The Departed (Full Screen Edition) |  | Director: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $12.98
Buy Used: $0.65
as of 9/6/2010 20:48 MDT details
You Save: $12.33 (95%)
New (52) Used (149) from $0.65
Seller: San Diego Estate Sales
Rating:  492 reviews
Sales Rank: 7,107
Format: Color, NTSC, Full Screen
Languages: English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Running Time: 151 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 012569736757
UPC: 012569736757
EAN: 0012569736757
ASIN: B000M341QO
Theatrical Release Date: October 6, 2006
Release Date: February 13, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
Martin Scorsese makes a welcome return to the mean streets (of Boston, in this case) with The Departed, hailed by many as Scorsese's best film since Casino. Since this crackling crime thriller is essentially a Scorsese-stamped remake of the acclaimed 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs, the film was intensely scrutinized by devoted critics and cinephiles, and while Scorsese's intense filmmaking and all-star cast deserve ample acclaim, The Departed is also worthy of serious re-assessment, especially with regard to what some attentive viewers described as sloppy craftsmanship (!), notably in terms of mismatched shots and jagged continuity. But no matter where you fall on the Scorsese appreciation scale, there's no denying that The Departed is a signature piece of work from one of America's finest directors, designed for maximum impact with a breathtaking series of twists, turns, and violent surprises. It's an intricate cat-and-mouse game, but this time the cat and mouse are both moles: Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is an ambitious cop on the rise, planted in the Boston police force by criminal kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a hot-tempered police cadet who's been artificially disgraced and then planted into Costello's crime operation as a seemingly trustworthy soldier. As the multilayered plot unfolds (courtesy of a scorching adaptation by Kingdom of Heaven screenwriter William Monahan), Costigan and Sullivan conduct a volatile search for each other (they're essentially looking for "themselves") while simultaneously wooing the psychiatrist (Vera Farmiga) assigned to treat their crime-driven anxieties. Such convenient coincidences might sink a lesser film, but The Departed is so electrifying that you barely notice the plot-holes. And while Nicholson's profane swagger is too much "Jack" and not enough "Costello," he's still a joy to watch, especially in a film that's additionally energized by memorable (and frequently hilarious) supporting roles for Alec Baldwin, Mark Wahlberg, and a host of other big-name performers. The Departed also makes clever and plot-dependent use of cell-phones, to the extent that it couldn't exist without them. Powered by Scorsese's trademark use of well-chosen soundtrack songs (from vintage rock to Puccini's operas), The Departed may not be perfect, but it's one helluva ride for moviegoers, proving popular enough to become the biggest box-office hit of Scorsese's commercially rocky career. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Rookie cop Billy Costigan infiltrates the mob to help bring boss Frank Costello down, but Costello has a mole of his own winning everyone's trust with
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 492
 Excellent! September 5, 2010
SPud
Product brand new, incredibly fast shipping (delivered 2 days after order was placed without paying extra), would buy from again
 Solid September 1, 2010
Cosmoetica (New York, USA)
As for anything `deeper,' in a film like this one cannot really dig into issues like cultural identity, or masculinity and violence, because, while they are there, they are there at such a superficial level (as opposed to, say, the same theme of violence in Taxi Driver or Raging Bull, explored at a far deeper level). On a technical level, the film does employ music well, and the film succeeds with its many quick cuts, even if more longer paced scenes should have been interspersed to let the actors truly act and cogitate on their lives, beyond the overacting DiCaprio does on Fermiga's couch. Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus does his usual competent job, especially in the retro look of some scenes, which open and close with irises.
The two disk DVD, by Warner Brothers, is naturally bloated. There are not enough extras to need a second disk, and furthermore, for a two disk set, they commit the ultimate crime: no film commentary by Scorsese nor any of the leads. There are nine deleted scenes prefaced by Scorsese's reasons for omission, a profile called Scorsese On Scorsese, a documentary on the criminal this film was based upon: Boston crime kingpin, James `Whitey' Bulger, a documentary on what influenced Scorsese's crime films, and the theatrical trailer. Solid stuff, but for two disks, more- especially an audio commentary, should be standard issue. But, were the movie better, the gripes re: the DVD package would be minimal.
As it is, The Departed is good Hollywood fluff, yet, given that it's Scorsese, more is expected, although I have the sinking feeling that, like Woody Allen, he will never produce another masterpiece. This film follows a standard cops and crooks formula, which, in and of itself, is not a bad thing- consider the 1997 crime masterpiece, L.A. Confidential. The difference is that where that film took a genre formula and twisted it from pulp melodrama into real drama, via the writing and performances, as well as ending the film with a satisfying twist that was unexpected in the small, even if expected in the large (the good guys won), The Departed does the inverse, never rising above melodrama (even if good), and ending the film with a bad twist, of the worst deus ex machina sort. If you watch the film, don't expect much of an aesthetic not intellectual rush, only some mildly entertaining moments, crafted really well. If you want the former, go watch some earlier films from the Scorsese canon. Unfortunately, given his recent output, that last line was also likely seen coming from a mile away.
