The opening Dignam–Queenan briefing of Costigan receives one explicit final choice; the roof meeting with Queenan is another stated rewatch anchor, among major deaths, calls, and showdowns.
In the discussion (7)
- Costello repeatedly asking Costigan whether he is still a cop is nominated.
- Queenan’s rooftop death and body fall are nominated.
- Dignam killing Sullivan is nominated.
- Sullivan calling Costigan on Queenan’s dead phone is nominated.
- Costigan’s sudden elevator death is nominated and remembered for making the theater gasp.
- The opening Dignam–Queenan briefing of Costigan is explicitly selected as most rewatchable.
- The rooftop meeting with Queenan is described as the part one host always watches, including Queenan’s fall and the reaction afterward.
Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, Pacino, De Niro, Gibson, and RZA appear in the reported or imagined alternate cast, with uncertainty around some Nicholson improvisation stories.
In the discussion (8)
- Brad Pitt was reportedly set for Sullivan, dropped out, and produced instead.
- Ray Liotta was reportedly set for Dignam but could not do it.
- Denis Leary was the next reported Dignam possibility and also could not do it.
- Al Pacino was the first reported Costello choice and is debated as an alternate.
- Robert De Niro reportedly declined Queenan to make The Good Shepherd.
- Mel Gibson reportedly could not play Ellerby because he was filming Apocalypto.
- RZA was reportedly offered Brown, the Anthony Anderson role.
- Nicholson’s proposed prostitute scene and retained dildo improvisation are presented with explicit uncertainty.
DiCaprio versus Damon, the delayed title, Baldwin and Wahlberg’s department, the cranberry-juice scene, Costello’s death, Dropkick Murphys, and contemporary Boston sports links lead aged-best.
In the discussion (8)
- The contrast between DiCaprio and Damon is praised.
- The title arriving about eighteen minutes into the movie is praised.
- Costigan’s jail workout is part of the delayed-title sequence.
- Alec Baldwin and Mark Wahlberg running an internal-affairs-on-internal-affairs department is praised.
- The cranberry-juice confrontation is praised as a perfect scene.
- Costello’s death is nominated.
- Dropkick Murphys entering with the title is praised.
- The Dropkick Murphys cue is linked to Jonathan Papelbon and the Red Sox era.
Nicholson’s overall performance, Wahlberg’s hair, Costigan panicking over the Citizens Bank envelope, the rooftop trap, pocket T9 texting, the microchip subplot, and a third use of “Gimme Shelter” draw criticism.
In the discussion (7)
- Nicholson’s entire performance is nominated as aged worst.
- Mark Wahlberg’s hair is criticized.
- Costigan’s panic and handling of the Citizens Bank envelope are questioned against his established intelligence.
- Costigan’s plan to trap Sullivan on the same roof where Queenan died is questioned.
- Sullivan composing a complicated T9 message in his pocket is called implausible and dated.
- The Chinese-microchip subplot is dismissed as confusing.
- Scorsese’s third use of “Gimme Shelter” is criticized as overuse despite other strong Stones choices.
Mark Rolston and Kevin Corrigan remain split choices after nominees Ray Winstone, James Badge Dale, Anthony Anderson, and David O’Hara.
In the discussion (7)
- Ray Winstone is nominated as Mr. French, with debate over whether the role should have gone to an even bigger actor.
- James Badge Dale is nominated as Trooper Barrigan.
- Anthony Anderson is nominated as a 2006 That Guy who later became a name.
- David O’Hara is nominated as Fitzy.
- Mark Rolston is one host’s winner because of his Shawshank identity as Boggs.
- Kevin Corrigan is the other host’s winner as the perfect Costigan cousin.
- The hosts end by agreeing to disagree rather than naming co-winners.
Research covers Winstone and Nicholson’s friction, Nicholson’s Red Sox/Celtics refusal, DiCaprio’s project choice, accent coach Jay Giannone, profanity, and Wahlberg drawing on people who arrested him.
In the discussion (6)
- Ray Winstone reportedly said he and Nicholson did not get along during filming.
- Nicholson reportedly refused a Red Sox hat and banned Celtics hats on set.
- DiCaprio left The Good Shepherd to make The Departed.
- DiCaprio’s Boston accent coach is named as Jay Giannone.
- The film is reported to use “fuck” or derivatives 238 times.
- Wahlberg reportedly based Dignam on a compilation of people who arrested him as a youth.
Nicholson running is the declared winner over Scorsese’s Stones habit, the dildo, flip phones, and Sullivan’s impotence dialogue.
In the discussion (5)
- Scorsese’s repeated “Gimme Shelter” use is nominated through jokes about placing the song over other films.
- Costello’s dildo is nominated.
- The flip phones are nominated as funny in retrospect.
- Sullivan’s impotence material and Baldwin’s “mine’s working overtime” line are nominated.
- Nicholson’s three-second run is selected as the funniest moment.
Costigan accepting undercover erasure, the impossible statehouse view, the central romance, Madolyn’s inaction, an intentionally forgettable killer, Queenan missing Sullivan, and the literal final rat drive the nitpicks.
In the discussion (7)
- Costigan’s willingness to accept the undercover assignment and identity erasure is questioned.
- Sullivan’s impossible statehouse apartment view is questioned.
- Whether Costigan and Madolyn would get together is questioned and then accepted through a larger reading of Costigan and Sullivan as opposing ways of living.
- Madolyn not turning Sullivan in after Costigan’s death is questioned.
- Casting a forgettable actor as Costigan’s killer is debated against using a more famous face that would telegraph his purpose.
- Queenan’s failure to suspect Sullivan despite obvious suspicious behavior is questioned.
- The literal rat at the end is criticized as an overly explicit symbol, then partly defended as a closing bow.
The cranberry-juice exchange, Queenan and Dignam’s briefing lines, Costello aphorisms, Dignam insults, “the world needs plenty of bartenders,” and Costigan’s prescription retort form the exchange field without one consensus choice.
In the discussion (6)
- The cranberry-juice exchange is nominated.
- Queenan and Dignam’s “the guy who does his job / the other guy” exchange is nominated.
- Dignam’s “maybe, maybe not, maybe fuck yourself” and dead-phone lines are nominated.
- Costello’s environment line and other aphorisms are nominated.
- “The world needs plenty of bartenders” is one host’s favorite.
- Costigan’s request for two pills and joke about scotch and a handgun is another favorite.
Leonardo DiCaprio wins through three explicit choices; Wahlberg is described as the immediate first-viewing heat check, Damon is praised, and Nicholson is said to lose the movie.
In the discussion (4)
- Three audible choices ultimately select Leonardo DiCaprio.
- Mark Wahlberg is described as overwhelming on early viewings before the preference shifts to DiCaprio.
- Matt Damon is praised for his creep performance and as the structural counterpart.
- Nicholson is said to lose the movie because of excess.
Podcast choices
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- Leonardo DiCaprio
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- Leonardo DiCaprio
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Most Rewatchable Scene
