Every October, we like to pay homage to the darker side of the cinematic spectrum. But knowing Wednesday Movie Club's general feelings about gore, jump scares, and serial-killing zombies, we decided to spend the month celebrating the art of the psychological crime thriller instead.  We'll be featuring films by some of the greatest filmmakers ever to explore the genre, with one delightfully twisted send-up thrown in for good measure.

Martin Scorsese finally won his long-overdue Academy Award for Best Director with The Departed, a film that also earned Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. More than two decades later, it remains one of the finest psychological crime thrillers ever made.

Featuring an extraordinary ensemble cast — including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin, and Ray Winstone — The Departed follows an undercover Boston police officer who infiltrates the Irish mob while, unbeknownst to him, the mob has planted its own informant inside the Massachusetts State Police.  As both men race to uncover each other's identities before their covers are blown, the result is a gripping game of deception, loyalty, and survival in which every conversation could be someone's last. Tense, exhilarating, and packed with unforgettable performances, razor-sharp dialogue, and unexpected humor, The Departed is Scorsese at the height of his powers...and a film that rewards every revisit.

This film is being presented as part of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library's Wednesday Movie Club, a weekly showcase of movies that matter for people who love movies.  Attendees will be invited to discuss the film immediately following the screening. Registration is not required.

Rating: R
Runtime: 2h 34m
Production Year: 2006
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Ray Winstone
Director: Martin Scorsese