The Departed (2006)

Hollywood Version of Infernal Affairs (HK) 

Stars   :  Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg

Score  :  7.8 / 10

 

This is my first time I watched The Departed and the main reason is Leonardo DiCaprio. I am a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio. But without my realized, I have watched this movie before, but its Hong Kong version, titled Infernal Affairs. Infernal Affairs was released in 2002 and of course I have forgotten the story, because it was very long. I only remember the main story and the two big names in the film, Andy Lau and Tony Leung. Infernal Affairs also has a prequel, Infernal Affairs II and a sequel, Infernal Affairs III. On this review I will share The Departed. The story is about two people who have different backgrounds but have the same ideals to become a cop. 


Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) comes from a good family but he was trapped by a gangster named Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) a main target of the police.

Infernal Affairs-HK (Source : Wikipedia)

Costello helps Collin's family and pay for his education at the police academy with a special purpose. In the meanwhile, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) who comes from the families with a bad history of criminals also attended at the same police academy with Colin.

After graduation, they faced the interview session to join Massachusetts Police Department. They met a police chief, Queenan (Martin Sheen) and senior detective, Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) who like to speak rude and sarcastic. Colin passed the interview easily and joined investigation unit as a spy of Costello.

Dignam is interviewing Billy

In the interview, Billy was attacked severely by Dignam because of his poor background. Although Queenan and Dignam accepted Billy, he had to perform a heavy secret duty. They asked Billy to be a spy in the Costello's organization. They set up a scenario to him, to provide his duty. They fire Billy from the police department with no respect, imprisoning him and delete all his identity documents.

Billy goes into Castello's organization and being a confidant. Billy always involves in any business transaction of Castello. Colin also has a successful career and promoted to be a police sergeant in Massachusetts. But, because of they are a spy; they always give away the secret plan to the police or otherwise, until they feel there were a spy in their organization.

Colin meet Castello

Billy in action with Castello's organization

Both of them are in the difficult position. On a one side, Billy and Colin had to perform his duties as a spy but on the other hand they also have to be other people in te world that they live today. The stakes are career and good name or even their own lives. Greatest pressure experienced by Billy, he had to be a cruel and do not hesitate to kill. Billy became frustated and being sedatives addicts. He went to a psychiatrist, Madolyn (Vera Farmiga) who was a Colin's lover.

This film has a uniquely story idea. Although at the beginning when the film tells about Castello and his organization are so boring, slowly but sure the story becomes more interesting and more exciting to the end. Especially after the two sides recognise the spy and commissioned to Billy and Colin to find the spy. The audience was also given the story of a love triangle relationship between Colin, Madolyn and Billy. However, Madolyn character in the story is not just fills a story of a love relationship that sweetens the story, but it also has a vital significance. When the movie is almost over, Billy and Colin identity uncovered with a very clever way.

Bily and Colin

Vera Farmiga played as Madolyn in this film. Unlike her role as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring, Farmiga still looks so young and so sexy in this movie. Leonardo DiCaprio played very well as usual DiCaprio successfully animates his role as Billy, who scared and frustated and being sedatives addict. I loved DiCaprio more than Tony Leung who also played the same role in Infernal Affairs.

Vera Farmiga as Madolyn

Damon was less as prominent in this film. From my pint of view, Damon starts as the antagonist, but less cunning and ferocious. I prefer Andy Lau who play the same role in Infernal Affairs. At that time, I almost hate Andy Lau for his treachery. Wahlberg is worthy to get two thumbs up; he managed to emerge as the most annoying people with the talk spiciness. He managed to get an Oscar nomination in 2007 for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.

The Departed become one of my favorite movies, how about you?