The Departed

The rat symbolizes obviousness

Now Playing Podcast takes on The Departed, Martin Scorsese’s return to organized crime after Goodfellas. With an all-star lineup that includes Jack Nicholson, Alec Baldwin, Martin Sheen, Matt Damon, and Leonardo DiCaprio, the film drops viewers into a tense game of cops and criminals trying to unmask each other in Boston’s underworld. Loaded with double crosses, bravado, and more than a few questionable Bah-stan accents, The Departed became the film that finally earned Scorsese his long-awaited Academy Award for Best Director. But was the Oscar recognition truly for this film, or did it feel like a career victory lap? Arnie, Jakob, and Stuart dissect the performances, the pacing, and whether this crime thriller stands tall on its own merits.

{Martin Scorsese / Leonardo DiCaprio Series}