The Departed (2006) | The Definitive Explanation

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What is The Departed about?

The Departed, a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, isn’t merely a tale of crime and law enforcement in Boston, but a complex exploration of identity, loyalty, and the thin, blurry line separating good from evil. The story, while wrapped in the trappings of a thrilling cat-and-mouse game, navigates through a labyrinth of deception and duality. It probes the notion of “self” and how it’s often influenced by external circumstances, and our desperate need to fit in, even if it means losing our true selves in the process.

The film, for which Martin Scorsese won his one and only Best Director award at the Academy Awards (the movie was also nominated for Best Picture), also delves into the theme of loyalty, a concept that is paradoxically both sacred and violated repeatedly. Each character is caught in a web of conflicting loyalties, leading to a pervading sense of unease and tension. Loyalty here isn’t just about allegiance to a person or organization, but also to a set of principles, a way of life. The film pushes us to question, in a world where deception is the norm, can true loyalty exist? Or is it just another illusion we cling to, a desperate attempt to carve order out of chaos?

Movie Guide table of contents

Cast

• Leonardo DiCaprio as 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 ending of The Departed explained

A recap of The Departed‘s ending

Queenan helps Billy Costigan escape an encounter with Costello’s men. As a result, Captain Queenan is thrown to his death from the roof. Dignam, enraged by Queenan’s death, is suspended for attacking Sullivan. Delahunt, injured in the firefight, insinuates to Costigan he knows his secret but dies before revealing it. A news report labels Delahunt a deceased undercover cop, leading Costello to suspect it’s a ruse to protect the real mole. Sullivan discovers Costello’s status as an FBI informant from Queenan’s notes and orchestrates a police ambush on Costello’s crew. A wounded Costello admits his FBI ties before Sullivan kills him.

Believing his mission complete, Costigan confronts Sullivan about his undercover status, ignorant of Sullivan’s true allegiance. Spotting a familiar envelope, Costigan realizes Sullivan was Costello’s mole and escapes. Sullivan, returning to find Costigan gone, erases his police records. Costigan gives Madolyn an envelope for contingency and sends Sullivan a package with tapes of his conversations with Costello, leading Madolyn to leave Sullivan.

To reclaim his records, Costigan arranges to meet Sullivan at the rooftop where Queenan died. Despite arresting Sullivan, Costigan’s identity is questioned by Trooper Brown. After convincing Brown of his evidence against Sullivan, Costigan and Brown are killed by another of Costello’s spies, Trooper Barrigan. Sullivan kills Barrigan, framing him as the mole. After attending Costigan’s funeral, Sullivan returns home to find Dignam, who shoots him and leaves.

The camera then pans up from Sullivan’s dead body to the window, where a rat runs across the railing as the golden dome of the State House rests in the background.

The rat and the State House

The final shot of The Departed, featuring a rat scurrying across a balcony rail with the Massachusetts State House in the background, serves as a potent visual encapsulation of the film’s central themes. This image deftly wraps up the narrative and leaves the audience with a lasting impression of the film’s exploration of deception, corruption, and duality.

The rat is a clear symbol of deceit and treachery, often associated with informants or “rats” in crime slang. Throughout the film, characters like Sullivan and Costigan act as rats within their respective organizations. The rat on the balcony is a direct reference to these characters, a visual representation of the duplicity and betrayal that pervades the narrative. Its presence, even after the death of both moles, suggests that treachery and deceit are inescapable, a persistent part of this world.

The backdrop of the State House further emphasizes the pervasiveness of corruption. As a symbol of government and law enforcement, the State House should stand for justice and integrity. Yet, the film shows that these institutions are as riddled with corruption as the criminal underworld. The rat, a symbol of corruption, running freely against the backdrop of the State House visually communicates this idea, suggesting that the corruption is not confined to the underworld but has infiltrated even the highest levels of power.

The rat running in plain sight reflects the theme of duality and hidden identities. Just as Sullivan and Costigan lead double lives, the rat, usually a creature of the shadows, is blatantly exposed in broad daylight. This serves as a final, stark reminder of the duality that defines the characters’ lives and the world they inhabit.

Dignam delivers justice

Sergeant Dignam’s return at the end of The Departed is a pivotal moment that not only brings closure to the film’s themes but also serves as a form of poetic justice for Queenan’s death.

Throughout the movie, Dignam is depicted as one of the few characters who remains unwaveringly loyal to the Massachusetts State Police force and uncorrupted by the pervasive deceit that engulfs the other characters. He is brash, confrontational, and refuses to compromise his principles. His return, then, can be seen as the reemergence of a moral force within a narrative filled with moral ambiguity.

