Scorsese's says Lau|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2006/oct/10/news1|work=Guardian.co.uk|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2006-10-10|location=London|date=2006-10-10}}</ref> one of the main actors in ''Infernal Affairs'', when asked how the movie compares to the original, said, "''The Departed'' was too long and it felt as if Hollywood had combined all three ''Infernal Affairs'' movies together."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html|title=Andy Lau comments on The Departed (Chinese)|date=2006-10-06|accessdate=2006-10-06|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061216120725/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html|archivedate=December 16, 2006}}</ref> Lau pointed out that the remake featured some of the "golden quotes" of the original but did have much more swearing. He ultimately rated ''The Departed'' 8/10 and said that the Hollywood remake is worth a view, though "the effect of combining the two female characters in the into one isn't as good as in the original," according to Lau's spokeswoman Alice Tam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html|title=Andy Lau Gives 'Departed' an 8 Out of 10|date=2006-10-07|accessdate=2006-10-07|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20061216120725/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html|archivedate=December 16, 2006}}</ref>


===Top ten lists=== ===Top ten lists===
The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2006.<ref name="MetacriticTop10">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2006/toptens.shtml|title=Metacritic: 2006 Film Critic Top Ten Lists|accessdate=2008-01-08|work=]|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071213004758/http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2006/toptens.shtml <!--Bot retrieved archive-->|archivedate=2007-12-13}}</ref> The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2006.<ref name="MetacriticTop10">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2006/toptens.shtml |title=Metacritic: 2006 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |access-date=January 8, 2008 |work=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213004758/http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2006/toptens.shtml |archive-date=December 13, 2007}}</ref> Carrie Rickey of '']'', Joe Morgenstern of '']'', Ruthe Stein of the '']'', and Steven Rea of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' named it one of the top ten films of 2006.<ref name="MetacriticTop10" /> Richard Roeper of the '']'' named it the best film of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/roeper/1967980,roepers-best-films-of-the-year-010110.article |title=Roeper's Best Films of the Year |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times |date=January 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421214649/http://www.suntimes.com/news/roeper/1967980%2Croepers-best-films-of-the-year-010110.article |archive-date=April 21, 2010}}</ref>
Carrie Rickey of '']'', Joe Morgenstern of '']'', Ruthe Stein of the '']'', and Steven Rea of ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' named it one of the top ten films of 2006.<ref name="MetacriticTop10" /> Richard Roeper of the '']'' named it the best film of 2000s.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}


{{Col-begin}} {{Div col}}
{{Col-2}}
* 1st&nbsp;– ], '']'' * 1st&nbsp;– ], '']''
* 1st&nbsp;– Peter Travers, '']'' * 1st&nbsp;– Peter Travers, '']''
* 1st&nbsp;– ]
* 1st&nbsp;– Rene Rodriguez, '']'' * 1st&nbsp;– Rene Rodriguez, '']''
* 1st&nbsp;– Scott Tobias, '']'' * 1st&nbsp;– Scott Tobias, '']''
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* 1st&nbsp;– James Berardinelli, ReelViews * 1st&nbsp;– James Berardinelli, ReelViews
* 2nd&nbsp;– Chris Kaltenbach, '']'' * 2nd&nbsp;– Chris Kaltenbach, '']''
* 2nd&nbsp;- Adam Kempenaar, '']'' * 2nd&nbsp; Adam Kempenaar, '']''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Keith Phipps, ''The A.V. Club'' * 2nd&nbsp;– Keith Phipps, ''The A.V. Club''
* 2nd&nbsp;– ], '']''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Mike Russell, '']'' * 2nd&nbsp;– Mike Russell, '']''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Richard James Havis, '']'' * 2nd&nbsp;– Richard James Havis, '']''
* 2nd&nbsp;– Richard Schickel, '']'' * 2nd&nbsp;– ], '']''
* 3rd&nbsp;– Frank Scheck, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' * 3rd&nbsp;– Frank Scheck, ''The Hollywood Reporter''
* 4th&nbsp;– Glenn Kenny, '']'' * 4th&nbsp;– Glenn Kenny, '']''
* 4th&nbsp;– Marc Savlov, '']'' * 4th&nbsp;– Marc Savlov, '']''
* 4th&nbsp;– Michael Wilmington, '']'' * 4th&nbsp;– Michael Wilmington, '']''
{{Col-2}}
* 4th&nbsp;– ], ''Chicago Sun-Times'' * 4th&nbsp;– ], ''Chicago Sun-Times''
* 5th&nbsp;– '']'' * 5th&nbsp;– '']''
* 5th&nbsp;– David Ansen, '']'' * 5th&nbsp;– ], '']''
* 5th&nbsp;– Kevin Crust, '']'' * 5th&nbsp;– Kevin Crust, '']''
* 5th&nbsp;– Lisa Schwarzbaum, '']'' * 5th&nbsp;– ], '']''
* 5th&nbsp;– Stephen Hunter, '']'' * 5th&nbsp;– ], '']''
* 6th&nbsp;– Ann Hornaday, ''The Washington Post'' * 6th&nbsp;– Ann Hornaday, ''The Washington Post''
* 6th&nbsp;– Jack Mathews, '']'' * 6th&nbsp;– Jack Mathews, '']''
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* 9th&nbsp;– Claudia Puig, '']'' * 9th&nbsp;– Claudia Puig, '']''
* 9th&nbsp;– Desson Thomson, ''The Washington Post'' * 9th&nbsp;– Desson Thomson, ''The Washington Post''
* 9th&nbsp;– Lou Lumenick, ''New York Post''
* 9th&nbsp;– Michael Rechtshaffen, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' * 9th&nbsp;– Michael Rechtshaffen, ''The Hollywood Reporter''
{{Col-end}} {{Div col end}}


