In The Departed, Frank Costello wishes he could have a son, but he's physically incapable of producing one. That's why he likes to take young men like Colin and Billy under his wing and treat them like sons. Colin and Billy also happen to be people who have hardly any family of their own left in the world. Both of their fathers are dead, and they both benefit from Frank's generosity.
All well and good—but in the end, both Colin and Billy end up betraying Frank, who just doesn't know how to quit when he's ahead. Even with Colin in his pocket, he threatens the young guy just like he threatens Billy. And if there's one thing Colin and Billy won't accept, it's a guy like Frank keeping them under his thumb for the rest of their lives.
Questions about Family
- In what sense does Frank treat Colin like a son? How does Colin treat him like a dad?
- Why do you think Costello is so nice to Colin and Billy when he first meets them?
- How would you describe Billy's relationship with the remaining members of his family? Why?
- How does the police force react to the death of someone in their "family"? How is it like a death in a real family?
Chew on This
In The Departed, family seems like a shorthand way of saying that two people have an intense love-hate relationship with each other.
The Departed reminds us that for powerful men, having a family is having a legacy to carry on your name after you die.