In South Boston, the state police force is waging war on Irish-American organized crime. Young undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate run by gangland chief Frank Costello. While Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence, Colin Sullivan, a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate, is rising to a position of power in the Special Investigation Unit. Each man becomes deeply consumed by his double life, gathering information about the plans and counter-plans of the operations he has penetrated. But when it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there's a mole in their midst, Billy and Colin are suddenly in danger of being caught and exposed to the enemy-and each must race to uncover the identity of the other man in time to save himself. But is either willing to turn on the friends and comrades they've made during their long stints undercover?
I definitely think this is Marty's best movie since Casino and I would consider him a lock for Best Director/Best Picture, but I don't want to jinx it. I'm still really upset at Leonardo DiCaprio getting the nom for Blood Diamond and not this film, and the TOTAL snuff to Sir Jack Nicholson for his portrayal of crime kingpin Frank Costello. As usual, Marty's directing is top notch (as is the editing) but this film didn't hit me as hard in the music department as some of his previous films such as Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino just to name a few. As my good friend suspect_5 has said to me time and time again, "The Departed is Infernal Affairs with an Irish accent."