===Box office=== ===Accolades===
The film grossed $26,887,467 in its opening weekend, becoming the third Scorsese film to debut at number one. The film saw small declines in later weeks, remaining in the list of top ten films for seven weeks. Budgeted at $90 million, the film grossed $289,835,021<ref name=BoxOfficeMojo /> worldwide, of which $132,384,315<ref name=BoxOfficeMojo /> was from North America, becoming one of the most commercially successful of Scorsese's career.

==Awards and Nominations==
{{Main|List of accolades received by The Departed}} {{Main|List of accolades received by The Departed}}
At the ] on January 15, 2007, ''The Departed'' won one award for ] (]), while being nominated for five other awards including Best Picture, ] (]), ] (], ]), and ] (]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/departed|title=Departed, The|website=The Golden Globes|publisher=Hollywood Foreign Press Association|access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>


At the ] on January 15, 2007, '''The Departed''' won one award for ] (]), while being nominated for five other awards including Best Picture, ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), and ] (]). At the ] on February 25, 2007, ''The Departed'' won four ]s: ] (]), ] (Martin Scorsese), ] (]), and ] (William Monahan). Mark Wahlberg was also nominated for the ] award for his performance, but he lost to ] for his role in '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Waxman|first1=Sharon|last2=Halbfinger|first2=David M.|date=February 26, 2007|title='The Departed' Wins Best Picture, Scorsese Best Director|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/26/movies/awardsseason/26osca.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007|title=The 79th Academy Awards|website=Academy Awards|date=October 7, 2014 |access-date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|title=The Departed (2006) - Awards|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/awards|publisher=IMDB}}</ref>


The film marked the first time Scorsese won an Oscar after five previous losses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Scorsese – Awards |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/awards |publisher=IMDB|access-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609134720/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/awards|archive-date=June 9, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Many felt that he deserved it years earlier for prior efforts. Some felt he deserved it for his prior nominations and the win was described as a "Lifetime Achievement Award for a lesser film".<ref>{{cite web |work=] and ] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17351684 |title=Scorsese wins Oscar with film that's not his best |publisher=MSNBC and ] |date=February 27, 2007 |access-date=October 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919220041/http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17351684|archive-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Scorsese himself joked that he won because: "This is the first movie I've done with a plot."<ref>{{cite web |author=James Wray and Ulf Stabe |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1255397.php/Scorsese_takes_top_DGA_honors |title=Scorsese takes top DGA honors |publisher=Monsters and Critics |date=February 4, 2007 |access-date=October 17, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906051552/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1255397.php/Scorsese_takes_top_DGA_honors |archive-date=September 6, 2010}}</ref>
At the ] on February 25, 2007, '''The Departed''' won four ] for ], ] (]), ] (]), and ] (William Monahan). ] was also nominated for the ] award for his performance, but he lost to ] for his role in '']''.


At the ] on December 18, 2006, ''The Departed'' won awards for ], ], ] (William Monahan), and ] (Leonardo DiCaprio). In 2008, it was nominated for the ] ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |title=AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees | format=PDF |access-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071937/http://connect.afi.com/site/DocServer/10top10.pdf?docID=381&AddInterest=1781 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>
The film marked the first time Scorsese won an Oscar after six previous losses.<ref>{{cite web|title=Martin Scorsese - Awards|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/awards|publisher=IMDB}}</ref> Many felt that he deserved it years earlier for prior efforts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b54326_martin_scorsese_wins_something.html|title=Martin Scorsese Wins Something!|work=E! Online|date=2007-02-04|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref> Some have even gone further, calling it a Lifetime Achievement Award for a lesser film.<ref>] and ]. . '']'' (]). February 27, 2007. Web. October 16, 2010.</ref> Scorsese himself stated that he won because: "This is the first movie I've done with a plot."<ref>{{cite web|author=James Wray and Ulf Stabe|url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/news/article_1255397.php/Scorsese_takes_top_DGA_honors|title=Scorsese takes top DGA honors|work=Monsters and Critics|date=2007-02-04|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref>


