In Reply to: Just saw The Departed.... posted by C.B. on March 4, 2007 at 07:20:20:
I read these comments as well. While the killings do happen in quick succession, I think a good argument can be made that they are entirely plausible.(1) Matt Damon killing Nickolson - Damon is aware knows that Nickolson is an F.B.I. informant, and knows that Damon is the inside leak on the sting. Damon knows that if Nickolson lives, and there is a prosecution, his name is likely leaked. On the other hand, if Nickolson lives to see another day, carries on with business as usual, he will likely be the subject of future stings, and Damon again will be called upon to be the leak. Damon would know that if the department did not discover him as a leak this time around, they would likely the second time around. In addition, Nickolson would have something over him to use in the future.
Here, he has a golden opportunity to kill Nickolson without anyone the wiser, eliminating Nickolson as a potential leak. Make sense to me.
(2) Damon's co-hort (I forget his name) in the department who kills DiCaprio - He is also on the inside, and needs to kill Dicaprio because the boss (Nickolson) does not need Damon being brought to justice, and turning State's evidence. So he kills DiCaprio to prevent Damon from being prosecuted.
(3) Damon kills co-hort - Damon learns for the first time that Nickolson has another mole in the department when the mole kills DiCaprio. The last thing Damon needs is another person who knows his real allegiance. One more person with knowledge means one more potential leak. So he uses DiCaprio's gun to kill the mole.
(4) Wahlberg kills Damon. Damon is going to walk free, largely because everyone who knows he is a leak has died. Wahlberg's gut tells him Damon is the bad guy, so he exacts a little self justice. A cop going outside the lines of justice?
All these killings happen quick succession to be sure, but if you are Scorsese, why drag them out, when the arc of the story has taken place, and we are at resolution time. If there are loose ends to be wrapped up, why waste time - wrap them up. Having seen some documentaries on the Italian mob and the Irish mob in Chicago during prohibition, and the speed in which multiple persons were killed in different places at one time, I do not see this as an unlikely scenario.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- Re: Just saw The Departed (possible spoiler warning). - jamesgarvin 13:47:39 03/05/07 (0)