Research

Key Points from Research

I have found that from the review from The Departed, is that the characters are different and each provides a specific purpose of how they come across to the audience. This refers to the types of masculinity in the film, and relationships with women also appear here too. For a film that was only released in 2006, the nature of masculinity is old and modern. The old nature of masculinity comes from the more experienced actors in this film, such as Jack Nicholson or Alec Baldwin. These characters come across as dangerous, and use fear to get what they want. Other actors, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, come across as being in the category of a modern masculine character type. He shows fear instead of using it. He panics and is desperate in most of the film. This signifies a modern type as he can be vulnerable and still be considered as masculine.

Scene 1: The Departed, DiCaprio scene

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbRbsSc1Kwk

DiCaprio’s character, Costigan, talks about his feelings to a psychiatrist. His character can be considered as both a cop and a criminal. The question is raised that he is even having therapy, almost confessing his sins to this woman. This wouldn’t be heard of if another character, such as Jack Nicholson carried out this act. Also, the changing nature of masculinity appears here as a male character is talking about his feelings, showing vulnerability, and at some stages in this scene it seems like the female character shows control and even guides the narrative. All the while this therapy session is taking place, we see Costigan as a criminal, witnessing acts of brutal violence, were he doesn’t speak but the voice over makes up for it. And then the audience witnesses a talk between himself as an undercover cop, with other investigators who are attempting to bring Nicholson’s character down. In these parts, he shows fear and desperation, and takes up most of the speaking role. The contrast is huge between these two segments as the character almost has a split personality. Whatever happened to the strong silent type? DiCaprio’s character is complex and is vulnerable, which probably leads to his downfall and death. Not the character type audiences are used to in crime/action films, feelings shown, and consequences to actions. This all ties in to the evidence of changing masculine character types. Perhaps, the strong silent type has been replaced with the vulnerable, desperate type.

Scene 2: The Departed, Nicholson scene

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjRM-Pdr8Qg

Jack Nicholson’s character, Costello, in this short scene is watching some opera with his two female ‘friends’. We can assume as an audience that he is watching the opera coming from the diegetic opera soundtrack that features in this scene.  We see Costello in a close up, to highlight his intrigued facial expression when one of his ‘friends’ comes near and into the view of the shot. The entire frame is filled with red, highlighting the danger or explicit nature of the scene. So far, we can draw up is the old school masculine type, dominant, controlling and he gets what he wants. Further on in the scene, this all comes into play as Costello has cocaine for his friends, he literally throws it at them!  The major line in this scene is “Don’t move till you’re numb”. This sums up the dominance that Nicholson’s character has. He is to the point, and is easy to understand. A feature of a certain masculine type, not physically but through the use of dialogue and gestures.  This type has been in film for along time, and if this is anything to go by, it’s not going away anytime soon.