==Home media==
In 2008, ''The Departed'' was nominated for ].<ref>. ''AFI.com''.</ref>
''The Departed'' was released by ] on DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray disc on February 13, 2007. The film is available in a single-disc full screen (1.33:1), single-disc widescreen (2.39:1) edition, and 2-disc special edition. The second disc contains deleted scenes, a feature about the influence of New York's ] on Scorsese, a ] profile, a theatrical trailer, and a 21-minute documentary titled ''Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie and The Departed''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970546 |title=Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie and 'The Departed' (Video 2007) |date=April 25, 2007 |work=IMDb |access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206114859/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970546/|archive-date=February 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> about the crimes that influenced Scorsese in creating the film, including the story of ], upon whom Jack Nicholson's character is based.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hamptonroads.com/node/224261 |title=Extra reveals true inspiration for Scorsese's ''Departed'' |newspaper=] |date=February 18, 2007|access-date=September 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054116/http://hamptonroads.com/node/224261|archive-date=September 21, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was released on ] on April 23, 2024.


==Music== ==Music==
There were two albums released for ''The Departed'', one presenting the original score composed for the movie by Howard Shore, and the other featuring earlier recordings, mostly ] songs, which were used on the soundtrack.

===Soundtrack=== ===Soundtrack===
{{Infobox album <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Albums --> {{Infobox album
| Name = The Departed: Music from the Motion Picture | name = The Departed: Music from the Motion Picture
| Type = ] | type = ]
| Longtype = | artist = Various Artists
| Artist = ] | cover =
| Cover = Departedcover.jpg | alt =
| Released = November 7, 2006 | released = November 7, 2006
| Recorded = | recorded =
| venue =
| Genre = ]<br />]<br />]
| Length = | studio =
| genre = ], ], ]
| Label = Warner Sunset
| Producer = Jason Cienkus | length =
| label = Warner Sunset
| producer = Jason Cienkus
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}} }}

As with previous Scorsese films, ] had a hand in picking the music. The film opens with "]" by ] ("]" also appears later on), and prominently plays "]" by ] with lyrics written by ], which gained the band some popularity. The film features the live version of ]'s "]" from the 1990 Berlin Wall Concert performed by ], ], and ], ], and ] of ].

Although "Gimme Shelter" is featured twice in the film, the song does not appear on the album soundtrack. Also heard in the movie but not featured on the soundtrack is "]" by ], "]" by ], "Bang Bang" by ], and the Act II Sextet from ]'s '']''.

The film closes with a cover of ]'s "]," by ].


{{Track listing {{Track listing
| headline = Track listing | headline = ''Track Listing''
| extra_column = Artist(s) | extra_column = Artist(s)
| title1 = ] | title1 = ]
| length1 = 7:59 | length1 = 7:59
| extra1 = ] {{small|(Feat. ] & ])}} | writer1 = {{hlist|]|]}}
| extra1 = Roger Waters {{small|(Feat. ] & ])}}
| title2 = ] | title2 = ]
| length2 = 3:18 | length2 = 3:18
| writer2 = {{hlist|]|]|]|]|]}}
| extra2 = ] | extra2 = ]
| title3 = ] | title3 = ]
| length3 = 5:18 | length3 = 5:18
| writer3 = {{hlist|]|]}}
| extra3 = ] | extra3 = ]
| title4 = Sweet Dreams | title4 = Sweet Dreams
| length4 = 3:32 | length4 = 3:32
| writer4 = ]
| extra4 = ] | extra4 = ]
| title5 = ] | title5 = ]
| length5 = 4:57 | length5 = 4:57
| writer5 = {{hlist|]|]|]|]}}
| extra5 = ] | extra5 = ]
| title6 = ] | title6 = ]
| length6 = 3:36 | length6 = 3:36
| writer6 = ]
| extra6 = ] | extra6 = ]
| title7 = ] | title7 = ]
| length7 = 2:34 | length7 = 2:34
| writer7 = {{hlist|]|]|]|]|] (music)|] (lyrics)}}
| extra7 = ] | extra7 = ]
| title8 = ] | title8 = ]
| length8 = 2:18 | length8 = 2:18
| writer8 = {{hlist|]|]|]}}
| extra8 = ] | extra8 = ]
| title9 = ] | title9 = ]
| length9 = 3:10 | length9 = 3:10
| writer9 = ]
| extra9 = ] | extra9 = ]
| title10 = ] | title10 = ]
| length10 = 2:34 | length10 = 2:34
| writer10 = Don Gibson
| extra10 = ] | extra10 = ]
| title11 = The Departed Tango | title11 = The Departed Tango
| length11 = 3:32 | length11 = 3:32
| extra11 = ], ] | writer11 = ]
| extra11 = Howard Shore, ]
| title12 = Beacon Hill | title12 = Beacon Hill
| length12 = 2:33 | length12 = 2:33
| extra12 = ], ] | writer12 = Howard Shore
| extra12 = Howard Shore, ]
| title13 = ]
| length13 = 3:18
| writer13 = {{hlist|Mick Jagger|Keith Richards}}
| extra13 = The Rolling Stones
}} }}


