Roger Ebert, called our guy, gave the film four stars.
Ebert wrote that although many plot devices match the Hong Kong original, this is Scorsese's film all the way because of his understanding of guilt, the central subject of so much of his work; it is called a very Catholic movie.

Casting What-Ifs

Brad Pitt as Sullivan; Al Pacino as Costello; Ray Liotta or Denis Leary as Dignam; Mel Gibson as Ellerby; Robert De Niro as Queenan

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 01:13:42Read transcript

The casting what-ifs are called probably the best for any movie they have done, a whole alternate Departed.
Pitt bought the producing rights, planned to play the Damon part, then decided he might be too old and went to do Babel.
Debate over Pitt: good instincts about roles and a great producer, but miscast himself in Meet Joe Black and The Devil's Own; Damon was the better choice.
Scorsese wanted Al Pacino for Costello; Pacino turned it down and Nicholson was the second choice.
Ray Leota was the original choice for Dignam but declined over other commitments, his 2006 films including Comeback Season, Local Color and Even Money.
Dennis Leary was the second choice for Dignam but had to make season three of "rest of me" (as transcribed); he would have been great, though Walberg is perfect.
Ellerby was offered to Mel Gibson, who was starting Apocalypto; Queenan was supposed to be De Niro, who made The Good Shepherd; the Anthony Anderson role was meant for "the Rizza" (transcript form, unresolved), who was too old or had conflicts.
Leo was in The Good Shepherd but dropped out to play Billy Costigan, and Damon then took The Good Shepherd role; The Good Shepherd is called an unexamined movie with a dynamite cast.
The alternate cast (Leo, Pitt, Pacino, Leota, De Niro, Mel Gibson and the Riza) is called pretty loaded and preferred by one participant; Pacino would lose Costello's lumbering physicality but gain CR doing Pacino.
Would-you-rathers: Walberg over Ray Leota, Baldwin over Mel Gibson 100 out of 100 times, and De Niro over Sheen since he can underplay.

Recasting Couch

Gene Hackman as Costello

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:35Read transcript

Recasting Costello is raised early: this is not a good Nicholson performance given expectations, and failing to get an Oscar nomination at his stature means something went wrong.
The part needs real weight and prestige, a Brando Godfather type; Daniel DeLois and Sean Penn are too young, Jimmy Con and Duval too old, and Gandalfini is not Irish.
Nicholson was at the tail end of his career, like Magic Johnson in 1996; the movie might be tighter without his indulgences, but it is hard to conceive without him; in A Few Good Men every choice was perfect, here he is all over the place.
Hackman is proposed and liked: imposing, has played bastards, never worked with Scorsese, though he may have checked out by then; one participant would rather roll the dice with Hackman.
James Badge Dale was not famous enough to register as the guy from earlier; the counterpoint is that it works because it is someone the audience does not know.
Ryan Gosling is rejected; Jake Gyllenha and Keith Ledger are floated, but a star disappearing for two hours would be distracting, and Badge Dale is legit good.
They settle on Gene Hackman as Costello.
Hackman might refuse certain things, whereas Nicholson brought chaos such as the cocaine and a vibrator.

On-set friction; Whitey Bulger basis; The Wire offer to Ray Winstone; Scorsese's surprise at winning; Wolf of Wall Street yacht; X motif; Ballhaus's last collaboration; tax credits; Monahan sequel idea; F-word count; VHS; Psycho shower homage

