D = The Departed

The Departed
Directed By: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin
Rated R for Strong Brutal Violence, Pervasive Language, Some Strong Sexual Content and Drug Material

 WARNING!!! Spoiler Alert... If you have not seen this film, I suggest you watch the movie before reading this blog. Otherwise, Enjoy!

This film represents more than just all of the violence and deception in the world. It also represents all of the violence and deception within every Christian on Earth. A lot of the characters represent the different types of people in the world.

There are four characters in this film that really stand out to me. Colin Sullivan (Damon) is a police Sergeant in the BPD Special Investigations Unit. He is also a "rat" for the Irish Mob Boss, Frank Costello (Nicholson). Costello is the most wanted criminal in Boston. He recently recruited a man named Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) whose family has always been heavily involved in the Irish Mafia. Billy is an undercover Police Officer under the command of Captain Queenan (Sheen) and Sergeant Dignam (Wahlberg).

Colin Sullivan represents most people. He is the "Two-Faced Christian". He cares more about his appearance than he does about appeasing God and serving Him wholeheartedly. He'd even sacrifice those closest to him if it means he can escape justice. In the film he murders Costello, fearing that he might be caught by the FBI. In the end he murders Billy and just when he feels as if he might be free, Sgt. Dignam kills him.

Billy Costigan represents the fully Devoted follower. The Christian that will sacrifice everything he has to glorify God and to reach out to Non-Christians.  He is the Christian that we all must strive to be like. Throughout the film he always strives to obey the law and bring justice to Costello and Colin.

Frank Costello represents the Non-Christian. Someone whose life is blanketed by sin. A person who needs a fully devoted follower of Christ to bring them to the Lord. He is an insane man who will murder just about anyone and lives his life to be the "Alpha-Dog"

Captain Queenan and Sergeant Dignam are the Christ Figures in this film. Throughout the film they are constantly quarreling with Colin Sullivan. Eventually, Queenan sacrifices himself to protect Billy. Dignam becomes Billy's only friend, and in the end, the vengeance belongs to Dignam when he shoots Colin in the head.





The question you are faced with now is which character are you? Billy, Colin, or Costello? I believe that everyone should strive to be like Billy. He had sacrificed everything he had to Glorify God. We must reach out to non-believers and watch out for our fellow believers.

If you find that you are most like Colin, be afraid. Let's remember who killed who. Colin (The Two-Faced Christian) kills both Billy (The Fully-Devoted Follower) and Costello (The Non-Believer). However, it was Dignam (God) who killed Colin. So if you find yourself in Colin's shoes, beware.

This film also indicates that everyone dies. Everyone except God. Just look at the Title; "The Departed" No matter which of these characters you are, you will depart from this world. But where will you be departing to?

"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me."