In what way does Catholicism, and Education form the DNA of my favorite Martin Scorsese film, "The Departed"? THE DEPARTED BLU-RAY (Affiliate link) www.amazon.com...
I found the film OK ad entertainment but wasn't interested in any depth of character assessments. And don't really see the point in this videos reasons. That's me though. In this case; now!!! Assessment of me needed?
But the thing is, that guy was working for the FBI, no? And Costello was an FBI informant that the agency was protecting. Hence, the cameras were placed so as not to implicate him. So the guy really was doing his job, quite well, actually!
From The Departed screenplay: "...He looks up and sees a gun. Behind it, stepping fast out of the shadows, DIGNAM. Avenging a guy he didn't even like, because it's the right thing to do."
I think he probly liked William fine, they were "running" him, he played the tough parent. And it's not like he was a real rat, he was an undercover cop. They love to employ basic psychology and convince themselves they're wicked smaht.
@@1846tt that’s always been my impression he genuinely respected Costigan. The act was genuine and necessary but he genuinely respected Costigan especially after all the evidence was obvious.
I also love one of Costellos first lines in the movie about being a cop or criminal and he says “when you’re faced with a loaded gun, what’s the difference?” And the characters both find themselves on opposite ends, one rich, highly decorated but a rat, the other poor, no identity, but a true cop and both find them selves faced with a loaded gun and dead.
@@martykeaton182It is the whole, the bad guy says a profound statement which you have to sort of sit down and question whether it is bad because bad guy said it. Many just think profound means moral.
I think it's important to point out that Costigan didn't fail police academy, it was part of his cover story. Dignam and Queenan had him drop out and get sent to jail so he's not ringing obvious alarm bells as a mole to any criminal types. Dignam's dig at Costigan at not graduating the academy was a self-referential dig (in both the obvious "you didn't graduate" but also "you didn't graduate because you're part of a team that has US as the boss"). The movie was pretty clear in implying that Costigan would've sailed through the academy if chose to stay, but Costigan wanted to BE a cop (not "appear to be a cop" as Queenan asks) and decides to the drop out thing, for the greater good (or status, or whatnot).
Billy wasn't trying to escape his lower class lifestyle. He was trying to get revenge on the people who betrayed his father and when he was out of the picture they completely abandoned him and his family. Didn't even go visit his dying mother in the hospital, where he was the only one who remained at her bedside. No, he hates them and is willing to do whatever it takes to bring them down. He could care less what the community thinks about him, he's doing it for personal reasons.
One thing that was slightly overlooked is that Costigan grew up primarily upper class while visiting his father in the hood on the weekends. While Collins actually grew up poor full time in the projects.
I really like how you point out and explain how Dignam is not only the only one to survive, but the one to successfully take out the rat. After seeing this movie, I strongly feel like this is my favorite performance from Wahlberg ever, and I wonder if it was just Scorsese’s directing or the writing that perfectly set up Wahlberg for this character. It’s interesting to think about and note that Wahlberg actually grew up in the REAL Boston. He grew up in Dorchester, he was running around in his youth and seeing the real southie. His character in this film is so good and I feel as though it’s a nice correlation to his real life experiences. While there was some over the top writing and scenes to embody a person’s Boston nature and dialogue, Dignam’s character still remains realistic and authentic to a true “Bostonian.”
@@MATTDALOR1AN Matthew, I am not really a huge film geek and I stumbled upon this video and your channel by accident, but I have to say that you have an incredibly likeable and authentic personality. That's why I subbed your channel. I hope you'll be successful with this channel and will be able to continue doing this as a career. All the best from Germany, Ripper out (I hope you'll see this comment)
Billy wasn't pretending he thought Lennon was "the President before Lincoln" to appear dumb. He was being sarcastic in response to - in his eyes - a silly question.
Disagree. Obviously he knows who Lennon is, but he conciously chooses to put up various facades throughout the film to trick Costello into trusting him. First, of being "stupid" because it would show Costello that he is not smart enough to articulate being an undercover cop and second of being nervous for the same purpose: take, for instance, the fact that he always acts nervous around the mob, but when venting to Madolyn his first complaint is that his hands don´t shake when seeing all the violence happening around him.
@@arthurcarvalho7849 I agree re some of the other facades but not this one. There's no gain for Billy in pretending he doesn't know who Lennon is but that he does know who the President was before Lincoln.
You're both kind of correct. It's a smartass remark you would say, knowing you don't know the answer. He's pretending to be dumb, but not so stupid, he can't be somewhat witty.
he obviously knows who lennon was(coz everybody in the world knows)and he isnt pretending not knowing it. its a smartass remark/joke that just makes him seem like a streetguy(that he actually is)who has the balls to say smartass remarks to costello.
