A Cat-And-Mouse Game

Rating: 10/10 (8 October 2011)

The Departed is an American crime thriller film,a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, about two men from opposite sides of the law that are undercover within the Massachusetts State Police and the Irish mob. The film is directed by Martin Scorsese.It has a star- studded cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin.
The story begins when Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is introduced to organized crime through Irish mobster Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) in the Irish neighborhood of South Boston at a young age. Costello trains him to become his mole inside the Massachusetts State Police. Sullivan is accepted into the Special Investigations Unit, which focuses on organized crime.While Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is asked by Captain Oliver Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) to become an Undercover Agent due to the fact that his family ties to organized crime that makes him a perfect infiltrator. Before he graduates,he drops out of the Academy and does time in prison on a fake assault charge to increase his credibility.Eventually,both infiltrate their respective organizations and play a cat-and-mouse game until the end of the film.
We are treated to a great action thriller in The Departed.But comparing Infernal Affairs and The Departed,the original is a lot superior as compared to the American remake.
Infernal Affairs is more realistic and has more emotional depth as compared to The Departed.It clearly explores the complexities and moral ambiguity that both Inspector Lau and Yan are undergoing.Aside from that,the material is very original and it is truly brilliantly made.The acting of the film is also great especially that of Andy Lau and Tony Leung.There are more interesting characters like Inspector Wong and Sam,the triad boss.Finally,the movie's ending makes you feel for both Inspector Lau,who finally became the person that he wants to assume by becoming a real cop through a series of lies and murder; and Yan,whom we feel considering that he never got his true identity back of being a cop and will always be remembered as a criminal.
The Departed is just a two-hour and a half mindless entertainment.It is NOT AN ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY since it is remake of Infernal Affairs. (Literally it is a remake since it copied scene by scene of the Infernal Affairs - LOL).Most of the great scenes of the movie was taken from IA as well.Also,there is too much swearing in the film.Why do the movie has to have the word f*ck said for 237 times?Do all cops and criminals swear every time they speak?Also,both Billy Costigan and Colin Sullivan are one-dimensional.One is good and the other is bad.There are too many characters and a lot of them are bland.Frank Costello looks more like a cartoon-like character rather than a mafia boss.There is less emotional depth and complexities as compared to the original.Then there is the pathetic character of Vera Farmiga named Madolyn.Does she really have to sleep with both Colin and Billy?We are treated to the acting histrionics of the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio,Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson.Matt Damon is simply bland in this film.Watch Damon in The Informant instead.Finally,the viewer has less empathy to the characters in the end since everybody just has to get shot in the end.
In the end,I still prefer the original compared to this remake although this movie still deserves a 10/10 rating.