===Score=== ===Score===
The ] for ''The Departed'' was written by ] and performed by guitarists ], ], Larry Saltzman and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundtrack.net/album/the-departed-original-score/|title=The Departed - Original Score|access-date=October 1, 2022|website=]}}</ref> The score was recorded in Shore's own studio in ]. The album, ''The Departed: Original Score'', was released December 5, 2006 by ], and produced by Jason Cienkus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10521342-Howard-Shore-The-Departed-Original-Score|title=Howard Shore – The Departed Original Score|access-date=October 1, 2022|website=]}}</ref>
{{Infobox album <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = The Departed: Original Score
| Type = ]
| Longtype =
| Artist = ]
| Cover =
| Released = December 5, 2006
| Recorded =
| Genre = ]s
| Length =
| Label = ]
| Producer = Jason Cienkus
}}

The film score for ''The Departed'' was written by ] and performed by guitarists ], ], Larry Saltzman and ]. The score was recorded in Shore's own studio in ].

{{Track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Cops or Criminals
| length1 = 2:01
| title2 = 344 Wash
| length2 = 2:03
| title3 = Beacon Hill
| length3 = 2:36
| title4 = The Faithful Departed
| length4 = 3:01
| title5 = Colin
| length5 = 2:09
| title6 = Madolyn
| length6 = 2:14
| title7 = Billy's Theme
| length7 = 6:58
| title8 = Command
| length8 = 3:15
| title9 = Chinatown
| length9 = 3:16
| title10 = Boston Common
| length10 = 2:53
| title11 = Miss Thing
| length11 = 1:45
| title12 = The Baby
| length12 = 2:48
| title13 = The Last Rites
| length13 = 3:05
| title14 = The Departed Tango
| length14 = 3:38
}}

==Home media==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2011}}
''The Departed'' was released by ] on DVD on February 13, 2007 in Region 1 format and on February 19, 2007 in Region 2 format, and was released on March 14, 2007 in Region 4 format. The film is available in a single-disc full screen (1:33:1), single-disc widescreen (2:40:1) edition, and 2-disc special edition. The second disc of this film predominately contains features that concerned the crimes that influenced Scorsese with deleted scenes being the only feature that are actually film related. The ] version has three available audio tracks: English, Spanish, and French (all of which are in Dolby Digital 5.1), and three subtitle tracks (English, Spanish, French). The film was released on ] and ] at the same time as the standard-definition DVD. The 2-Disc Special Edition was packaged in a Limited Edition ]. It marked the first time that an Oscar winning Best Picture was released to the home video market in DVD format only, as VHS was totally phased out by the start of 2006.

==Sequel==
In a February 2007 interview with '']'', Mark Wahlberg stated that there might be a sequel focusing on his character, Dignam, with ] potentially playing a corrupt senator. He also stated that ] was writing the script.<ref>{{cite news|title=Exclusive: News On Departed 2... And 3!|work=EmpireOnline.com|date=2007-02-07|url=http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=20343|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref> The film is said to be on hold, because producer ] is now the head of ] and the film is a ] project.<ref>{{cite news|author=Stax|title=No Departed 2 Just Yet|work=]|date=2007-02-05|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/761/761346p1.html|accessdate=2007-02-07}}</ref>


Scorsese described the music as "a very dangerous and lethal tango" and cited the guitar-based score of '']'' and the ] in '']'' as inspiration.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Martin-Scorsese-Departed-Almost-Got-Sequel-Here-Why-It-Didn-t-Happen-114897.html |title=Martin Scorsese's The Departed Almost Got A Sequel, Here's Why It Didn't Happen |last1=Mcknight |first1=Brent |website=Cinema Blend |date=February 27, 2016 |access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323014040/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Martin-Scorsese-Departed-Almost-Got-Sequel-Here-Why-It-Didn-t-Happen-114897.html|archive-date=March 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In June 2010, Wahlberg and Monahan continued to express interest in a sequel, then said to be projected for 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Departed Sequel Will Arrive in 2012|url=http://thefilmstage.com/2010/06/10/the-departed-sequel-arriving-in-2012|work=TheFilmStage.com|accessdate=June 10, 2010|date=June 10, 2010}}</ref> Nothing further has been announced.