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 01:31:10Read transcript

"Him and Nicholson" reportedly did not get along on set (the referent is unclear in the transcript).
Nicholson wanted it to be more than a gangster film, so Monaghan based Costello on Whitey Bulger; the window view behind the rat nods to Little Caesar, Scarface and White Heat.
Ray Winstone was supposed to play Jimmy McNulty but turned it down because he did not want to move to Baltimore.
Reportedly the director was surprised the film won and never thought about awards, finding it too nasty and violent and a remake; the yacht behind Frank is the same yacht as in Wolf of Wall Street.
X motif sightings: airport walkway crossbeams, taped windows where Queenan is thrown, behind Costigan in the elevator, and the carpet when Damon returns.
This was the last Scorsese-Ballhaus collaboration; an early attempt to shoot with more Infernal Affairs-style whip pans was dropped; later films with Robert Richardson and Rodrigo Prieto look totally different.
Shot mostly in New York for its 15% tax credit, the film prompted Massachusetts to adopt a 25% credit and 15 years of movies filmed there.
Monahan described a sequel set before, during and after the first film, showing off-screen actions; the reply from Scorsese was no thanks; Walberg talked about a Dignam sequel, and Ted Sarandos is urged to make one.
The count of the F word is given as 112 and 238 (unclear which is the answer) with a sense it is undercounted; it was the first Best Picture winner not released on VHS.
The shower shots before Madeline listens to the Costigan tape repeat the three shots of Psycho's shower scene.

Picking Nits

Costigan's bad deal and psychology; death-wish motivation; Queenan and Costello missing the rats; Colin's interrogation interference; the left envelope; the lawyer's tapes; Combat Zone anachronism; two dates of birth; nonexistent apartment

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:42:42Read transcript

Why Costigan agreed to such a terrible deal; his split-family psychology and being challenged as a rich boy do not explain it, and his violent history should have kept him out of the academy.
The tax-free pay written on paper and whether he is a thrill-seeker; one view is a death wish the movie did not sell correctly.
Which is more unrealistic: Sheen not realizing Damon was the rat despite his calls, or Costello not realizing Leo was.
Damon turning off the interrogation camera and later losing the tail stretches disbelief, partly explained by Badge Dale also working for Costello.
Costigan sees the Citizens Bank envelope, leaves it displayed and runs, botching the moment despite supposedly high SITs (as transcribed).
What if Costigan never saw the envelope: the movie just ends with more impotent sex.
Costello's lawyer giving Costigan the tapes is a stretch.
The Patriot Act dates the film to at least 2002, when the porn theaters were gone; Costigan's record shows two dates of birth; the apartment does not exist.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Why Colin was impotent; whose baby Madeline carried; why Madeline did not turn Colin in; Damon and Leo switching parts; why the name Dignam

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:48:18Read transcript

Colin's impotence ties to his whole life being a lie and a performance.
His "I'm fucking Irish" speech to Madeline is judged sincere, his most Billy moment, with a Jets joke.
Whose baby is Madeline carrying: one thinks Colin's, others argue Leo's since only Billy is shown having sex with her.
Why Madeline does not turn Colin in despite the evidence; her exit is abrupt.
If Damon and Leo switched parts: worse, since nobody could do Costigan better than DeCaprio, versus Damon could have done it (Courage Under Fire, The Last Duel).
Why the name Dignam: one of Monaghan's naming flourishes.

The Departed | The Rewatchables

aired August 17, 2017

host Bill Simmons host Chris Ryan

Explore episodeClose episode

Producer credits not yet identified.

Apex Mountain

No affirmative selection

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:04:33Read transcript

The four stars’1997 achievements are contrasted with this film, and Apex Mountain is declined as nobody’s apex.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The opening briefing; the rooftop meeting and death

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:09:06Read transcript

The Nicholson–DiCaprio confrontation repeatedly asking whether he is still a cop is nominated.
Queenan’s rooftop death and body fall are nominated.
Wahlberg killing Matt Damon at the end 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 briefing with DiCaprio, Baldwin and Wahlberg 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.

Casting What-Ifs

Reported or imagined alternatives: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Denis Leary, Pacino, De Niro, Gibson, and RZA; uncertain Nicholson improvisation stories

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 00:14:38Read transcript

Brad Pitt was reportedly set for the Damon part, dropped out, and produced instead.
Ray Leota 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 the Alec Baldwin part because he was filming Apocalypto.
RZA was reportedly offered the Anthony Anderson role.
Nicholson’s proposed prostitute scene and retained dildo improvisation are presented with explicit uncertainty.

What’s Aged the Best?

