My issues with the ending.... - The Departed (2006) Discussion

[–] peteepabl0 11 years ago

The rat was a huge plothole that kind of ruined the movie for me. As you said, this was a luxury apartment building and his unit was pretty high up - there's no way he would have a rat infestation of any degree. Very fake.

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[–] CGlMDB 11 years ago

The rat could never have afforded that view, lol

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[–] andrewimlah 11 years ago

That is in no way a plot hole.

What's all this shouting? We'll have no trouble here

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[–] peteepabl0 11 years ago

Yes it is. The proverbial "hole" in this instance is the rat. The plot which was holed, was that Colin moved in to a really upscale condo. I believe the realtor said "you'll be upper-middle class by next week". Sorry, but suddenly this insanely nice place has a rat problem on a high floor? Not buying it.

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[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Firstly, the idea that a poetic presence of one rat would "ruin the whole film", is kind of too bizarre to even contemplate. Secondly, it`s by no means a "plot hole" since the rat wasn`t part of any plot and the narrative didn`t depend on its appearence/failure to appear in the slightest.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

You seem agitated... have any objections? Maybe you`d like to inform the reader then about this alleged "plot" that the poor rat was a part of...? Or perhaps the entire rat`s nest was plotting something?

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

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[–] peteepabl0 11 years ago

If you bothered to read any posts on this thread that weren't either yours or replies to yours, you'll notice that I've already "informed the reader".

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[–] sportinkings 10 years ago

You've shown your fail all over this thread.

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[–] spreerod1538 10 years ago

The rat being in a 5 star apartment proves that even rats can have nice things!

Who actually gives a *beep*

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[–] ohhkayfolks 11 years ago

I love that IMDB is the one place I can come where people are so deranged that they call a rat scurrying around in an expensive apartment complex a plot hole lol. The random stuff people will cherry pick to hate movies is too funny. This place is the best.

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[–] zachhaayema 11 years ago

UGH come on film is not supposed to be "realistic" or "story driven" (especially a scorsese film).

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[–] niceredwine 11 years ago

the rat is just a symbol. same thing with some directors putting a certain brand of car into their movies or a their personal special touch.

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[–] peteepabl0 11 years ago

Actually, no. A certain brand of car in a movie is usually a sponsor-related decision. Since "rat" isn't a brand, I don't think your comparison is a good one.

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[–] cody_lightning 11 years ago

it can be both: a sponsorship-related issue as well as a symbol.

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[–] peteepabl0 11 years ago

I really don't think so.

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[–] cody_lightning 11 years ago

well, then i'm glad we had that conversation.

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[–] peteepabl0 11 years ago

Seriously, though - how is that rat related to any sort of sponsorship? If you can answer that without sounding dumb, then we need to redirect your brainpower to something infinitely more productive than this discussion.

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[–] cody_lightning 11 years ago

i like this

i would prove to you how rat is a brand as well as a symbol but it's going to be tough...

i think what i meant was that a car can be a symbol and a brand, if that makes sense, you know.

arr, i give up. sorry got involved in a conversation that i shouldn't have etc etc

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[–] dundeal78 10 years ago

Always wondered if the rat wasn't put there by Digman. Give the investigators a tip off as to what was behind an obvious hit. It's closed on the balcony, at some height, and maybe had no way to get to another apt. Just a theory (or maybe a subliminal excuse for what otherwise was a lame last bit of symbolism.)

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[–] peteepabl0 8 years ago

Interesting thought but I'm going to go ahead and say no way. Dignam is trying to sneak into this apartment and needs to smuggle in a rat now too? Also, even if he did plant a rat, the odds of it simply scurrying away are pretty high unless he planted cheese or something all over the place too. Sure enough, the rat is clearly scurrying away in the final shot.

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[–] SophieSlut 10 years ago

The rat is a "plothole" 

The rat wasn't even part of the plot.

It was a symbol. It's like saying the feather in Forrest Gump would be a "plothole" because that type of bird didn't really live in that part of Alabama.

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[–] peteepabl0 10 years ago

A symbolic plothole, then...have it your way. Try to polish this turd all you want, but it is what it is. Scorsese phoned it in at the end, or he just couldn't help himself I guess.

Maybe some day they will release a special edition with a realistic ending.

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[–] lukas1985 9 years ago

A neighbor had a pet rat that escaped. There, plot hole no more.

If you love Jesus Lizard and are 100% proud of it, copy this and make it your signature!

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[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MrJJay 8 years ago

Firstly, it's by no means a plot hole. Learn the actual meaning of a plot hole first.
Secondly, an eagle might have dropped it there by accident.

Now shut up!

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[–] conrrad 8 years ago

Why Mr. "JJay"!