Dignam’s execution of Sullivan in his apartment is a direct response to the betrayal and corruption that Sullivan represents. By taking justice into his own hands, Dignam enacts retribution not only for Queenan’s murder but also for the corruption of the police department. This act of vengeance serves to provide a sense of closure for the audience, delivering the comeuppance that Sullivan evades within the official system of law enforcement.

Dignam avenging Queenan’s death serves to honor his fallen colleague and reaffirm their shared commitment to justice. While the law enforcement system they served was shown to be flawed and compromised, Dignam’s act underscores the individual capacity for justice and the importance of personal integrity in a system marred by corruption.

Dignam’s return and subsequent actions align with the movie’s exploration of duality. While he avenges Queenan’s death, his methods mirror those of the criminals he despises, blurring the line between law enforcement and criminality. This further emphasizes the film’s theme of moral ambiguity and the complex nature of justice in a world filled with deception and corruption.

A cascade of deaths

The series of deaths that conclude The Departed serve to amplify the film’s themes of deception, betrayal, and duality, while also underscoring the destructive consequences of these elements. Specifically, the surprise revelation of Trooper Barrigan as another of Costello’s spies adds a final, shocking twist to the narrative that further deepens these themes.

The unexpected death of Costigan at the hands of Barrigan is a striking example of the pervasive deception and betrayal that marks the film. Just as we, and Sullivan, believe that the dangerous game of double identities has come to a close with Costigan’s success in exposing Sullivan, the sudden appearance of another mole upends expectations. This revelation serves to underscore the extent of Costello’s infiltration into the police force and the depth of the deception involved.

The fact that Sullivan, himself a mole, was unaware of Barrigan’s true allegiance adds a layer of irony to the narrative. It demonstrates that deception cuts both ways and that even those engaged in duplicity can be deceived. It also highlights the theme of duality—both Sullivan and Barrigan led double lives, each unaware of the other’s true loyalties.

Barrigan’s subsequent death at the hands of Sullivan brings the theme of betrayal full circle. Sullivan, the original betrayer, turns on Barrigan, effectively betraying one of his own kind. This act not only exemplifies the cyclical nature of betrayal but also reinforces the idea that deception and duplicity inevitably lead to destructive consequences.

In addition, the sudden and rapid succession of deaths adds a sense of chaos and unpredictability that mirrors the unstable, treacherous world the characters inhabit. In a realm dominated by deception and betrayal, alliances are fluid, and security is fleeting—a reality that the characters, and the audience, are reminded of in these final, fatal moments.

The themes and meaning of The Departed

The deceptive nature of identity

A life of deception is unsustainable

The Departed is a compelling exploration of identity and the role deception plays in shaping it. Two of the main characters, Sullivan and Costigan, spend much of the film inhabiting identities that are not their own. This isn’t simply a case of adopting a false persona—it’s a complete departure from their true selves.

The central narrative thrust of the film involves Sullivan, a cop secretly working for the Irish mob syndicate, and Costigan, a mob who’s actually an undercover cop. Their true identities are hidden beneath layers of deception and subterfuge, and they each live in constant fear of their true selves being revealed. This constant act of deception serves as a catalyst for an internal struggle within each character, as they grapple with the dissonance between their true selves and the identities they portray.

This theme of identity and deception extends beyond the two main characters. Virtually every character in The Departed is hiding something, whether it’s a secret alliance, an illicit relationship, or a hidden past. This pervasive atmosphere of deception underscores the film’s exploration of identity: in a world where everyone is lying about who they are, can anyone truly know themselves?

Interestingly, the film doesn’t provide a definitive answer to this question. Both Sullivan and Costigan meet tragic ends, suggesting that a life of deception is ultimately unsustainable. Yet, it’s unclear whether their deaths are the result of their false identities being revealed, or simply the inevitable consequence of the dangerous lives they lead. In either case, The Departed presents a grim view of identity, suggesting that our sense of self is often less stable and more susceptible to external influences than we might like to think.

The detrimental impact deception has on relationships

The intricate dance of identity and deception that Sullivan and Costigan engage in has profound implications on their relationships, particularly with Madolyn, the police psychiatrist who becomes entwined with both men. Their relationships with Madolyn are extensions of their false identities, further complicating their internal struggles and underscoring the destructive impact of their deceptions.

Sullivan, in his polished persona of a successful and ambitious detective, starts a relationship with Madolyn. Despite his apparent affection for her, their relationship is marred by his deception. He can never truly reveal his real self to her – the hardened criminal serving as a mole in the police force. This creates a chasm between them, a lack of genuine connection that manifests in their strained and ultimately doomed relationship.