==Homages== ==Canceled sequel==
Although many of the key characters in the film are dead by the end, there was a script written for a sequel. This was ultimately shelved due to the expense and Scorsese's lack of interest in creating a sequel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Martin-Scorsese-Departed-Almost-Got-Sequel-Here-Why-It-Didn-t-Happen-114897.html |title=Martin Scorsese's The Departed Almost Got A Sequel, Here's Why It Didn't Happen |date=February 27, 2016 |website=Cinema Blend|access-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323014040/https://www.cinemablend.com/new/Martin-Scorsese-Departed-Almost-Got-Sequel-Here-Why-It-Didn-t-Happen-114897.html|archive-date=March 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
<!--Note: an earlier version of this article had a section on homages that was deleted on 2007-02-26 as being unsourced. The URL of that section just before deletion is http://en.wikipedia.org/search/?title=The_Departed&oldid=111190724#Homage -- it can be referred to but anything added here needs sourcing.-->
Throughout the film, Scorsese used Xs mostly shown in the background to mark characters for death; examples include shots of Costigan walking through the airport while talking to Sgt. Dignam (Mark Wahlberg), Queenan falling to his death (on the building glass windows as Queenan falls to ground), and Sullivan returning to his apartment at the end of the movie (on the hallway floors). This is a homage to ]' classic 1932 film '']''.<ref name="ReneRodriguez">{{cite web|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/reeling/2007/01/x_marks_the_spo.html|title=X marks the spot in 'The Departed'|work=]|author=Rene Rodriguez|date=2007-01-11|accessdate=2009-11-26}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Film in the United States|Boston|2000s|Criminal justice}} {{Portal|Film|United States|Law}}
* "]", an episode of '']'' that parodies the film
* ] * ]
* ]
{{-}}


==Notes== ==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{Reflist}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* {{cite news|title=MARTIN SCORSESE, LEONARDO DiCAPRIO, MATT DAMON, VERA FARMIGA AND WILLIAM MONAHAN (Records two 40-minute press conference sessions)|author=Brad Balfour|year=2006|url=http://www.popentertainment.com/scorsese.htm|work=PopEntertainment.com|accessdate=2007-09-10}} * {{Cite news |last=Balfour |first=Brad |year=2006|title=Martin Scorsese, Leonardo Dicaprio, Matt Damon, Vera Farmiga and William Monahan: Meeting with Martin and the Departed |url=http://www.popentertainment.com/scorsese.htm |publisher=PopEntertainment.com |access-date=September 10, 2007}} Transcripts of two 40-minute press conference sessions.


==External links== ==External links==
{{Wikiquote}} {{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website|http://thedeparted.warnerbros.com}} * {{Official website|https://www.warnerbros.com/departed}}
* {{IMDb title|0407887}} * {{IMDb title|0407887}}
* {{Amg movie|310756}} * {{Metacritic film}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|departed}}
* {{Metacritic film|the-departed}}
* {{Mojo title|departed}} * {{Mojo title|departed}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|departed}}
* {{TCMDb title|642497|The Departed}}


{{Martin Scorsese}} {{Infernal Affairs}}
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{{Plan B Entertainment}}
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|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestPicture 2001–2020}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{Empire Award for Best Thriller}} {{Empire Award for Best Thriller}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Cast}}
{{Satellite Award Best Motion Picture}} {{Satellite Award Best Motion Picture}}
{{Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture}}
{{St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Picture}}
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Latest revision as of 22:52, 7 January 2025

2006 American crime thriller film by Martin Scorsese This article is about the 2006 film. For other uses, see The Departed (disambiguation).

The Departed
The text "THE DEPARTED" against a black background; the text is filled in with photos of Leonardo DiCaprio (top), Jack Nicholson (right), and Matt Damon (left)Theatrical release poster
Directed byMartin Scorsese
Screenplay byWilliam Monahan
Based onInfernal Affairs
by Alan Mak
Felix Chong
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMichael Ballhaus
Edited byThelma Schoonmaker
Music byHoward Shore
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
(United States)
Media Asia Films
(Hong Kong)
Release dates
  • September 26, 2006 (2006-09-26) (Ziegfeld Theatre)
  • October 6, 2006 (2006-10-06) (United States)
Running time151 minutes
CountriesUnited States
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
LanguageEnglish
Budget$90 million
Box office$291.5 million

The Departed is a 2006 epic crime thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. It is both an English-language remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs and also loosely based on the real-life Boston Winter Hill Gang; the character Colin Sullivan is based on the corrupt FBI agent John Connolly, while the character Frank Costello is based on Irish-American gangster and crime boss Whitey Bulger. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, with Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin, Anthony Anderson and James Badge Dale in supporting roles.

