The Departed 2006 Scorsese’s Oscar Crime Epic 2026

 

The Departed 2006 Review: Scorsese’s Oscar Crime Epic 2026

The Departed 2006 review: plot, ending explained, cast, rat vs cop. Why The Departed won Best Picture. Is The Departed worth watching in 2026?

*H1: The Departed 2006 Review: Scorsese Finally Won Best Picture With Rats*

*Quick Answer*: _The Departed_ is Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Boston crime thriller about two moles - a cop in the mob and a mobster in the police. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg star in this 2h 31min R-rated bloodbath. Won 4 Oscars including Best Picture + Director for Scorsese. With "I’m the guy who does his job," elevator ending, and Dropkick Murphys, it’s the most rewatchable crime film of the 2000s. Everyone’s a rat. Everyone dies.

*H2: The Departed Plot Summary - Cops, Mobs, and Rats*

*Boston*: Irish mob boss Frank Costello plants Colin Sullivan as mole in Massachusetts State Police. At same time, Police plant Billy Costigan in Costello’s crew.

*The Game*: Both sides know there’s a rat. Sullivan feeds Costello info. Costigan risks life gathering evidence. Neither knows who the other rat is.

*Madolyn*: Police psychiatrist dates Sullivan, sleeps with Costigan. She’s pregnant. Doesn’t know which rat is the father.

*The Chase*: Costello gives mob info on microprocessors deal. Sullivan tips him off. Shootout - everyone dies except Costigan. Costigan records Sullivan admitting he’s the rat.

*The Elevator*: Costigan meets Sullivan to expose him. Elevator opens - Trooper Barrigan shoots Costigan dead. "You think you’re a cop?" Sullivan shoots Barrigan, walks free.

*Final Rat*: Sullivan goes home. Sgt. Dignam waiting. Shoots Sullivan in head. "Ok." Drops dead. Rat eats Boston.

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*H2: The Departed Cast - Scorsese’s Boston Dream Team*

**Actor** **Character** **Why They’re Unforgettable**

**Leonardo DiCaprio** Billy Costigan Undercover cop. Panic attacks, Xanax, "I’m not a cop." Dies.

**Matt Damon** Colin Sullivan Mob rat cop. "I’m the guy who does his job." Gets got.

**Jack Nicholson** Frank Costello Irish mob boss. Improvised dildo, coke, rat. "When I was your age..."

**Mark Wahlberg** Sgt. Dignam "I’m the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy." Oscar nominated.

**Martin Sheen** Capt. Queenan Costigan’s only ally. Thrown off roof. "You’re a cop."

**Vera Farmiga** Dr. Madolyn Madden Psychiatrist. Sleeps with both rats. Pregnant.

**Alec Baldwin** Capt. Ellerby "Marshmallow mafia." Comic relief.

**Ray Winstone** Mr. French Costello’s enforcer. "You don’t bring the sand to the beach."

*Keywords*: The Departed cast, Leonardo DiCaprio Billy Costigan, Matt Damon Colin Sullivan, Jack Nicholson Costello, Mark Wahlberg Dignam

*H2: 5 Reasons The Departed Won 4 Oscars & Is Scorsese’s Most Fun*

1. *Elevator Scene*: Most shocking ending. Costigan survives whole film, gets info, wins. Elevator opens. Bang. Dead. Audience gasped. Then Sullivan dies. No one safe.

2. *Mark Wahlberg’s 15 Minutes*: "I’m the guy who does his job. You must be the other guy." "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself." Oscar nom for 15 min screentime.

3. *Jack Nicholson Unleashed*: Snorted fake coke, used real dildo, improvised entire scenes. "I smell a rat." He WAS the rat. "When I was your age they would say we can become cops or criminals. Today what I’m saying to you is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?"

4. *Dropkick Murphys "I’m Shipping Up to Boston"*: Opening + final shot. Rat on balcony. Boston energy. You can’t hear it without seeing Dignam shoot Sullivan.

5. *Remake Done Right*: Based on Hong Kong’s _Infernal Affairs 2002_. Scorsese made it Boston, added 50 F-bombs, made it his. Only Scorsese remake to win Best Picture.

*Oscars*: Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Film Editing. Scorsese finally won after 5 losses.

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*H2: The Departed Ending Explained - Who Killed Who & Why - Full Spoilers*

*Major Spoilers*.

1. *Why Did Barrigan Kill Costigan?*: Trooper Barrigan was Costello’s 2nd mole in police. Costello: "I have two rats." Barrigan waits in elevator. When Costigan arrests Sullivan, Barrigan shoots Costigan to protect Costello’s secrets. Then Sullivan shoots Barrigan to cover tracks.