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

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 00:17:36Read transcript

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 the closer transcribed Papoban and the Red Sox era.

What’s Aged the Worst?

T9 pocket texting

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:21:24Read transcript

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 Matt Damon’s character on the same roof where Queenan died is questioned.
Damon sending a complicated T9 text in his pocket is the explicit winner, with agreement, and is considered 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.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

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)

Approx. transcript time · 00:25:32Read transcript

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 Fitsy.
Mark Rostin 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.

Half-Assed Internet Research

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)

Approx. transcript time · 00:28:40Read transcript

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.

Unintentional Comedy Award

Nicholson running

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 00:35:46Read transcript

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.

Picking Nits

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

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 00:38:32Read transcript

Costigan’s willingness to accept the undercover assignment and identity erasure is questioned.
Damon’s character’s impossible statehouse apartment view is questioned.
Whether Costigan and the doctor would get together is questioned and then accepted through a larger reading of Costigan and Damon’s character as opposing ways of living.
the doctor not turning Damon’s character 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 Damon’s character 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 Neil McCauley “A Book about Metals” Award for Best Line from the Movie

The job/other-guy exchange and other insults are nominated; Two weeks with pay receives explicit favorite status, and the prescription/scotch retort is the separate answer.

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 00:45:23Read transcript

The cranberry-juice exchange is nominated.
The guy who does his job / the other guy exchange is nominated without adding a character attribution absent from the cited segment.
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 nominated; the immediately following Two weeks with pay receives the explicit favorite status.
Costigan’s request for two pills and joke about scotch and a handgun is another favorite.

Who Won the Movie?

Leonardo DiCaprio

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:47:14Read transcript

The choice is Leo, followed by agreement on Leo winning the movie.
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

Speaker not identified: Leonardo DiCaprio
Speaker not identified: Leonardo DiCaprio

More from the conversation

The costly all-star ensemble is praised against a newer model of one or two expensive leads and cheaper supporting casts. The speakers speculate about salary-heavy budgeting and New York tax-credit filming; each star appears determined to dominate limited screen time.

Approx. transcript time · 00:03:34Read transcript

The1997 career peaks of Wahlberg, Damon, DiCaprio and Nicholson are contrasted with2006: Damon is established in franchises, DiCaprio is proving range after Titanic, and Nicholson is entering an unusual late-career villain role.

Approx. transcript time · 00:04:33Read transcript

Scorsese’s Oscar win is weighed against earlier missed opportunities and the competing2006 nominees; the speakers accept The Departed as the best choice while noting a makeup-award feeling. DiCaprio’s Blood Diamond campaign instead of this film is criticized.

Approx. transcript time · 00:06:55Read transcript

The Departed, Wolf and Django are named as three favorite DiCaprio performances without an internal ranking; The Revenant is characterized as a physically demanding awards performance.

Approx. transcript time · 00:08:49Read transcript

The panel ranks seven Boston accents into yes/maybe/no-way groups: Damon and Wahlberg lead; Baldwin and DiCaprio are debated; Sheen, Farmiga, and Nicholson are criticized. This is a structured discussion, but no formal category or flex cue is spoken.

Approx. transcript time · 00:29:46Read transcript

After the winner, the panel argues that Nicholson loses the movie through a loose, inconsistent performance and accent, while acknowledging that his entertaining excess may help rewatchability.

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:19Read transcript

DiCaprio and Damon swapping roles is tested; the panel thinks Damon could play Costigan but DiCaprio could not play Sullivan as effectively.

Approx. transcript time · 00:53:08Read transcript

Dignam killing Sullivan is praised for the outfit and catharsis; reported Departed 2 pitches involving Wahlberg are discussed.

Approx. transcript time · 00:54:19Read transcript

The panel argues that The Departed’s flaws and loose ends help make it rewatchable, contrasting its roller-coaster quality with the tighter No Country for Old Men and the deliberateness of Heat.

Approx. transcript time · 00:55:51Read transcript

Infernal Affairs is recommended as entertaining and tighter than the remake.

Approx. transcript time · 00:59:06Read transcript