The film takes place in Boston and the surrounding metro area, primarily in the South Boston neighborhood. Irish Mob boss Frank Costello (Nicholson) plants Colin Sullivan (Damon) as a spy within the Massachusetts State Police; simultaneously, the police assign undercover state trooper Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) to infiltrate Costello's mob crew. When both sides realize the situation, Sullivan and Costigan each attempt to discover the other's identity before they are found out.

The Departed was a critical and commercial success, grossing $291.5 million on a budget of around $90 million and receiving acclaim for its direction, performances (particularly of DiCaprio, Nicholson, and Wahlberg), screenplay, and editing. It won several accolades, including four Oscars at the 79th Academy Awards: for Best Picture, Best Director for Scorsese (his only personal Oscar win to date), Best Adapted Screenplay for Monahan, and Best Film Editing for editor Thelma Schoonmaker. The film also received six nominations each at the 64th Golden Globe Awards (winning one) and the 60th British Academy Film Awards, and two nominations at the 13th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Plot

In the 1980s in Boston, Irish Mob boss Frank Costello introduces himself to a young Colin Sullivan. Many years later, Sullivan has been groomed as a spy inside the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and joins the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Another police academy recruit, Billy Costigan, is selected by Captain Queenan and Sergeant Dignam to go undercover as a criminal and infiltrate Costello's crew.

Costigan serves a term in prison for his cover and further commits several crimes, drawing Costello's attention. Sullivan begins dating police psychiatrist Madolyn Madden. Costigan manages to get Costello to recruit him into his organization. Over the next year, Costigan becomes increasingly involved. His mental state declines but Queenan and Dignam convince him to continue. Costigan begins seeing Madden for his court-ordered therapy.

The MSP and Costello both realize they have moles in their respective organizations and task Costigan and Sullivan to find them. Meanwhile, Costigan learns that Costello is a protected FBI informant, sharing his discovery with Queenan. He and Madden have an affair.

One night, Costigan follows Costello into an adult theater and witnesses him giving Sullivan an envelope containing information on his crew. Costigan is instructed to get a visual ID of Sullivan but is unsuccessful. When Sullivan realizes he is being followed, he stabs a man, mistaking him for Costigan, and flees. Costigan, fearing Costello will soon discover and kill him for being the mole, calls Queenan to end the undercover operation, but Sullivan has Queenan followed, lying to the other officers that Queenan may be the spy. Sullivan also calls Costello's gang to inform them of the meeting.

When Costello's men arrive, Queenan helps Costigan escape before being thrown from the building to his death. This causes a firefight between the police and Costello's men. Angered by Queenan's murder, Dignam attacks Sullivan and is suspended. Timothy Delahunt, one of Costello's henchmen wounded in the gunfight, tells Costigan that he knows he is the mole before succumbing to his wounds.

Looking through Queenan's belongings, Sullivan discovers Costello is an FBI informant. A news report reveals that Delahunt was a Boston Police Department undercover officer, but Costello suspects it is a false claim so he would stop looking for the mole. Deciding to turn on him, Sullivan directs the MSP to tail Costello, and a gunfight erupts, killing most of Costello's crew. Sullivan confronts a wounded Costello, who admits to being an FBI informant. They exchange gunfire, and Sullivan kills him.

His assignment finished, Costigan goes to Sullivan to reveal his undercover status, unaware he is another mole. After Sullivan leaves the room, Costigan recognises the envelope from the theater on his desk. Realizing Sullivan was Costello's mole, Costigan escapes.

When Sullivan finds Costigan gone, he realizes Costigan has discovered the truth and deletes Costigan's records from police computers. Costigan visits Madden, who has told Sullivan but not Costigan she's pregnant, knowing that Sullivan may not be the father, and hands her an envelope, instructing her to open it if something happens to him.

Madden finds an envelope in the mail from Costigan to Sullivan containing a CD of Costello's recorded conversations with Sullivan. Fearing Costigan has revealed their affair, she listens to it and leaves Sullivan. Costigan arranges to meet Sullivan on the same rooftop where Queenan was killed, then arrests him. Costigan calls Trooper Brown, an acquaintance from the police academy, but Brown pulls a gun on him when he arrives, unsure who to believe.

Saying he has evidence tying Sullivan to Costello, Brown lets Costigan take the elevator. Upon reaching the lobby, Costigan is shot dead by Trooper Barrigan, a friend of Sullivan's who is another of Costello's spies. Brown reaches the lobby but is also killed by Barrigan. Sullivan shoots Barrigan dead, so that he can frame him as the mole.

At Costigan's funeral, Sullivan notices Madden silently crying. He realizes they were involved, but when he attempts to talk to her about the baby, she ignores him. Later, when Sullivan arrives home, Dignam is waiting for him and, after Sullivan indifferently accepts his fate, Dignam shoots him in the head, killing him and avenging both Queenan and Costigan before leaving. The final shot shows a rat crawling on the rail of the patio with the Massachusetts State House in the distance.

