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The Departed Our rating: Rate this movie   MPAA rating: R (for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content, and drug material) Genre: Crime, Drama Theater release: October 06, 2006 by Warner Bros. Pictures Directed by: Martin Scorsese Runtime: 2 hours 29 minutes Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Billy Costigan), Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan), Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello), Mark Wahlberg (Dignam), Martin Sheen (Oliver Queenan), Ray Winstone (Mr. French), Vera Farmiga (Madolyn), Alec Baldwin (Ellerby), Anthony Anderson (Brown) Related: Talk About It/Family Corner

What defines our identity and sense of morality? Is it our family ties and the sins of our past? Our actions today in the work we do and decisions we make? Or perhaps something deeper that affects the heart and soul, like love and grace?

You wouldn't expect such philosophical questions from a standard cops-and-robbers drama, but then again, 2002's Infernal Affairs wasn't exactly standard. A blockbuster hit in Hong Kong and highly acclaimed among American film buffs, it skillfully played with an intriguing premise so intricate, yet simple enough to make you wonder why no one devised it sooner. A gangster sends one of his young protégés to work his way up in the police force as a mole to serve his needs. Meanwhile, the police send one of their own undercover to undermine the crime boss. Both covert agents are aware of the other's existence, and both try to uncover the other's identity before they're found out. But what if the undercover cop plays the role of a thug too well, and what if the mole learns to enjoy becoming a cop?

Leonardo DiCaprio as Billy Costigan, a state trooper who takes on a dangerous undercover assignment

The story proved so intriguing, it captured the attention of director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio while they were making The Aviator in 2004. Suppose the story were transplanted to the U.S., say the mean streets of Boston. What if the film took more time to develop the back-stories and motivations of the key players? And what if Jack Nicholson got on board to deliver a crazed, Oscar-worthy performance in an expansion of the crime boss role? Enter The Departed, Scorsese's Americanized adaptation of Infernal Affairs.

Only the most devout fans of Hong Kong cinema would be so enamored with the original to say there's no improving upon its excellence. Several characters were under-developed, the soundtrack made awkward use of pop music, and the script went out of its way to remind you of the protagonists' conflicting dualities. Still, can you blame people for being skeptical of another botched Hollywood remake? The Departed, however, is one of those rare exceptions of a film that generally improves on the source material, despite falling short of it in other ways.

Matt Damon is Colin Sullivan, the boy who grows up running errands for Irish crime lord Frank Costello (Nicholson), quickly rising up in the elite ranks of Boston's state police. It's not that he isn't good at his job, but everything seems to be handed to Sullivan—his high profile career, his penthouse apartment, and his girlfriend Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), a psychologist for the police force. Yet lurking under that friendly poster-child demeanor is a man doing as much as he can to undermine justice in service to the devil himself.

Matt Damon as Colin Sullivan, a rising star in the police department who is not quite what he seems

On the other side is Billy Costigan (DiCaprio), who joined the police to escape the criminal ties of his family. Captain Queenan (Martin Sheen) and Sgt. Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) see his past as an opportunity to get closer to Costello, dismissing him from the force to send him deep undercover. And though Costigan plays his hand well, he becomes unraveled as he bloodies his hands and slowly becomes the very thing he tried to avoid. To cope with his unhinging emotions, he begins to see a psychologist and develop a relationship with her—Madolyn, all too conveniently.

At the center is Costello, with Nicholson never more insane and over the top since his performance in The Shining, which is mostly a good thing. At nearly 70, there's a weariness about him that suits the part, requiring him to spout Machiavellian wisdom through several entrancing monologues. This is a man who's seen (and taken) it all, yet still has nothing at heart, explaining his cocky behavior and gradual descent into madness when he's unable to remove the interloper in his own ranks. Like Al Pacino, it's enough of a pleasure to watch an actor do what he does best, though as usual, Nicholson goes a little too far—especially when he starts miming a rat to describe the one undermining his gang.

In a blend of his performances from Good Will Hunting and The Bourne Identity, Damon does well at exuding steely charm—you're never quite sure whether to feel sorry for Sullivan because of his predicament, or hope that he's found out because of his misdeeds. Even more impressive is DiCaprio, who takes one more giant leap after The Aviator in his maturity as an actor with a completely believable performance as a troubled cop/thug who simply wants to do the right thing, yet is forced to do some wrongs to accomplish that. It's a strong cast all around, though special mention should be made for Alec Baldwin's humorously charged and eccentric performance as the captain of a special unit task force.

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