An Overrated but Good Film in the Overcrowded Crime Film Genre August 14, 2010
Quentin Tarantino Fan (nowhere)
For all the generic crime films that come out each and ever year, Martin Scorsese is one of those people who you can always count on making a more substantial stand out crime film. After all, he's the one who made the best mob movies ever (Goodfellas), created a very influential independent crime film (Mean Streets), and numerous other crime films that stand out among the crowded genre (Gangs of New York, Casino). Oh sure, not all of them are equal, but they do stand out and are great films in the face of....uh....wow, what a generic genre. Never mind.
Scorsese has taken us everywhere in the crime genre, from the gritty low of the New York Streets, the mob, and even the 1860's. This time, Scorsese takes us to the streets of Boston, giving us insight into the corruption of the Boston Police Department. Scorsese doesn't quite reach the level of his other crime films, as the film comes off as a very well written, intricate crime film, top notch entertainment only. It's a twisty, sometimes plot hole ridden, crime film about two moles criss-crossing and converging in numerous ways possible, a very compelling crime film, done with great direction from Martin Scorsese (though nowhere near the level of Goodfellas, I mean come on).
However, I'm of the opinion that I find this movie to be a little overrated. It's hardly Scorsese's best work, and personally, I found The Aviator and Gangs of New York to be both better than the Departed. It's also a little generic compared to Goodfellas, which is surely one of the prime crime films that transcends the ordinary crime film genre. I think what this film lacks is insight, and the personal examination element is nowhere as profound as some of his other films. Where's the examination of the duality of being in crime, of how deadly alluring being a mobster can be? Where's the searing ugliness of relationships previously shown (Sharon Stone, Lorraine Bracco). Where's the message that shows you just how ugly and messed up being in crime can be? When watching Goodfellas, no other film shows the long-term and life wrecking nature of being in crime. Henry Hill loses everything and has to enter the witness protection program, putting in jail the friends that gave him the of his life. Best film since Goodfellas? Hardly.
Rather, the Departed comes off as a very well done trip into the Boston crime unit, but a largely meaningless look into the Boston Crime unit beyond showing corruption of the whole thing. Sure, the themes of identity are always interesting, but that's not really that profound is it? Identity ________ things up and can put us into ______, I think that's easy to figure out. It's also fairly bland compared to Goodfellas, which style is so distinctive and full of gusto that it's kind of hard to realize that this film owns a Best Director Award and Goodfellas does not.
Despite all of this, the film is far from generic fare. Compare it to Live Free or Die and Even Money, two films from 2006 that nobody remembers, nor hasn't even heard of. It's a blessing that we have Scorsese either way, even if some of his films don't stand out as much as others. Execution, is what makes this film a great one despite it's underwhelming story. It's a very tense, gripping, and well-crafted crime thriller, and often really does feel like The acting here is very good, as it's one of the movies that made me realize that Leonardo DiCaprio can act very well. And yes, I do believe that Martin Scorsese's direction is substantial. There's still plenty of music placed perfectly here, as well as plenty of funny dialogue, grittiness, and brutal depiction of violence. Not one of his best, but it stands out rather well anyway.
Don't believe the hype. This is certainly not his best film. In my opinion, this isn't even Scorsese's best of the 00's, as both Gangs of New York and The Aviator stake up much better territory, and are both much more interesting. But still, if you are looking for another great film from one of America's most well known Directors, check it out anyway.
DVD "The Departed" August 12, 2010
B. Iglehart (Waco, Texas,USA)
Really, really good movie. Great cast. Highly suspenseful.
DiCaprio at his finest! Nerve-racking!
Violence without sex July 14, 2010
Surferofromantica (Singapore)
Another DiCaprio movie directed by Scorsese. This guy has worked with everyone!!! Here he is, working with Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson and Matt Damon to remake the amazing Hong Kong crime drama "Infernal Affairs", where the mob has a mole in the police and the police has a mole in the mob, played by Dicaprio and Damon. But which is which? Great action and guts, but somehow Dicaprio is sleepwalking through this one, with Damon more convincing as a seedy, sleazy recruit gone bad. Jack Nicholson is cocky, but not convincing as a crook somehow (?!?!?). The violence builds up and gets labyrinthine, as the two characters close in on each other. Great action, great guesswork, but somehow Dicaprio and Nicholson feel miscast.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 492
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