New Issue

The Pharos announces the release of Vo. 98, Issue 3. The newspaper is now available in front of the post office and in many buildings around campus.

Please excuse some minor glitches as we continue to improve our paper. Namely, there are no page numbers and page 4 is on page 2. We apologize and hope that these problems are fixed next issue.

The Departed: A Movie Review by Chris Carton

The Departed, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Vera Farmiga. Directed by Martin Scorsese

Who it’s for: Fans of The Godfather, Donnie Brasco; people who like good acting, writing, and directing.

Who it’s not for: Those of you who deplore blood and violence, and get upset that there’s only one female character who is not portrayed as a sex toy.

Martin Scorsese, Godfather of the Mafia movie (no offense to Francis Ford Coppola), has finally recognized that the Irish can be mean as hell too (yeah, I know Gangs of New York was about the Irish. I didn’t see it. You got something to say about it?).

Based on the Hong Kong thriller Internal Affairs, The Departed is set in present day Boston and features Leonardo DiCaprio (a Scorsese favorite) in a stunning role as Billy Costigan, a young cop from a no good family who wants to do something useful with his life. He is offered a job undercover in the operation of Frank Costello (Nicholson), a brutal mob boss who the entire police force is looking to bring down. Costigan reports to two people and two people only, Sergeants Queenan and Dignam (Sheen and Wahlberg). Nobody else knows his true loyalties. Meanwhile, Colin Sullivan (Damon) is a young officer on the fast track up, with an impeccable record. He also happens to be an informant for Costello. So the stage is set for a ruthless game of cat and mouse, as each side tries to smoke out the other side’s rat.

This movie poses many interesting questions and moral dilemmas. Is there a difference between good and evil? While Costigan shakes down bookies, beats men unconscious, and acts as an accessory to murder in the name of taking down the organization, Sullivan acts from his office, tipping Costello off at every turn. Is it easy to see which one is the good guy and which one is the bad guy? The film also does a very good job at contrasting the lives of these two men. Costigan lives in fear for his life, horrified at the things he is witnessing. He’s a man constantly on the edge. Sullivan, on the other hand, has a comfortable job, a steady girlfriend, and a nice apartment. How is this fair? What incentive is there to be a good person, and to do the right thing? What is the right thing?

This movie drives home a fact that I believe many people have overlooked: DiCaprio can act. He is right up there with many of our finest actors, and this movie features many of our finest actors. Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen have already established themselves as some of the best of the best. In Nicholson’s case, I might go so far as to say he may be the best of the best. This movie doesn’t weaken my case. He has the ability to look incredibly intimidating (and crazy) without actually doing anything. Matt Damon is certainly one of the strongest actors of his generation, and all of his considerable talent is on display here.

Scorsese’s directing melts into the background. No flashy camera gimmicks here. No blow you away special effects. The Departed relies on character to hold your attention, and if these characters don’t make you snap to, you may want to seek professional help.

I want to say something about the soundtrack. Irish punk rock bagpipes. If they don’t get your blood pumping. . . maybe you’re not Irish.

I believe this to be a contender for Best Picture. Expect lots of nominations when awards season comes around. I give it five out of five stars. *****