By no means an "Instant Classic" but still worth your time

Rating: 8/10 (9 October 2006)

Well, I must admit this was the first movie I was dying to see in theaters for a long time while it didn't quite live up to the expectations I set, it was still worth seeing.
The Departed sets the mood pretty quick which is good bad thing, as with most movies that follow that format, it quickly reaches a point where it begins to drag some when it came time to wrap up the film, things seemed a little rushed.
Here's the basic premise Matt Damon's character is and up and coming Massachusetts police detective who has deep ties to a high profile mafia member in Boston (played by Jack Nicholson) he uses that connection to help further his own career while also keeping Nicholson's character from being arrested. The other main character is played by Leonardo DiCaprio Leo is sent undercover to keep tabs on Nicholson.
So the plot of the movie becomes, who can catch who first? Damon is trying to help Nicholson find the "rat" in his group, while DiCaprio is trying to find the "leak" back at the police department who keeps tipping Nicholson off.
It's a pretty cool premise that leads to some great dialogue and tense scenes. DiCaprio does a good job of portraying the "tormented soul" part who's in constant fear of blowing his cover Damon does alright playing the dual role of "poster boy" cop and smug, crooked cop Nicholson's plays his bad-guy character a bit over the top, but adds a nice comedic element to it in the process there are several "laugh out loud" moments in the film which don't disrupt its intensity.
But what helps make The Departed an even stronger film is its supporting cast. Both Mark Wahlberg and Alec Baldwin serve as scene stealers who will have you chuckling to yourself. Martin Sheen turns in a nice performance as the head of the task force looking to take Nicholson down. Relative newcomer (at least in a movie of this scale) Vera Farmiga plays the love interest of Damon and holds her own. Anthony Anderson makes an appearance as well, but really seems out of place in a non-comedic role.
Overall, The Departed was a very well written and entertaining movie my only quarrel came towards the end when there was an element introduced that produced one of those dreaded "aw, come on" moments from me.
I'm not sure if this movie will have quite the replay value as some of Martin Scorsese's other works have had but it is definitely worth seeing if you're a fan of the genre or of movies in general.