A new gangster classic, with great acting and plot.

Rating: 9/10 (2 June 2009)

The Departed tells the story of two inside men: Billy Costigan, a cop inside Frank Costello's mob, and Colin Sullivan, the crime boss's mole in the police force. Their lives cross on opposite sides of the law, as one tries to bring Costello to justice and the other tries to prevent that by any means possible.
It's a movie about lies and deception, filled with blood, guts, and profanity. Living in secrecy takes a toll on the mental states of Costigan and Sullivan, both portrayed well by Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon. But without a doubt, Jack Nicholson as Costello is the best, being truly scary and delivering his lines with a menacing authenticity. The supporting cast is excellent, too, with Ray Winstone giving a standout performance as Costello's tough right-hand man.
Martin Scorsese's direction is as skillful as ever, with every scene being great to look at and the actors playing their roles flawlessly. The deeper the moles go, the more he ratchets up the suspense. The sky-high tension ensures The Departed is one of the most effective crime pictures of recent years.
But the effectiveness is diminished a bit by a minor flaw. The ending is nothing more than a bunch of people shooting each other in the end. It completely takes the whole thing off focus, and feels like a lazy way to finish up an otherwise extraordinary movie.