THE DEPARTED (2006)

Directed by Martin Scorsese.  Drama/Action. Starring Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson.Oscar winner: Best Picture. Best Director. 

Synopsis: The world of high level law enforcement and high level organized crime become inseparable when an undercover state police officer who infiltrates the premier organzed crime family in Boston finds that the target of his work has a law enforcement  source in the same police unit that placed him undercover. 

I've seen this one both in the theater and on DVD and by the time you read this, you will know it has won a well deserved Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director. (Martin Scorsese The Aviator). This, as you may have heard, is an intricate story of the sometimes too close relationship between organized crime and elite law enforcement. Set in Boston, the story traces the reign of mob boss Costello (Jack Nicholson The Pledge, Anger Management) over his South Boston neighborhood and eventually, the city itself. One of the children in the neighborhood that grew up to respect Costello is a young man, Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon Courage Under Fire, Bourne Supremacy)  who has just finished his training with the elite Massachusetts State Police (know locally as "the Staties") who remains on the good side of Costello by providing him information even as he moves into the highest level of the State Police investigative department.

Another young man with ties to the neighborhood, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio Gangs of New York, The Basketball Diaries) also goes into the  State Police, only to be recruited into a top secret undercover role in which he is so deep that he is "kicked out" of the State police, sent to prison, and then put into the old neighborhood to get close to Costello. Only two of his superiors know his identity and assignment, his Captain (Martin Sheen The American President, Apocalypse Now)  and Sgt, Dignam (Mark Wahlberg Four Brothers, Boogie Nights) .

So, there you have it, a situation where there is an undercover cop in with the big crime family at the same time the big crime family has a rat in the state police. Scorsese does a wonderful job of giving the characters depth while not slowing down the story at all. The supporting cast is awesome, with the likes of Alec Baldwin (Running with Scissors) and Anthony Anderson (Malibu's Most Wanted) doing turns as cops in the investigative unit.

The standout supporting role, however, goes to Vera Farmiga (Running Scared Down to the Bone) who is the only significant female character who plays the psychologist who is dating Colin Sullivan at the same time she is getting to know her rambuntious patient who is attending his court ordered psychology treatment...you gussed it, Billy Costigan.

No short review can do justice to this film, there is action and twists, believable romance that does not distract from the plot. I won't waste any time or blog space telling you that one of the best actors of all time, Jack Nicholson, was superb.

The only drawback to picking this up on DVD ia that there are, unbelievably, no special features, not even a director's commentary. A shame. But, this flick is more than great enough to make up for that faux pas.  

Add this to your collection as soon as you can.