The Departed is Martin Scorsese doing what he does best: chaos, crime, betrayal, and men screaming at each other in Boston accents. It’s a masterclass in tension, the kind of movie where every character is lying, unraveling, or plotting their next move. Watching it feels like being dropped into the world’s angriest chess match everyone’s scheming, nobody’s honest, and somehow it all makes perfect sense.
The plot is a constant clash of double lives, crossed wires, and people pretending to be someone to get what they want. Every character is either lying, hiding, spying, losing their mind, or doing all of the above at the same time. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of the most stressed-out performances in movie history the man looks like he hasn’t slept since 1999. Meanwhile, Matt Damon plays the kind of character who could smile at you while ruining your entire life.
And then there’s Jack Nicholson, who shows up and just… becomes pure unhinged chaos. He’s terrifying, hilarious, and iconic sometimes all in the same scene. His rat monologue alone is cinema.
The editing deserves its own award. Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker cut this movie like they were trying to keep your anxiety levels permanently elevated. The sound, the pacing, the sharp music cues everything is tight, stylish, and perfectly unrelenting.
But what really makes The Departed a top-tier crime film is how unpredictable it is. The third act hits like a brick through a window. Even if you know what’s coming, those elevator scenes STILL feel like a punch to the chest. This movie never lets you get comfortable and that’s why it works.
Verdict:
⭐ 5/5 — An explosive, brilliantly acted crime thriller that somehow gets more intense every time you watch it. Chaotic, smart, brutal, and unforgettable. A near-perfect movie… with the most aggressive ending ever filmed.