Cast

Production

Martin Scorsese, the director of the film, in 2010

In January 2003, Warner Bros., producer Brad Grey, and actor/producer Brad Pitt bought the rights to remake the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs (2002) from Media Asia for $1.75 million. William Monahan was secured as a screenwriter, and later Martin Scorsese, who admired Monahan's script, came on board as director.

In March 2004, United Press International announced that Scorsese would be remaking Infernal Affairs and setting it in Boston, and that Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were slated to star. Pitt, tentatively scheduled to play Sullivan, later declined to play the role, saying a younger actor should play the part; he decided to produce the film instead. Scorsese's associate Kenneth Lonergan suggested Matt Damon, who grew up in Boston, for the part of Sullivan, and Scorsese asked Jack Nicholson to play Costello. Robert De Niro was approached to play Queenan, but De Niro declined in order to direct The Good Shepherd instead. Scorsese would later say that De Niro turned down the role as he was not interested. Ray Liotta was approached for a role in the film, but declined due to a commitment to another project.

Nicholson wanted the film to have "something a little more" than the usual gangster film, and screenwriter Monahan came up with the idea of basing the Costello character on Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger. This gave the screenplay an element of realism—and an element of dangerous uncertainty, because of the wide-ranging carte blanche the FBI gave Bulger in exchange for revealing information about fellow gangsters. A technical consultant on the film was Tom Duffy, who had served three decades on the Boston Police Department, particularly as an undercover detective investigating the Irish mob.

The Departed was officially greenlit by Warner Bros. in early 2005 and began shooting in the spring of that year. Some of the film was shot on location in Boston. For budgetary and logistical reasons many scenes, in particular interiors, were shot in locations and sets in New York City, which had tax incentives for filmmakers that Boston at the time did not.

Themes and motifs

Film critic Stanley Kauffmann said that for The Departed, Scorsese "was apparently concerned with the idea of identity, one of the ancient themes of drama, and how it affects one's actions, emotions, self-knowledge, even dreams." Kauffmann, however, did not find the theme conveyed with particular effectiveness in the film. Film critic Roger Ebert compared Costigan and Sullivan's seeking of approval from those they are deceiving to Stockholm syndrome. Ebert also noted the themes of Catholic guilt.

In the final scene, a rat is seen on Sullivan's window ledge. Scorsese acknowledges that while it is not meant to be taken literally, it somewhat symbolizes the "quest for the rat" in the film and the strong sense of distrust among the characters, much like post-9/11 U.S. The window view behind the rat is a nod to gangster films like Little Caesar (1931), Scarface (1932), and White Heat (1949). The film's penultimate scene at Costigan's funeral, when Madden walks straight past Sullivan and out of camera without looking at him, is a visual quotation of the famous closing scene from The Third Man.

Throughout the film, Scorsese uses an "X" motif to foreshadow death in a manner similar to Howard Hawks' film Scarface (1932). Examples include shots of cross-beam supports in an airport walkway when Costigan is phoning Sgt. Dignam, the lighted "X" on the wall in Sullivan's office when he assures Costello over the phone that Costigan is not the rat, the taped windows of the building Queenan enters before being thrown to his death, behind Costigan's head in the elevator before he is shot, and the carpeted hallway floor when Sullivan returns to his apartment before being shot by Dignam at the film's end.

Reception

Box office

The Departed grossed $132.4 million in the United States and Canada and $159 million in other territories for a total gross of $291.5 million, against a production budget of $90 million.

The film grossed $26.9 million in its opening weekend, becoming the fourth Scorsese film to debut at number one. In the following three weeks the film grossed $19 million, $13.5 million and $9.8 million, finishing second at the box office each time, before grossing $7.7 million and dropping to 5th in its fifth week.

Critical response

As per the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of critics have given The Departed a positive review based on 287 reviews, with an average rating of 8.30 out of 10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Featuring outstanding work from an excellent cast, The Departed is a thoroughly engrossing gangster drama with the gritty authenticity and soupy morality we have come to expect from Martin Scorsese." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, with 92% positive reviews based on 39 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.

Entertainment Weekly ranked it on its end-of-the-decade "Best of" list, saying: "If they're lucky, directors make one classic film in their career. Martin Scorsese has one per decade (Taxi Driver in the '70s, Raging Bull in the '80s, Goodfellas in the '90s). His 2006 Irish Mafia masterpiece kept the streak alive."

Roger Ebert gave the film four stars out of four, praising Scorsese for thematically differentiating his film from the original. Online critic James Berardinelli awarded the film four stars out of four, praising it as "an American epic tragedy." He went on to claim that the film deserves to be ranked alongside Scorsese's past successes, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas.

