Martin Scorsese hits the “bahl” out of the “pahk” with this crime thriller about notorious “Bahstan” mob boss Frank Costello (another stellar Jack Nicholson performance.)

Costello heads a faction of the Boston mafia in Massachusetts who adopts young Collin Sullivan (Matt Damon minus the Affleck) as his honorary son and breeds him to be a state police officer. Sullivan becomes Costello’s leak, tipping him off and keeping him one step ahead of the cops.

But when the Staties pressure failing officer Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) into going secret deep cover or resigning, Costigan loses his identity and becomes their mole. He infiltrates Costello’s ranks and plays double agent for the police.

As the movie plays out, it’s cross-double-cross the whole way. The police figure out that they have an internal leak, and Costello finds out that he has a rat. These two epiphanies lead Costigan and Sullivan into a cat and mouse hunt for one another.

Ellen Lewis should receive a casting award for her assembly of knowns and unknowns. As already mentioned, the movie stars Nicholson, Damon and DiCaprio. Supporting actors include: Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and Anthony Anderson. But Lewis took a gamble with a lesser-known actress, Vera Farminga, in a key role as Madolyn, the psychiatrist-love interest of both Sullivan and Costigan; a well-played and beautiful choice. Kudos!

In a movie that wears the echoes of Gangs of New York with pride, the characters come alive off of the screen. The audience is then torn between whom to root for, and ultimately favors the edge of the seat in the interim.

With an ending containing more violence and bloodshed than most of the movies out there, not to mention a couple more twists and turns, The Departed removes itself from just another Scorsese movie and propels itself to another great Scorsese movie!

This movie is one of the must see movies of the year! Move aside The Godfather and Goodfellas! The Departed is now in contention for the best gangster flick award!

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