Opened: October 6, 2006

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, James Badge Dale, Kevin Corrigan & Alec Baldwin

An incredible weave of stories and characters, The Departed is an incredible crime film that showcases director Martin Scorsese and its all-star cast at their best.

Mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) grooms Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) into being a mole in Boston’s Special Investigations Unit. Captain Oliver Queenan (Martin Sheen) places Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) into Costello’s gang to gather information.

Screenwriter William Monahan creates a winding storyline that keeps you on edge throughout. Even though you probably know a lot of what’s going to happen, the buildup to that is fantastic.

The cast gives incredible performances, especially from Nicholson, Damon, DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg. Without having any interaction for a majority of the film, you’re drawn into Damon and DiCaprio’s cat-and-mouse game. The only downside is the underdeveloped female characters, especially Vera Farmiga’s role.

Final say: Brilliantly stressful. ★★★★★