Andrew Lau, co-director of Infernal Affairs, in an interview with Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, said: "Of course I think the version I made is better, but the Hollywood version is pretty good too. made the Hollywood version more attuned to American culture." Andy Lau, one of the main actors in Infernal Affairs, when asked how the movie compares to the original, said: "The Departed was too long and it felt as if Hollywood had combined all three Infernal Affairs movies together." Although Lau said the script of the remake had some "golden quotes," he also felt it had a bit too much profanity. He ultimately rated The Departed eight out of ten and said that the Hollywood remake is worth a view, though according to Lau's spokeswoman Alice Tam, he felt that the combination of the two female characters into one in The Departed was not as good as the original storyline.

A few critics were disappointed in the film, including J. Hoberman of the Village Voice, who wrote: "Infernal Affairs was surprisingly cool and effectively restrained for HK action, but Scorsese raises the temperature with every ultraviolent interaction. The surplus of belligerence and slur reach near-Tarantinian levels—appropriate as he's staking a claim to QT's turf."

Top ten lists

The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2006. Carrie Rickey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal, Ruthe Stein of the San Francisco Chronicle, and Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer named it one of the top ten films of 2006. Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times named it the best film of the 2000s.

Accolades

Main article: List of accolades received by The Departed

At the 64th Golden Globe Awards on January 15, 2007, The Departed won one award for Best Director (Martin Scorsese), while being nominated for five other awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg), and Best Screenplay (William Monahan).

At the 79th Academy Awards on February 25, 2007, The Departed won four Academy Awards: Best Picture (Graham King), Best Director (Martin Scorsese), Best Film Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), and Best Adapted Screenplay Writing (William Monahan). Mark Wahlberg was also nominated for the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance, but he lost to Alan Arkin for his role in Little Miss Sunshine.

The film marked the first time Scorsese won an Oscar after five previous losses. Many felt that he deserved it years earlier for prior efforts. Some felt he deserved it for his prior nominations and the win was described as a "Lifetime Achievement Award for a lesser film". Scorsese himself joked that he won because: "This is the first movie I've done with a plot."

At the 11th Satellite Awards on December 18, 2006, The Departed won awards for Best Ensemble, Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture, Drama, Best Screenplay – Adapted (William Monahan), and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Leonardo DiCaprio). In 2008, it was nominated for the American Film Institute Top 10 Gangster Films list.

Home media

The Departed was released by Warner Home Video on DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray disc on February 13, 2007. The film is available in a single-disc full screen (1.33:1), single-disc widescreen (2.39:1) edition, and 2-disc special edition. The second disc contains deleted scenes, a feature about the influence of New York's Little Italy on Scorsese, a Turner Classic Movies profile, a theatrical trailer, and a 21-minute documentary titled Stranger Than Fiction: The True Story of Whitey Bulger, Southie and The Departed about the crimes that influenced Scorsese in creating the film, including the story of James "Whitey" Bulger, upon whom Jack Nicholson's character is based. The film was released on Ultra HD Blu-ray on April 23, 2024.

Music

Soundtrack

The Departed: Music from the Motion Picture
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
ReleasedNovember 7, 2006
GenreRock, country, pop
LabelWarner Sunset
ProducerJason Cienkus
Track Listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Artist(s)Length
1."Comfortably Numb"Roger Waters (Feat. Van Morrison & The Band)7:59
2."Sail On, Sailor"The Beach Boys3:18
3."Let It Loose"The Rolling Stones5:18
4."Sweet Dreams"Don GibsonRoy Buchanan3:32
5."One Way Out"The Allman Brothers Band4:57
6."Baby Blue"Pete HamBadfinger3:36
7."I'm Shipping Up to Boston"Dropkick Murphys2:34
8."Nobody but Me"The Human Beinz2:18
9."Tweedle Dee"Winfield ScottLaVern Baker3:10
10."Sweet Dreams (of You)"Don GibsonPatsy Cline2:34
11."The Departed Tango"Howard ShoreHoward Shore, Marc Ribot3:32
12."Beacon Hill"Howard ShoreHoward Shore, Sharon Isbin2:33
13."Gimme Shelter"
  • Mick Jagger
  • Keith Richards
The Rolling Stones3:18

Score

The film score for The Departed was written by Howard Shore and performed by guitarists Sharon Isbin, G. E. Smith, Larry Saltzman and Marc Ribot. The score was recorded in Shore's own studio in New York State. The album, The Departed: Original Score, was released December 5, 2006 by New Line, and produced by Jason Cienkus.

Scorsese described the music as "a very dangerous and lethal tango" and cited the guitar-based score of Murder by Contract and the zither in The Third Man as inspiration.

Canceled sequel

Although many of the key characters in the film are dead by the end, there was a script written for a sequel. This was ultimately shelved due to the expense and Scorsese's lack of interest in creating a sequel.

See also

References

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Awards for The Departed
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