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"Of course it's sharp and compelling and formally impressive; what surprises is that this film, built around
twin life-or-death situations and constructed from slickness and paranoia, is funny. Really funny. (Best exchange, bar none:
"How's your mother?" "Good. Still tired from fucking my father.") The premise, imported from the HK action winner Infernal
Affairs, turns out to be as close to unfuckupable as most people suspected, and all Monahan and Scorsese really had to
do was give the plot wheels a little push and everything would have turned out fine. Instead of that just-add-water approach
that would have enticed lesser filmmakers into creating a mere punch-press modest entertainment, they aim big. The Departed
is infused with a marvelous sense of local Boston color and enough close character work to propel the average novel; these
inclusions transform the film from a crackerjack thriller into something more satisfying -- a gusting tapestry of human nature
under pressure, at turns hilarious and heart-stopping."- Steven Carlson
Frank Costello: Have a seat, Bill.
[Costigan sits down at Costello's dinner table]
Frank Costello: [while eating crab] Do you know John Lennon?
Billy Costigan: Yeah, sure, he was the president before Lincoln.
Frank Costello: Lennon said, "I'm an artist. You give me a fucking tuba, I'll get you something out of it."
Billy Costigan: [sarcastically] Well I tell you Mr. Costello, I'd like to squeeze some fucking money out of it.
Frank Costello: Smart mouth. Too bad. If you'll indulge me...
[sees Gwen leaving]
Frank Costello: Now what?
Gwen: Choir practice.
Frank Costello: [annoyed] Choir practice.
[Costello pulls out a severed human hand]
Frank Costello: The point I'm making with John Lennon is - a man could look at anything, and make something out of
it. For instance, I look at you and I think "what could I use you for?"
1. The Departed [William Monahan] (49 points, 7 votes)
2. Children of Men [Alfonso Cuaron & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby]
(38/6)
3. The Prestige [Christopher and Jonathan Nolan] (29/4)
4. Inside Man [Russell Gewirtz] (25/4)
5. Pan's Labyrinth [Guillermo Del Toro] (24/4)
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