Killer this thriller!. Review on The Departed Movie

"When I was brought up,we were taught to become either cops or criminals. But I say this to u, if u are facing a loaded gun , wht's the difference?"

Frank Costello ( Jack Nicholson ) explains this to the young, fresh-faced Colin Sullivan(Matt Damon) who grows up to be his aide,his 'rat' in The State Police.

The movie at large, gives u solid edge-of-the-seat entertainment. You wouldn't flinch,not once.

Briefly, the story is about this all-powerful and thus untouchable Costello on the most-wanted list of the police. The director very cleverly builds his character using minimal words yet impacting words. The first scene when he enters the shop and invites scared responses from the shopkeeper as well the customers in the shop,his luring the shopkeeper's daughter through whispered words completes his larger than life persona. The power of just one scene! Incredible!

He takes Sullivan under his wings who diligently works for him,entering the police eventually. Dicaprio as William Costigan is his competitor, in the same batch and vies to be a part of the squad as well. Costigan, to his dismay is humiliated and cut apart for having a family full of criminal records by Sergeant Dignam with words as piercing and sharp as a knife. Watch out for the hurt in Dicaprio's eyes. He is given a bigger task of an undercover cop in Costello's gang. Thus Dignam and State police captain Queenan are his bosses and nobody in the department knows of his identity.

Thus begins the whole process of Costigan infiltrating into Costello's gang and Sullivan rising up in power and importantly Costello's looming shadow, an over-riding influence over both of them getting bigger and more menacing.

Oh yes and there is a love triangle. Two stories running parellel and yet so circular with equal amount of intensity finds ' l'endroit de rencontre' in the form of Madolyn Madden, a suave police psychiatrist. Sullivan has everything going for him and Madolyn he considers yet another trophy. The twist comes about when she finds herself attracted towards Costigan's unflinching attitude, his peculiar yet cut-throat situation, his pain, his vulnerability ( Her dialogue before they eventually make love is " Ohyour vulnerability is freaking me outright now, is it for real?")

Costello's doubts become vocal when one of his operations get hacked and he realises that he has a mole in his gang. Now this is the toughie.

Meanwhile The State Police are out to find a mole within the dept as well...

The ball is in whose court? Costello or Sullivan? How do u expose a rat when u are a rat urself?Who wins the rat-race in the end or are there winners really?GO FIGURE!!

Performances

Jack nicholson as the Big daddy is superb. His presence,his style just floors you! How does he do it time and again??... good stuff

Matt damon has a seemingly straight character,that of the dishonest cop but we do see the other shade (very negligible) when he is with Madolyn (the conversation in the elevator notably). Yes! we see the seducer but alas! mere glimpses. Damon plays his part with uplomb,maybe under-rated to some extent but nontheless.

The newcomer as the heroine (can't recollect the name) is well cast. She has an important role and delivers the goods! Bang-on!

Coming to him dears, Dicaprio cannot be forgotten for sure! The hardness in his features, the earnestness in his gestures,the smile which reaches the eyes and the painful shrieks when Costello bangs his already injured hand. As the sufferer, never seen anyone as believable.

The Oscar award for Best Actor goes to Dicaprio( no kidding,its possible )

Finally the director Martin Sorcesse has over the years mastered the mafia subject. Gangs in New York is one of my favourite gangster flicks. With this one he hits a jackpot yet again! Cinematography and background score( check out the head-banging beats.. so apt!) are simply awesome.

So do I recommend this movie? HELL YES!