An almost carbon copy of the successful Hong Kong film Internal Affairs, Martin Scorsese's The Departed weaves a mighty tale of crime and deception. Set in modern day Boston, the film follows the Massachusetts State Police as they pursue a so-far-untouchable Boston crime lord. Adding complexity to their efforts, they also must pursue his informants inside the State Police.

Not your standard cop picture, The Departed is multi-layered, complex, and riveting. Scorsese, masterful as usual, directs a perfect cast, and overall the film is one of the best police dramas offered in recent years. However, it's the kind of movie that one needs to really watch, as the story is difficult to follow at times and would be impossible to figure out later should the viewer miss even a moment of footage.