Costigan, on the other hand, meets Madolyn as a patient, forced into sessions with her due to his “unstable” behavior—a facade to protect his undercover status. He, too, can’t reveal his true identity to her, leading to a relationship built on half-truths. However, in their interactions, glimpses of his true self shine through. His vulnerability, guilt, and desperation—the emotional toll of his deception—are laid bare in front of her. This shared understanding of pain and struggle forms a deep, albeit complicated, bond between them.

Interestingly, while both men lie to Madolyn, their reasons and the nature of their deceptions differ significantly. Sullivan lies to maintain his cover, to continue living his comfortable life undisturbed. His deception is rooted in self-preservation. Costigan, however, lies out of necessity, to protect his mission and himself. His deception is a burden, a source of emotional turmoil, rather than a protective shield.

In both relationships, Madolyn serves as a mirror, reflecting back the men’s false identities and the implications of their deceptions. With Sullivan, she reflects the emptiness of a relationship built on lies, where genuine connection is sacrificed for the sake of maintaining a facade. With Costigan, she reflects the destructive impact of living a lie, the emotional toll it takes on a person’s psyche.

How family influences our sense of identity

Costigan’s identity crisis in The Departed is significantly influenced by his familial ties to organized crime, particularly his relationship with his Uncle Jackie, a mob associate. His connection to the criminal world through his uncle forms the basis for his undercover assignment but also exacerbates his internal conflict as he navigates his dual identities.

Costigan’s family background is a mark of shame that he desperately wants to overcome. His aspiration to be a police officer is, in part, a bid to distance himself from his family’s criminal past. However, this same past becomes a tool for him to infiltrate Costello’s mob, thrusting him back into the world he wanted to escape. As he immerses himself in the criminal lifestyle, he’s constantly reminded of his Uncle Jackie and the path he had taken. This familial connection to the mob adds an extra layer of complexity to his identity crisis.

In his role as an undercover cop, Costigan is forced to adopt behaviors and attitudes that he associates with his Uncle Jackie and the criminal world he represents. This blurs the line between his real self and the identity he’s supposed to portray, leading to a deepening identity crisis. He’s torn between his loyalty to the police force and the uncomfortable familiarity of the criminal lifestyle he’s supposed to infiltrate.

As he delves deeper into his undercover role, Costigan grapples with the fear of becoming like his uncle. The more he embodies his criminal persona, the more he fears that he’s turning into the kind of man his Uncle Jackie was. This fear intensifies his identity crisis, as he struggles to hold onto his sense of self amidst the deception and duplicity.

The fine line between loyalty and betrayal

Another prominent theme in The Departed is the complex interplay between loyalty and betrayal. Loyalty, or the lack thereof, is a driving force behind many of the film’s most significant events. At the same time, betrayal is a constant threat, lurking in the shadows of every interaction.

The characters in the film are bound by intricate webs of loyalty. Sullivan is loyal to Costello, the mob boss who raised him, even as he serves as a mole within the police force. Costigan, meanwhile, remains loyal to his mission and his handlers within the police, even as he’s forced to commit criminal acts. These loyalties aren’t straightforward—they’re fraught with tension and internal conflict, and they’re constantly tested as the stakes rise.

At the same time, betrayal is a constant presence in the film. Characters betray each other, their own principles, and even themselves. This pervasive sense of betrayal amplifies the tension and uncertainty of the film, contributing to its overall atmosphere of paranoia and unease.

In The Departed, loyalty and betrayal are two sides of the same coin. The same bonds that inspire loyalty also create the potential for betrayal, and it’s often unclear until the very end who will betray whom, and why. This ambiguity adds a layer of complexity to the film’s portrayal of loyalty and betrayal, suggesting that these concepts are not as straightforward as they might seem.

How morality and corruption intersect

The Departed also explores the themes of morality and corruption, particularly how they intersect in the world of law enforcement. The film presents a grim view of the police force, depicting it as an institution riddled with corruption and moral compromise.

The character of Sullivan embodies this theme. Despite being a police officer—a role typically associated with upholding the law and maintaining moral order—he’s deeply corrupt, serving as a mole for mob boss Costello. His corruption isn’t a result of personal greed or ambition, but rather a misguided sense of loyalty to the man who helped raise him. This complicates our understanding of his character and challenges the clear-cut dichotomy between “good” and “evil.”

On the other hand, Costigan, an undercover cop within Costello’s gang, is forced to engage in criminal activities to maintain his cover. While his intentions are noble—bringing down the mob—his actions are morally questionable. This raises the question: to what extent can immoral actions be justified if they serve a greater good?

Even beyond these two characters, the film paints a picture of a world where corruption is the norm, rather than the exception. Everyone, from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest-level cops, seems to be involved in some form of corruption. This pervasive corruption blurs the line between the cops and the criminals, suggesting that the difference between them is not as clear as it might seem.

