The Departed 4K UHD Review – Martin 4Kese

This 4K UHD is the first time I’ve revisited The Departed since it won Best Picture and Director. Though long overdue, the winning film felt pale in comparison to the likes of Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. I was being unfair though because The Departed really is a solid undercover cop drama.

The way the film installs Costello (Jack Nicholson)’s informant Colin (Matt Damon) with the police and the police install Billy (Leonardo DiCaprio) with Costello is expertly nuanced. William Monahan’s script gives all the players crackling dialogue, and flirtations between Colin and Madelyn (Vera Farmiga) are grown-up yet electric.

The 4K UHD also highlights the visuals of The Departed. Opening with a silhouette of Nicholson in a dark warehouse casts a perfect profile. Scenes of the Chinese deal and warehouse stakeout employ similar shadows.

The streets of Boston light up for the drama. Billy chasing Colin through Chinatown at night has some cool highlights, from the restaurant light blaring on Billy’s face to the neon signs in a puddle. You still see the grain of the original 35mm film.

Warner Home Entertainment got Scorsese to do a new 15 minute featurette. He places The Departed between passion projects Gangs of New York and the still developing Silence, and makes other comparisons to his body of work. He also addresses practical considerations like finishing Nicholson’s part in the actor’s availability.

Previous DVD and Blu-ray extras are also included.