Is The Departed Based on a True Story? The Departed Ending Explained, Cast, Plot, and More

Movie “The Departed”

“The Departed” is a gripping crime thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 2006. The film is set in Boston, Massachusetts and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg and Martin Sheen.

The plot revolves around the Irish mob and the Massachusetts State Police, with each organization planting a mole within the other. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, a young police officer who goes undercover to infiltrate an Irish gang led by Frank Costello, played by Jack Nicholson. Matt Damon, on the other hand, plays Colin Sullivan, who grew up under Costello’s tutelage and later became his spy in the police force.

As the story unfolds, tensions mount as both police and mobsters try to identify each other’s informants. The film is filled with suspense, double-travels, and unexpected twists, making it an unforgettable and critically acclaimed crime drama.

“The Departed” received critical acclaim for its engaging storyline, stellar performances and Scorsese’s direction. The film went on to win multiple awards, including four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Scorsese, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

With its tense plot and stellar performances, The Departed remains a highly regarded crime thriller that continues to captivate audiences.

Is “The Departed” based on a true story?

“The Departed” is loosely based on the story of the Winter Mountain Gang. The film is a combination of a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs” and a loose adaptation of Boston’s notorious Winter Hill Gang. Protagonist Colin Sullivan was inspired by corrupt FBI agent John Connolly, while Frank Costello was based on Irish-American gangster and crime boss Whitey Bulger.

Colin Sullivan, a key character in the film, bears a resemblance to notorious FBI agent John Connolly, who was embroiled in a web of corruption and criminal activity. Likewise, Frank Costello’s character bears a strong resemblance to notorious Irish-American gangster Whitey Bulger, who was known for his involvement in various criminal activities.

The film seamlessly integrates elements of the original Hong Kong film “Infernal Affairs” into the narrative, adding a fresh perspective to the storyline. It is also inspired by the real-life criminal activities of the notorious Winter Hill Gang, an organized crime syndicate operating in Boston in the late 20th century.

The film succeeds in crafting a gripping story that blends elements of the original Hong Kong film with the real-life crime backdrop of Boston’s Winter Hill Gang. Its blend of drama, suspense and action makes it an interesting watch for movie buffs. By skillfully combining these different sources of inspiration, the film succeeds in creating a unique and captivating experience for the viewer.

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“The Departed” cast list

Here are the cast and character names for The Departed.

Actor name

Character name

Leonardo DiCaprio Officer William “Billy” Costigan Jr.
Matt Damon Sergeant Colin Sullivan
jack nicholson Frank Costello
mark wahlberg Staff Sergeant Sean Dignan
Martin Sheen Captain Oliver “Charlie” Quinan
Ray Winstone Arnold “Frenchie” French
Vera Farmiga Dr. Madolyn Madden
Alec Baldwin Captain George Ellerby
Anthony Anderson Brown Cavalry
Kevin Corrigan Sean Costigan
James Badge Dale Barrigan Cavalry
David O’Hara Patrick Fitzgibbons
Mark Ralston Timothy Delahunt
robert wahlberg FBI Special Agent Frank Lazio
amenda lynch carmen
Christine Dalton Gwen
Shay Duffin Phil

The story of leaving

In the mid-1980s, Irish gangster Frank Costello met a young Colin Sullivan in South Boston. Twenty years later, Sullivan became a spy within the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and joined the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to build the case against Costello. Meanwhile, another officer, Billy Costigan Jr., was recruited to infiltrate Costello’s staff because of his family’s ties to organized crime.

Costigan committed crimes to gain Costello’s trust and became deeply involved in the organization. However, the stress of the undercover role took a toll on his mental state. His only supporter on the police force was his psychiatrist Madolyn Madden, who happened to be dating Sullivan. Costigan and Madden were having an affair.

As the story unfolds, both the MSP and Costello’s gang realize they have a mole in their ranks. Costigan discovered that Costello was a protected FBI informant and shared this information with his superiors. He also learned Sullivan’s true identity but was unable to obtain visual evidence.

A series of events led to a tense confrontation between Sullivan and Costigan. Eventually, Costigan managed to reveal Sullivan’s identity as the mole and escaped. Sullivan erased Costigan’s records and tried to cover his tracks. Madden left Sullivan after learning the truth about him.

Costigan arranged a meeting with Sullivan to confront him, but it ended in a shootout. Costigan was killed by a co-worker while under Sullivan’s influence. Eventually, another officer, Dignam, takes revenge and kills Sullivan, revealing his identity as the mole.

The film ends with a tragic and intense climax, showing a complex web of deceit and betrayal between characters in the underworld and the police force.

“The Departed” ending explained

The ending of The Departed depicts a gripping scene in which three characters die in quick succession, leaving Colin as the sole survivor. Although The Departed focuses primarily on a specific group of informants, it subtly hints at a wider, more complex network operating off-screen. Barrigan and Brown, although only briefly present in the film, play a key role in revealing Colin and Billy’s true identities at the end of the film.

Further on, James Badge Dale’s soldier Barrigan is unexpectedly revealed to be working for an Irish gangster. In a shocking turn of events, he shot and killed Anthony Anderson’s Trooper Brown and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Billy, adding to DiCaprio’s impressive screen casualties Another tragic death has been added to the list.

The world of an undercover informant is a tangled tangle of threads, and the climactic shootout in “The Departed” perfectly embodies this tangled tangle. The ongoing conflict between rioters and police is so confusing that individual informants may mistakenly believe that they hold key positions, when in fact they are only a small part of a larger mystery.

Matt Damon’s Colin then takes matters into his own hands, eliminating Barrigan and ensuring there are no loose ends that reveal his true identity. Although Colin appears to be on the same side as Barrigan, he proves that his loyalty is only to himself and does not trust anyone to help him. Therefore, eliminating the one remaining person who knows his identity is his safest course of action.

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“The Departed” trailer

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