| Copyright � 2007 Ed Bagley | | | | The all-star cast of DiCaprio (Billy Costigan), Matt |
| The Departed � 4 Stars (Excellent) | | | | Damon (Sgt. Colin Sullivan), Jack Nicholson (Frank |
| Let me get to the most important thing first: Director | | | | Costello), Wahlberg (Sgt. Sean Dignam), Martin Sheen |
| Martin Scorsese won an Oscar for "The Departed". | | | | (Capt. Oliver Queenan) and Alec Baldwin (Capt. |
| Scorsese, one of the most accomplished directors of | | | | George Ellerby) did not hurt a lick. |
| our era, has been nominated for 7 Oscars-5 for Best | | | | The story takes place in Boston where Irish Mob boss |
| Director and 2 for Best Screenplay-before winning | | | | Frank Costello (Nicholson) embeds Colin Sullivan |
| with The Departed. | | | | (Damon) as an informant with the Massachusetts |
| He had also received 7 Golden Globe nominations-6 | | | | State Police. Simultaneously, the State Police assign |
| for Best Director and 1 for Best Screenplay-and won | | | | Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) to infiltrate Costello's crew. |
| for Gangs of New York before winning again for The | | | | When both sides figure out the situation, it is left to |
| Departed this year (2007). | | | | Sullivan and Costigan to discover each other's identity. |
| The Departed is simply the best mob film since Mario | | | | Along the way, 22 people get whacked (this is a Mob |
| Puzo's original Godfather in 1972. | | | | flick), the "f" word is used 237 times (about 235 times |
| Besides Scorsese, The Departed won for Best | | | | too many), and we get a study in relationship |
| Picture, Best Screenplay (William Monahan) and Best | | | | psychology as the only real love interest-Madolyn |
| Editing (Thelma Schoonmaker), giving The Departed 4 | | | | Madden-is a criminal psychiatrist who is wooed by |
| Oscar wins to The Godfather's 3 (Marlon Brando for | | | | both rivals. |
| Best Actor, Best Picture and Best Screenplay by | | | | The Departed kept my attention riveted for 151 |
| Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola). | | | | minutes. The three main characters (Costello, Sullivan |
| Mark Wahlberg was also nominated for Best | | | | and Costigan) all show their anguish in balancing |
| Supporting Actor as Sgt. Sean Dignam. | | | | survival, winning and conquering the moment. |
| The Departed also picked up 45 more wins and | | | | There are apparently two versions of this film. I saw |
| another 45 nominations, including another win for | | | | the longer version that is rated R for strong brutal |
| Scorsese (Best Director) and nominations for Best | | | | violence, pervasive language, and some strong sexual |
| Picture, Best Screenplay, Best Actor (Leonardo | | | | content and drug material. |
| DiCaprio) and Best Supporting Actor (Jack Nicholson | | | | This film is not for children or young adults, not that |
| and Mark Wahlberg) at the Golden Globes. | | | | young adults do not hear the same "f" word dozens a |
| In short, The Departed brought home more hardware | | | | time a day at high schools all over the country, but |
| than a Home Depot shopping spree. | | | | who needs the "f" word 237 times in 2.5 hours? |
| The icing on the cake for Scorsese was his best | | | | Nobody. |
| box-office opening ever ($26 million), his highest | | | | I managed to tune out the cussing and concentrate on |
| grossing film ever with $132 million nationally and $288 | | | | the story, acting and presentation that were excellent |
| million worldwide through March 2007, and $48 million | | | | for an action flick with Mob presence. |
| more in VHS rentals. The film's budget was $90 million. | | | | |