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View The Departed film page

Poster artwork for The Departed — Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List

Spoiler-free premise

To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Boston police place recruit Billy Costigan inside Frank Costello's criminal organization while Costello's protégé Colin Sullivan rises within the state police. Each institution unknowingly shelters the other's informant, and both men are ordered to identify the leak.

Why it belongs

Under Martin Scorsese, mirrored infiltrations, coded calls, aggressive cutting, and contrasting star performances make impersonation in The Departed physically and morally exhausting.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Scorsese drives the mirrored infiltration through aggressive cutting, phone calls, coded messages, sudden violence, and Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon's contrasting performances, making professional impersonation feel physically exhausting and morally corrosive.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20

Academy Awards4 wins2007 · official ceremony record ↗

Best Picture2007 · Graham King, Producerofficial ceremony record ↗Directing2007 · Martin Scorseseofficial ceremony record ↗Writing (Adapted Screenplay)2007 · Screenplay by William Monahanofficial ceremony record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

Golden Globes1 win2007 · official film record ↗

Best Director - Motion Picture2007 · Martin Scorseseofficial film record ↗

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

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Film Club

Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

Institutional reference ranks

Sight & Sound—IMDb Top 25040AFI 100—

Reference metadata only · not part of the 40/40/20 score

Great Cinema Master List scores

Greatness8.9

Engagement9.7

Ease9.1

English · R
Narrative Feature
Mood: Tense & Absorbing