In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for The Departed, we answer questions you have about the movie. If you’re curious about plot explanations, meanings, themes, lessons, motifs, symbols, or just confused by something, ask and we’ll do our best to answer.
Cast
- Leonardo DiCaprio – Trooper William “Billy” Costigan Jr.
- Matt Damon – Staff Sergeant Colin Sullivan
- Jack Nicholson – Frank Costello
- Mark Wahlberg – Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam
- Martin Sheen – Captain Oliver “Charlie” Queenan
- Ray Winstone – Arnold “Frenchie” French
- Vera Farmiga – Dr. Madolyn Madden
- Alec Baldwin – Captain George Ellerby
- Anthony Anderson – Trooper Brown
- Kevin Corrigan as Sean Costigan
- James Badge Dale as Trooper Barrigan
- David O’Hara as Patrick “Fitzy” Fitzgibbons
- Mark Rolston as Timothy Delahunt
- Robert Wahlberg as FBI Special Agent Frank Lazio
- Amenda Lynch as Carmen
- Kristen Dalton as Gwen
- Shay Duffin as Phil
- William Monohan – Writer
- Martin Scorsese – Director
The Departed | Questions and Answers
Was Costello planning to betray Sullivan the entire time?
There is no explicit evidence in The Departed that suggests Costello, who is revealed to be a secret FBI informant, was planning to betray Sullivan from the start. Costello is portrayed as a shrewd and cunning character who values loyalty, but he also lives by the law of the underworld, where trust is conditional and betrayal is a common occurrence. That being said, it’s likely that Costello would have had no qualms about betraying Sullivan if it served his interests.
However, Costello’s relationship with Sullivan is complex. He grooms Sullivan from a young age and seems to have a certain degree of affection for him. Yet, he also uses Sullivan for his own gains, exploiting his position in the police force to protect his criminal operations. In this sense, one could argue that Costello’s manipulation of Sullivan is a form of betrayal.
Understanding this ambiguous relationship between Costello and Sullivan can deepen our understanding of the film’s themes of deceit and betrayal. It illustrates the fluid nature of loyalty in the world of The Departed, where allegiances are constantly shifting and trust is always uncertain.
How did the police not know that Costello was an FBI informant?
The revelation that Costello is an FBI informant comes as a surprise in The Departed, and it’s reasonable to question why the police were not aware of this. The most likely explanation is that Costello’s status as an informant was highly confidential, known only to a select few within the FBI. This is a common practice in law enforcement, where information about informants is often kept tightly guarded to protect both the informant and the integrity of ongoing investigations.
The fact that the police were not privy to this information underscores the theme of deception and highlights the complex web of duplicity that pervades the film. It also raises questions about corruption within the law enforcement agencies themselves, suggesting that deceit and betrayal are not confined to the criminal underworld, but permeate all levels of society in The Departed.
Why didn’t Delahunt tell Costello that Costigan was the rat?
When Delahunt is fatally wounded, he has a conversation with Costigan in which he implies that he knows Costigan is the rat. However, he dies before he can reveal this information to Costello. There are a couple of possible explanations as to why Delahunt doesn’t expose Costigan.
Firstly, Delahunt may have been testing Costigan, trying to gauge his reaction to see if he was indeed the rat. Alternatively, Delahunt might have developed a certain respect or sympathy for Costigan, especially given that they were both undercover agents living double lives. This would align with the film’s exploration of identity and duality, where lines between friend and foe, loyalty and betrayal, are blurred.
Understanding Delahunt’s decision not to expose Costigan can provide valuable insight into the film’s themes. It demonstrates the complex dynamics of loyalty and betrayal, as well as the personal struggles of characters leading double lives. It also underscores the pervasive uncertainty and danger that comes with deception, where one’s true allegiance can never be fully known.
What questions do you have?
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