If you want to be an undercover informant, it doesn't matter if you're working for the cops or for the mob: you have to be clever either way if you're going to avoid getting caught. Billy and Colin pull out nearly every clever trick in the book to avoid being found out by the people they're conning. You could even say that The Departed ultimately comes down to a battle of wits between Colin and Billy—and only one of them can come out on top.
… And when we say one of them, we might actually mean neither. If you've seen the end of the movie, you'll know what we mean. And if you haven't, watch out.
Questions about Cunning and Cleverness
- Who do you think is cleverer, Billy or Colin? Why?
- What's the cleverest thing Billy does to throw Costello off his scent?
- How does Colin react to the news that Costello is a protected FBI informant? Why does he react this way?
Chew on This
In The Departed, we learn that cleverness doesn't count for much if you're dead.
The Departed reminds us that there are different kinds of cleverness—one kind gets you get good test scores, and another kind keeps you alive on the streets.