The Departed, a modern crime classic

Martin Scorsese created an instant modern classic with this Boston-set crime saga. With its trademark kinetic cityscape photography and pulsating soundtrack, it's a taut tale of betrayal and deceit.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon play the infiltrators to perfection, bringing a tense complexity to their poignant, conflicted characters.

In a dangerous game of cat and mouse, their harrowing missions plunge us into this murky criminal underworld.

Alec Baldwin's unpredictable boss and a scene-stealing Jack Nicholson - the slimy, cocky mob boss with outrageous charisma. His manic energy fuels every turn.

It's quintessential Scorsese, examining morality in a corrupt system. And he finally receives the well-deserved Oscar recognition for his work.

A technical masterclass that proves he is still Hollywood's best director of urban stories.

With The Departed, Scorsese has created a classic crime film that will inspire debate and analysis for decades to come.

Scorsese's grim masterpiece triumphed in the 2007 awards season. More importantly, it won the Oscar for Best Picture, a long-overdue Hollywood accolade for the master.

The director also won his first Best Director Oscar, completing the redemption of his career after countless previous snubs. Undoubtedly one of the best of all time.

Other awards were for editing and adapted screenplay. And for the celebrated quartet of DiCaprio, Damon, Nicholson and Baldwin.

At the box office, with a budget of 90 million dollars, The Departed was a commercial triumph with more than 291 million dollars worldwide.