THE DEPARTED
5 out of 5 stars

frank costello: “when i was your age, they would say we can become cops, or criminals. today, what i’m saying to you is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?”



jack nicholson probably does the best job as most-sadistic villian EVER with his portrayal of irish mob boss frank costello in south boston. costello is essentially public enemy #1 on the boston’s police special investigation unit’s most wanted list, and they want him either dead or put away for a very, very long time. of course, the joke is on them because frank already has a mole on the “inside” with the help of colin sullivan (matt damon) tipping frank off whenever he can. to make things even more interesting, the boston police decide to infiltrate the costello crew with a mole of their own...in the form of billy costigan (leo dicaprio who lets you see his vulnerability for the first time), whose father and uncle and cousin all worked for frank. (well, not so much his dad, but you get the picture) billy has a hard time gaining the trust of frank, wheras colin is easily accepted and actually promoted within the ranks of boston’s police force. (utter irony...) then, so begins the deception, the double-crossing, the lies and the blood...

i’ve always been a huge fan of martin scorsese’s films, but this one is definitely an instant classic. (which is why i own a copy) it’s actually a remake of a chinese film called internal affairs, but holy irish potatoes! this one is better... scorsese has always been a great storyteller, especially crime thrillers, and he always makes great casting decisions too. jack nicholson seems like he was born to be frank costello, from every spoken word to even his mannerisms. (watch for the scene when he’s eating lobster and randomly pulls out the severed hand during his meal) but, the dialogue/script is just divine. that’s really the creme of this masterpiece. i think i truly liked this film because it’s so well-written... the acting is great too, but with lines like these:

frank costello: “i got this rat, this gnawing, cheese eating fuckin’ rat and it brings up questions...”


mr. french: “what are you drinkin’?”
billy costigan: “a cranberry juice.”
mr. french: “what is it, your period?”


frank costello: “how is your mother?”
man in costello’s bar: “oh... i’m afraid she’s on her way out.”
frank costello: “we all are. act accordingly.” (smiles and straightens tie)


see what i mean? so, watch this one this st. patrick’s day with a guinness and a piece of shepherd’s pie. the irish mob has never been portrayed better... ;)