The Departed

The Departed
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Name	The Departed
Director	Martin Scorsese
Producer	Graham King
Writer	William Monahan
Based on	Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
Starring	Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga
Music	Howard Shore
Cinematography	Michael Ballhaus
Editing	Thelma Schoonmaker
Distributor	Warner Bros. Pictures
Released	2006
Runtime	151 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$90 million
Gross	$291 million

The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan, adapted from the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. The film interweaves themes of identity, loyalty, and deception through undercover operations involving the Massachusetts State Police, the Boston Irish organized crime scene led by Frank Costello (fictionalized as a character), and federal law enforcement. Featuring an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, the film earned critical acclaim, commercial success, and multiple awards.

Plot

Set in Boston, the narrative follows a long-running conflict between a mole planted in the Massachusetts State Police by the Irish-American crime boss Frank Costello (fictionalized as a character) and an undercover police officer infiltrating Costello's gang. The plot traces parallel identities: one operative who rises through the ranks of the State Police while secretly reporting to Costello, and another cop embedded with Costello who must maintain a false persona to gather evidence for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Massachusetts State Police hierarchy. Tension escalates as both sides seek to expose the other's mole, drawing in supervisors from the State Police and legal figures such as district attorneys. The climax culminates in a series of betrayals and violent confrontations across locations like the South Boston neighborhoods, culminating in a morally ambiguous resolution that implicates characters associated with institutions such as the Boston College community and local law enforcement precincts.

Cast

The principal cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio as the undercover officer embedded in Costello's crew, Matt Damon as the police mole within the Massachusetts State Police, and Jack Nicholson as the crime boss modeled after figures from Boston's underworld. Supporting performances feature Mark Wahlberg portraying a volatile state trooper whose actions draw attention from prosecutors and chiefs, Martin Sheen as senior Massachusetts State Police leadership, Alec Baldwin as an internal affairs investigator tied to state and federal scrutiny, and Vera Farmiga as a psychiatrist connected to the undercover operative. The ensemble also includes actors associated with regional casting and established Hollywood character performers, collaborating with Scorsese's regular crew such as editor Thelma Schoonmaker and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus.

Production

Scorsese developed the project after viewing Infernal Affairs and securing adaptation rights, engaging William Monahan to transpose the story to an American context centered on Boston and the Irish-American milieu. Producing partners included Graham King and studio involvement from Warner Bros. Pictures; financing and logistical coordination engaged production entities and regional offices in Massachusetts. Casting combined marquee stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon with veteran actors Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen, reflecting Scorsese's strategy of blending high-profile talent with character actors. Principal photography took place on location in Boston and surrounding areas to capture authentic streetscapes, with additional filming at studio facilities. Production design, costume, and sound teams collaborated with composer Howard Shore and longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker to craft pacing and tone; cinematography by Michael Ballhaus emphasized naturalistic lighting and handheld sequences to heighten realism. The screenplay expanded themes from Infernal Affairs while integrating references to regional history and organized crime figures, and post-production featured test screenings and score adjustments.

Release and reception

The film premiered in 2006 with distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures and screened at festivals and commercial venues across New York City and Los Angeles. Critics from publications linked to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and international outlets praised the direction of Martin Scorsese, performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson, and the screenplay by William Monahan. Box office performance registered strong domestic and international returns, outperforming comparable crime dramas and becoming one of Scorsese's highest-grossing films at the time. Scholarly and critical discussions compared the adaptation to Infernal Affairs, debated fidelity and cultural translation, and examined portrayals of law enforcement and organized crime in American cinema traditions alongside works by directors such as Francis Ford Coppola and Brian De Palma. Audience reception included robust home media sales and later streaming platform availability; the film maintained presence in year-end lists and retrospective rankings.

Awards and nominations

The film received numerous accolades, including multiple nominations and wins during the awards season. It won Academy Awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences including Best Director for Martin Scorsese and Best Picture, alongside honors from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the Golden Globe Awards. Individual actors earned nominations and wins from organizations such as the Screen Actors Guild and critics' circles, with recognition for Mark Wahlberg and Leonardo DiCaprio among others. The screenplay by William Monahan received awards, and technical categories such as editing by Thelma Schoonmaker and score by Howard Shore were acknowledged across industry ceremonies.

Category:2006 films Category:Films directed by Martin Scorsese