This is the kind of film analysis you dont find anywhere else on the internet. The bar is set high in every way. I hope these works find more viewers to appreciate them and inspire. Thank you sir
I just saw this movie for the first time and was blown away...literally...the elevator scene shook me....for real...i thought all hope was lost....wow...and great breakdown of the intricacies of the movie...great points...wow...
if you were LITERALLY blown away, not metaphorically, where were you blown to? Are you Mary Poppins? What gale force did that cyclone The Departed have? Did Obama contribute funds to the aftermath?
When I saw Dignum have the conversation with Matt Damon about suspecting he was the rat, I knew that Dignum was gonna live for some reason I just had a feeling and for that he became my favorite character. Anyways good video, I loved it, and we can all learn something from this video.
he said that because he's a has been. he's right all the same, but crawling out of the woodwork to talk shit about comic book movies is a has been thing.
@@soflsteel777 Wooow...Nice to hear from you good sir ;) ;) actually if we werent on the platform we are right now...I could tell ya 4 real, lol...not to mention the fact that my nickname here is my actuall fuckin 1st & last name.... so, dunno... YOU tell me man ;) Anyway...Best regards from Croatia.... (stay safe ;) )
I have watched far too many film breakdown videos like this to count. I have read an incomprehensible amount of detailed film reviews and analyses. I have spent countless hours delving into the thematic qualities of my favorite films and novels. I say all this to primarily say that I have a wealth of experience with the practice of film analysis. Immodest as that may sound, it is merely a reality as I have a deep and profound fondness for stories told through film and books. And with all of this exposure and experience, it is extremely rare (frankly, nearly impossible) for me to encounter a review or analysis of a film that truly manages to impress me. Yet this video has managed to do just that. Bravo to the creator of this terrific segment. This is without question one of the most incisive, astute, and captivating takes on what is, if not my favorite film, as close to it as can be. Amazing job!
This was my favorite movie as a kid and still is. I have seen it 40-50 times and you really put all the deep thoughts into words and a very well thought out explanation. Next time I watch it I will look at every scene very differently... Thank you!
probably my favourite movie ever and even after watching the Internal Affairs movie it is apparently based on, it still is an incredible piece of cinema.
"Geez, She fell funny" "Francis, I really think you should see someone." That dialogue between French and Francis at the beggining always makes me laugh for some reason.
man dignum is one of my fav movie characters of all time that how's your mother scene is one of the funniest shit i have ever heard i liked inception but imho the departed is leagues above
This is one of my top ten movies of all time, and at least neck and neck with Goodfellas for best Mattie flick…I’m half Irish, so I kind of lean toward The Departed. Just a side note - did anyone else notice that Costigan’s cousin looks and acts like a complete mimic of Nicholsan’s Costello character? The writing is so damn clever in this one…add in the slick dialogue, and it’s just a fast and funZ, if rough, ride. Not a second drags, and it’s full of complicated details. Whatever happened to the real micro chips, anyway?
At one point in time I felt the same, but you don't know what "played out" is til you've been from Boston and heard this song more times than Good Vibrations
I've never seen such a huge amount of wisdom in a short movie analysis nowhere with an amazing narrating style , it's like : you saw that scene , that means this and here is why the character said that ! I love it ! Keep up the great job Matthew .
Man, I love your videos so much!! You say exactly what needs to be said, and don’t go about any crappy, unnecessary info. Plus, this is in my top 10 of all time, so that made me even more keen and intrigued in the video! Keep up the excellent work man!!
Dude focus your channel on Movies, you earned a new subscriber. P.S. In a future can you share your favorite Horror movies since Halloween is near, thanks.
@Matthew Danczak: great analysis of one of my favourite films. Scorsese has done some explicitly religious films (Last Temptation; Silence) but I think religion is a strong undertone even in his gangster films and particularly in The Departed. One thing I was expecting to come up in your video was the early scene where young Damon quotes James Joyce to Nicholson, "non serviam" -- Latin for "I will not serve", the credo attributed to Satan. IMHO, it sets up Nicholson/Damon as servants of self or evil, and Sheen/DiCaprio as servants of good, in parallel father/son relationships. They all die in the movie but everlasting life is implied through Sheen's son (at Notre Dame) and DiCaprio's child (with Farmiga, "Madolyn", shared name with the saint) whereas Nicholson has no sons and it is implied Damon is impotent (in the morning-after scene with Farmiga). Will look up more of your videos.
Great review, a lot of interesting comments about all the symbolism in the movie: the grocery bag at the beginning and end of Colin's story, the racial element and the fact that hate and competition are shown from each race and social class. The question of raising oneself up to the next class is also very interesting. Great work!
