Spy vs Spy

The Departed is adapted from a Hong Kong film, Infernal Affairs. The Departed took home four Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Adapted Screenplay). The film scored Scorsese’s first-ever win for Directing. 

The story perfectly transfers from Hong Kong to Boston. Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson) is a Whitey Bulger figure. Whitey was a notorious Southie gangster. (He later went on the lam and was captured about two blocks from my home in Santa Monica. His girlfriend blabbed to her hairdresser, who turned Whitey in).

Cops, Crime, and Moles

But back to the film, which deals with cops, crime, and moles. Costello has eyes and ears on the cops in the form of SIU officer Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon). The Boston Police Department has their mole in rookie cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio). Costigan goes undercover to spy on Costello’s people and even spends several years in prison to create a credible criminal cover story.

Sullivan is a sharp eager Power of Ambition cop. He climbs the career ladder quickly. He does what he does for money, flash, and to rise through a corrupt power structure. Costigan is a relentless Power of Conscience character. He does what he does for justice and to stop the bad guys.

Costigan grew up in the criminal atmosphere of his poor neighborhood, but he has the more difficult job of winning over Costello’s trust. Sullivan has a much easier time of it. Nobody suspects the charming “golden boy” Sullivan of being a mole. The only people who trust Costigan are his cop handlers. They’re the only people who know what he’s assigned to do. He is out there alone.

Conscience vs Ambition

In a battle between Ambition and Conscience, which would be the winner? I place my money on Conscience. This Character Type is relentless. They will bring anyone and everyone who stands in the way of “right.” They can be fanatics. Power of Ambition character can be ruthless, but ultimately, they want to escape with their own skin. Power of Conscience characters are fully prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for “the cause.”

In The Departed, Costigan goes down first but makes sure Sullivan immediately follows him to the grave. Read more about these dynamic Character types– Ambition and Conscience.