2. *Why Did Dignam Kill Sullivan?*: Dignam knew Sullivan was rat from start. Quit when Queenan died. After Costigan dies, Dignam returns. No badge, no law. Just revenge. "Ok." Bang. Justice.

3. *Who’s The Father?*: Madolyn’s baby - never revealed. Could be Costigan or Sullivan. Tarantino would say both. Doesn’t matter - both dads are dead.

4. *The Rat Symbolism*: Opens with rat. Ends with rat on balcony as Sullivan dies. "When you decide to be something, you can be it." Sullivan decided to be cop. Died as rat. Costigan decided to be cop. Died as cop.

5. *Costello Was FBI Informant*: Reveal: Costello was protected informant for FBI. That’s why he never got caught. Sullivan kills him anyway when he finds out. Irony - Sullivan killed his own boss.

*Meaning*: No one wins in Boston. Rats eat each other. Only Dignam - the guy who does his job - walks away.

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*H2: Is The Departed Based on a True Story?*

No. Remake of Hong Kong film _Infernal Affairs 2002_. But inspired by real Boston.

*Real Elements*:

1. *Whitey Bulger*: Irish mob boss Frank Costello = Whitey Bulger. FBI informant, killed people, evaded law for decades.

2. *John Connolly*: FBI agent who protected Whitey. Sullivan character loosely based on him.

3. *Boston State Police*: Real corruption in 1990s. Mob had cops.

4. *"Marshmallow Mafia"*: Baldwin’s line references real Boston Irish mob nickname.

*Fake*: Costigan, Sullivan, specific plot = fiction. But Boston underworld tone = real.

Scorsese: "It’s not about Whitey. It’s about identity."

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*H2: Is The Departed Worth Watching in 2026?*

*Watch it if you like*: _Goodfellas_, _Heat_, _Infernal Affairs_, crime thrillers, Leo + Matt Damon, "I’m the guy who does his job," Boston accents. 2h 31min flies.

*Skip it if you want*: Happy endings, good guys win, PG content. Everyone dies. 237 F-bombs. Violence: headshots, blood, guy thrown off roof.

*Parent Guide*: Rated R. Extreme. Graphic violence, language, sexual content, drug use. Best for 18+. Not for kids. "Mothers against mothers" joke.

*Rewatch Value*: 10/10. 2nd watch you spot rats early. Sullivan’s tells, Costigan’s panic. Dignam knows everything.

*Where to Stream 2026*: Usually on Max/HBO, Netflix. 4K on Apple TV. Search "The Departed streaming".

*H2: Movies Like The Departed*

If you want more cops vs mobs + moles:

1. *Infernal Affairs 2002* - Original Hong Kong version. Tony Leung, Andy Lau. Shorter, no Wahlberg.

2. *Goodfellas 1990* - Scorsese. "As far back as I can remember..." Ray Liotta rat.

3. *Heat 1995* - De Niro vs Pacino. LA crime. "Don’t let yourself get attached."

4. *The Town 2010* - Ben Affleck Boston crime. Wahlberg’s brother Casey.

5. *Mystic River 2003* - Eastwood Boston crime. Sean Penn, Tim Robbins.

6. *American Gangster 2007* - Denzel vs Russell Crowe. Cop vs drug lord.

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*H2: Final Verdict: 9.5/10 - Scorsese’s Most Rewatchable Crime Film*

_The Departed_ is 2h 31min of stress. Everyone lies. Everyone dies.

*Flaw*: Jack Nicholson chews scenery too hard. Some accents are bad - Leo’s Boston is rough. Vera Farmiga underused. Elevator death = cheap shock?

But "I’m the guy who does his job," "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe fuck yourself," "I smell a rat," Costello’s dildo, Dignam’s final "Ok" - this is Scorsese fun.

Won Best Picture because Academy felt guilty for snubbing _Goodfellas_, _Taxi Driver_, _Raging Bull_. But it deserved it.

*Rating: 9.5/10*. Best movie where everyone you like dies. Watch with subtitles - Boston accents are thick.

*FAQ Schema Ideas - For "People Also Ask":*

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2. Who was the rat in The Departed?

3. Why did Barrigan kill Costigan?

4. Is The Departed based on a true story?

5. What does the rat mean at the end of The Departed

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Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Billy Costigan, Colin Sullivan, Frank Costello, Boston, Irish mob, rat, mole, undercover, 2006 movies, R-rated movie, crime thriller, Best Pictures.