This exploration of morality and corruption forces the audience to confront uncomfortable questions about the nature of good and evil, and the lengths individuals and institutions will go to achieve their goals. It challenges the notion that morality is clear-cut and unambiguous, suggesting instead that it’s often a matter of perspective and circumstance. Through this, The Departed presents a nuanced and complex view of morality, one that reflects the messy, complicated nature of the real world.

Why is the movie called The Departed?

At first glance, title of the film appears to refer to those who have died, which aligns with the movie’s high body count. However, digging deeper, the title takes on a multi-layered significance that goes beyond physical departure. It encompasses a variety of metaphysical departures experienced by the characters.

One crucial interpretation of the title relates to the departure from self, as the main characters, Sullivan and Costigan, are forced to abandon their true identities to survive in their dual lives. Both characters are “departed” from their authentic selves, living a lie to serve their respective loyalties. They wear masks, not just to deceive others, but to escape the unbearable truth of their own duplicity. Their departures from self are not temporary disguises, but permanent transformations that leave them stranded in a no-man’s land between who they were and who they pretend to be.

The title also signifies a departure from morality. In the world of The Departed, traditional moral boundaries are blurred, and the line between good and evil is not clearly demarcated. Characters constantly depart from the moral code, justifying their actions under the pretext of duty, survival, or simply the thrill of deception. This departure from morality is not confined to the criminals, but extends to the law enforcement officials as well, creating a moral ambiguity that pervades the film.

Another profound departure is from loyalty, a central theme of the movie. The characters are constantly shifting their allegiances, betraying their own to protect their secrets or to gain an advantage. This departure from loyalty breeds an atmosphere of distrust and tension that underscores the narrative. This aesthetic highlights the fickle nature of loyalty in a world where survival is uncertain, and the price of loyalty can often be life itself.

The Departed also refers to a departure from hope and redemption. The narrative doesn’t offer the characters a chance at redemption, or the possibility of a better life. Their fates are sealed by their choices and actions, and in the end, they are left with the harsh reality of their world—one devoid of hope. This departure from hope is a stark reminder of the consequences of their choices and the inevitable downfall of living a life of deception and duplicity.

Important motifs in The Departed

Rats

Rats are a recurring motif in The Departed, serving as a powerful symbol of deceit and betrayal. The term “rat” is frequently used in the underworld to refer to informants or traitors, and this movie is centered around two such characters, Sullivan and Costigan, who serve as moles within their respective organizations. In numerous scenes, the motif of rats is used to hint at the duplicitous nature of these characters and the pervasive treachery within the narrative. The final shot of the film, featuring a rat scurrying across a balcony rail with the State House in the background, serves as a potent visual summary of this motif. It suggests that deceit and corruption have infiltrated even the highest levels of power, reflecting the key themes of the film.

Duality

The motif of duality is central to The Departed. The narrative is fundamentally built on pairs of contrasting characters: Sullivan and Costigan; the police and the mob; loyalty and betrayal. These dualities serve to explore the theme of identity and the idea that things are not always what they seem. Characters lead double lives, their public personas concealing their true allegiances. This is most evident in the case of Sullivan and Costigan, whose lives mirror each other in their roles as moles. This motif extends to the visual elements of the film as well, with mirrored images and parallel scenes underscoring the theme of duality.

“X” Markings

Throughout The Departed, there are numerous instances where “X” markings can be seen in the background. These markings are a visual motif symbolizing impending doom or death, paying homage to Howard Hawks’ 1932 film Scarface, where similar markings were used. The “X” motif appears before every significant death in the film, subtly foreshadowing the fate of the characters. This recurring motif serves to heighten the sense of danger and unpredictability within the narrative.

Identity

The struggle with identity is another important motif in The Departed. Both Sullivan and Costigan grapple with their senses of self as they navigate their double lives. They are forced to betray their own identities and adopt new ones, leading to a sense of internal conflict and turmoil. This motif is further emphasized through the use of aliases and disguises, highlighting the tension between appearance and reality. The struggle with identity is a crucial aspect of the narrative, reflecting the personal cost of deception and betrayal.

Irish Heritage

Irish heritage is a significant motif that permeates The Departed. Set in South Boston, a city known for its strong Irish-American community, the film explores the influence of Irish heritage on its characters and their actions. The characters’ Irish backgrounds serve as a bond that unites them, but also as a source of conflict and division. This motif is reflected in various elements of the film, from the use of the Celtic cross to the frequent references to Irish culture and history. It serves to add depth to the characters and provides a rich cultural context for the narrative.

Questions & answers about The Departed

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.

Now it’s your turn

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