Film Analysis: The Departed

The Departed is a 2006 American crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. It is a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, with Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, Anthony Anderson, and Alec Baldwin in supporting roles.

The film “The Departed” is film about an undercover state cop who has infiltrated an Irish gang and a mole in the police force working for the same mob race to track down and identify each other before being exposed to the enemy, after both sides realize their outfit has a rat.

Although not all of the gangster movie conventions are shown in this film, many are still present. This is because it’s a modern gangster film. There are enough conventions used to tell us that we’re watching a gangster film. For instance the character “Frank Costello” is a notorious criminal; he is also a leader of the Irish mafia. He supports the conventions of a gangster film by showing no remorse for his actions he would do anything to get what he wants even if it could potentially harm someone.

In this scene we are introduced to the boss, we can tell that he is powerful and has lots of respect. For instance, the lighting is dark which connotes to being mysterious; this alternatively could mean that he is doing illegal business that he doesn't want anyone to find out about. It’s also a low angle shot showing us that he has superiority over others who have to look up to him. 

Probably one of the most recognizable scenes from the movie is this two shot when Leonardo DiCaprio smashes a glass on this man’s head after he taunts him on his selection of drink, not only because he waits to do it, he does it without saying a word. This scene also shows that the movie supports the conventions of a gangster movie through the use of location. Many of the films scenes are taken in this bar. It’s a place where all the mobsters go to meet their boss and have their business meetings

This is contrasted by the scenes in the office, which also play an important role in this movie. The link between the two suggests that both sides have similarities and “when you’re standing in front of a gun, what’s the difference?” and although the setting is different it supports the convention of a gangster film, because all gangster films must contain at least some way of fighting the crime, this could be through the use of police or inspectors. 

The mise en scene must also include some sort of weapons. Most gangster movies contain guns because they are the most effective weapons to use; this isn’t however limited to only guns, as weapons such as baseball bats and crowbars could also be used.