Discussion Requirements: Week Two
Watch and compare the following films:
- Film One: Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, 2016)
- Film Two: Choose one from a provided list (e.g., The Departed, Casablanca, etc.)
For both films, discuss the following:
- The protagonist and their goal
- The obstacles they must overcome
- Break down the components of each film’s three-act structure
Double Lives: Chiron’s Reflection and Costigan’s Deception
By Edmond Leaveck - Posted Aug 24, 2024
"When I was your age, they would say we could become cops or criminals. Today, what I’m saying to you is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?" — Frank Costello, The Departed
Obviously, like all of us, I watched Moonlight. For my second choice, I picked The Departed.
Protagonist and Their Goal
In Moonlight, the protagonist is Chiron, a young Black man living in a Miami neighborhood. His goal throughout the film is to find his identity and come to terms with who he is, particularly in relation to his sexuality and masculinity. The story follows him from childhood to adulthood as he navigates these deeply personal experiences.
In The Departed, the protagonist is William M. Costigan, an undercover cop working in Boston. Billy’s goal is to infiltrate and dismantle the criminal organization run by Frank Costello while maintaining his cover. His mission is dangerous, requiring him to constantly navigate the fine line between being a cop and pretending to be a criminal. This description of his goal works well as a simple narrative point. However, I believe there’s more to it. The sleuthing into what his actual goal might be starts in the initial interview with Queenan and Dignam. Why does he want to be a cop? He has a storied past and complex family background. Is there an underlying desire to prove himself, and is his true goal to make his now-departed elders proud? Many of which are well known by Costello. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but I think that taking down Costello (or any 'bad' guy) is only a side effect of what his actual goal might be.
Obstacles
Chiron’s obstacles are both internal and external. Internally, he struggles with accepting his sexuality and understanding his identity as a Black man in a world that expects him to conform to certain ideals of masculinity. Externally, he faces bullying at school, a drug-addicted mother, and the harsh realities of growing up in a crime-ridden neighborhood. These challenges force Chiron to build walls around himself, creating a tough exterior that hides his true self.
Billy’s obstacles are superficially external but significantly internal. I say superficially because, of course, there is an obstacle with Costello and the risk of being exposed as the rat, but that isn't a particularly large obstacle. Standard tradecraft handles most of the issues with passing information back to his handlers. However, the undercover role and maintaining his identity as a good person is his largest obstacle by far. I want to emphasize the 'and', Costigan maintained his true identity rather than fully becoming a criminal, which would have a completely different effect on his psychology. He is undercover for at least 18 months. I can't speak for the Massachusetts State Police, but other organizations have time limits on undercover positions due to the phenomenon where people start to break down, lose control of reality, and, as we would colloquially say, "go off the rails." After spending significant time as someone else, not recognizing your own face in the mirror is a very real obstacle that undercover agents can experience. It isn’t from wearing a disguise but a shift in the internalized view of self. I give The Departed and Leonardo DiCaprio high marks for how well they portrayed the psychological struggle Costigan faced, but I personally think it falls short, due to the nature of film, in allowing the audience to truly understand the significance of that lifestyle.
Three-Act Structure
Moonlight follows a clearly labeled three-act structure, with each act focusing on a different stage of Chiron’s life. The first act, titled "Little," introduces young Chiron and the struggles he faces at home and school. The second act, "Chiron," delves into his teenage years, where his internal conflicts around his identity and sexuality come to a head, especially after a pivotal encounter with Kevin on the beach. The final act, "Black," shows Chiron as an adult, now hardened by life’s experiences. The climax of the film comes when he reconnects with Kevin, leading to a resolution that challenges the tough persona he has built.
The Departed also follows a traditional three-act structure. The first act introduces the main characters—Billy, Colin Sullivan, and Frank Costello—and sets up Billy’s undercover mission. The second act ramps up the tension as Billy gains Costello’s trust while Colin, a mole for Costello within the police department, climbs the ranks. The conflicts intensify as both sides realize there’s a rat in their midst. The third act brings everything to a head with a series of revelations and violent confrontations, leading to a tragic and bloody conclusion.
The sheer number of informants revealed by the end of the film once seemed a bit far-fetched to me. However, recent years and the discovery of the sheer volume of undercover informants and agents employed by federal and state agencies now make it seem more conservative in how many informants or rats are involved in these organizations. Just recently, a news report discussed one undercover agency arresting another undercover agency for selling them drugs. Perhaps too much inspiration came from The Departed.
Afterthought
While proofreading this, it’s clear that I have much more to say about The Departed. Reflecting on my time watching Moonlight, it wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the filming, cinematography, or even the story—it’s that there were plenty of scenarios where I could relate to Chiron, but I couldn’t relate to how they were handled. I think this may have affected my ability to dive deeper into the themes portrayed in Moonlight. On the other hand, with The Departed, I have a lot of personal experience with the types of situations displayed, and I found the character reactions either aligned with my own experiences or were choices I could understand.
Also: An enjoyable video clip of Matt Daemon discussing the great Jack Nicholson for his role as Costello. (If you find anything in The Departed objectionable, caution, this also has some of the same language and themes.)
Matt Damon about Jack Nicholson