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 state police 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?
Most deserving of Best Director and the Best Picture of 2006. A very LONG overdue Oscar to Marty, but deserving nonetheless. His previous 2 films The Aviator and Gangs of New York were push overs compared to The Departed and felt if either of those films won, it would have been more out of pity. However, last year the competition was weak and Marty has his best movie since Casino and in some people's eyes, as far back as Goodfellas. Leonardo DiCaprio continues to impress me and I've been a fan of his ever since Catch Me If You Can. Matt Damon is like Edward Norton, the men just don't make bad movies. Jack Nicholson is so awesome as Boss Costello, humerous yet still evil, it's great to have him back from his 3 year absence. I felt Mark Wahlberg deserved the Best Supporting Oscar over Alan Arkin. Like Costello, he's brutal in his verbal attacks yet the audience can't help but to purk up when they see him on screen. Finally, even though it was a smaller role, I felt Alec Baldwin was a nice addition who was also light hearted towards both Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon. Kudos to William Monahan on a FANTASTIC script (also well deserving of his Oscar for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay).