Infernal Affairs (the film in which the departed is based on) does not receive enough credit. They can embellish this script in whatever way they want, and we think of it as a masterpiece remake. Just remember who did it first. Might be a Hollywood film made by Scorsese but the basic plot is taken from somewhere else.
I commented on an earlier comment that mentioned the movie, yours was even deeper in the comments. It is actually, Infernal Affairs. I watched that first before Departed myself and upon re-watching IA, noted the similarities. I'm just surprised more people haven't seen Infernal Affairs. It really is a great movie.
@@cordcd7 My mistake, typo. Guess all the comments praising Scorsese are racked up at the top. IA is really good, well good enough to get Brad Pitt's production company to buy the rights for it, Scorsese to direct it, and all these big name actors to be casted in it. Shame the vast majority will never watch the original, which is better according to the HK actors, but ofc they are going to say that.
And? Infernal Affairs is an amazing movie for sure. I absolutely love it. But that doesn't make The Departed the same movie. The script, apart from sharing certain story beats, is quite different. I'd even go as far as to say that it's almost entirely different from Infernal Affairs apart from that. Different characters, different themes and philosophies, different style, etc.
Matthew, I am not really a huge film geek and I stumbled upon this video and your channel by accident, but I have to say that you have an incredibly likeable and authentic personality. That's why I subbed your channel. I hope you'll be successful with this channel and will be able to continue doing this as a career. All the best from Germany, Ripper out
I felt like this was what the movie was telling us but at the same time she doesn't know that, so her perception is that he just doesn't like the pictures and also partially why she eventually cheated with Billy anyways
Wow, what a pleasant video essay to find after rewatching the film. Your well-constructed and thorough analysis of the many themes depicted within the movie made it a joy to watch. I can clearly see how much time and effort was put into this video. Well done! Off to view more of your videos.
Very perceptive. Great viewpoints. 1 criticism tho You say “everyone who uses the lords name in vain gets killed or has something terrible happen to them”, and at first I was like, “good point. I didn’t notice that before”. Then I thought for a second ... Almost EVERYONE dies in that movie lol Everything else you said, couldn’t agree more. Great viewpoints
Great movie, very good analysis. Some of this is very in depth. Do character's middle names referencing saints (as most Irish names do) really have a deeper meaning in the film? I agree that Catholicism and education are key themes but the principle theme you only briefly mention: Identity and/or pretending to be someone you are not. As well as the obvious there is Costigan and his dual upbringing and strong hints that Sullivan is gay, amongst others. I would have liked to have heard more on this.
I agree. There’s a clear shock regarding the death of a character who “wasn’t supposed to die” in both films. And in both films, those characters are avenged by someone who turns out to be on the “other side”.
Lol I love how you pointed out Madolyn’s poor morals when she’s surrounded by murderers. Yes cheating and lying is bad, but I don’t think as bad as taking lives. But still awesome video.
Good editing! However I’m having trouble of seeing how street smarts would of helped you. Dingham was suspended and he only figured out suilivan was the rat, because Costigan’s death confirmed his suspicion. He didn’t gain an edge or, advantage. He had to find out through the normal course of actions in the movie. Real smart guy…Alec Baldwin.
Great video, this is one of my favorite movies and I've probably seen it 50 times! Not to be a big here, but I think when Wahlburg good Damon, "I run rat fucks like you", he was pissed about Damon's new job of needing to spy on other cops to find the rat in the police department. Which was crazy considering he was Costello's actual rat! That's just the way I understood it, but it doesn't really matter. The message of you video is amazing and how far you went in depth is stunning. I bet Scorsese actually considered a lot of this when making the film and you just deconstructed it all right here. It blows me away all the things you manage to find, and I now have a reason to watch the movie again through a different lens. Awesome video!!
Really like this film, but prefer the original Infernal Affairs. It’s a bit more subtle and lean. Interesting how Infernal Affairs has an undercurrent of Buddhism and Departed has Catholicism. I guess it truly is an American remake 🤔
The film that is on the television in the Sacred Heart of Christ scene is John Ford’s The Informer (1935) which is about a member of the IRA selling out his comrades for reward money so he and his girlfriend can have a better life in America. The scene shown is Victor McLaglen’s character Gypo Nolan pleading for forgiveness from Christ in a church as the guilt has overwhelmed him and the mounting fear that he’ll be executed as a traitor to his family, friends, country and comrades. In essence he traded in his ideals for advancement much like so many of the characters in The Departed.
3:52 you know how theres that theory the baby shes carrying is billys? I just realised after rewatching this that this scene confirms it. Why else is he cradling her stomach?
one note add to here: Colin only “hides” Madolyns youth photos is because he would be forced to also display HIS photos. Something which a mobster infiltrating the police department would not be smart to do lol