ARE YOU A BONA FIDE MIND READER!?!

CONGRATULATIONS! Is it your No. 1 Goal to merely argue with everyone about their OPINION!?! Have you ever actually looked up the meaning of that word? You see, child, an Opinion can not be right or wrong; and your superficial, pedestrian insults are totally unoriginal, weak and merely broadcasts your own obvious Insecurity. No? Then explain WHY every single comment you write is all about others?

MrJJay says, over and over and over: ""I must insist that EVERYONE else is totally Inferior to ME! That is the only way I can feel Superior to everyone!"

Out of all of your many highly pompous, self-righteous and most of all Know-It-All[/i] Comments, this one is probably the best example of you actually restraining yourself from your obvious fixation (obsession-like) with always [i]'Judging & Correcting all others - telling them What To Think, after ridiculing them for being so Inferior to your vast greatness!'

Sound familiar, child? What are you even doing on this website? You never take even a small risk; you are obviously too afraid of receiving the exact kind of denigrating, condescending messages that you always write.

What is YOUR Opinion of the actual Movie? WHY do you always, always tell everyone else what they should think? That they are totally wrong; you are completely right? A sure sign of deep Insecurity?

Or just childish immaturity? Your weak, typical attempts to belittle others merely illustrates your own inadequacies and insecurities - we all know the type: "I must insist that EVERYONE else is totally Inferior to ME! That is the only way I can feel Superior to everyone!"

MrJJay - nobody cares what you think you know about other people. We hardly care about your own Opinion, if you had the actual Guts to post an original thought. Can you please explain to us all exactly WHY you always, always put others down as if you are a BONA FIDE MIND READER!?!

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[–] MrJJay 8 years ago

Caution: Nerd detected.

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[–] Slew_Foot 8 years ago

Hey, MrJJay, if you want a real laugh, go click on conrrad's name and check out some of his recent posts. He has a pattern of attacking random people and accusing them of being know-it-all mind readers who are superior to him. He rants and raves about his own inferiority, facts vs. opinions, etc. It's like he has a canned attack he's just waiting to unleash on people.

No joke -- I looked up half a dozen of his exchanges with normal IMDB users. I laughed the hardest I've laughed in a long time.

I don't know if this guy's under-medicated, over-medicated, self-medicated, or what.

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[–] MrJJay 8 years ago

He probably has a severe OCD.

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[–] hero-de-celluloid 8 years ago

I think you are trying to justify the rat by some freak accident. To put it simply - even in luxury apartments (especially in the city) there can be rats. Rats are prevelant in many luxury apartments - now usually these rats are taken care of much more quickly than rats in less affluent neighborhoods - but nevertheless - rats will find there way in just about any apartment complex - what makes it a luxury is that the problem will be taken care of much quicker - they will be also be use more preventative methods as well - but that does not guarantee NO rats. A rat can easily make it up to the higher floors just by going in between the walls.

So with that said - I agree 100% that this is in no way shape or form a plot hole. Even the shooting with the door open was not a plot hole - perhaps a bad choice - but not a plot hole. He could have just gotten there and was surprised when Damon got there earlier than expected and wanted to shoot him before he got his gun. Some plans don't work as they planned - but once again not a plot hole.

User Error Please Try Again

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[–] CGlMDB 11 years ago

It looked like Damon sort of caught Wahlberg a little off guard, which makes no sense considering he was there to wait for & kill him, lol. But he could have at least ordered Damon to come inside & shut the door before he took him down. I did love it when he was like "Ok...", like he knew this had to happen. But the rat was just cheesy, pun intended.

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[–] CGlMDB 11 years ago

Ok, I just watched it again, & it wasn't even a baseball cap. It was a freaking stocking cap. Like that covers ANYTHING...

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[–] Degree7 11 years ago

I actually liked the rat at the end.

It made a nice image contrasted with the courthouse, and sort of summed up the message of the film nicely in a tongue-in-cheek sort of fashion.

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

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[–] shulma2002 11 years ago

Saw the ending at least 5 times on AMC and never noticed a rat. I will try to watch it again as the plot is very confusing. I have problems though how a cop could afford such a luxurious apartment, unless we was corrupt.

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[–] tango09212 11 years ago

he had a "co -signer"

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[–] Degree7 11 years ago

I have problems though how a cop could afford such a luxurious apartment, unless we was corrupt.

Well State Police do tend to make a bit more than the average beat cop. And he was also a detective. And it was clear he purchases one overlooking the courthouse because he had his eye on obtaining a seat in government, too. No doubt Sullivan was planning to take the Bar exam.

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

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[–] Lucy9596 11 years ago

I have problems though how a cop could afford such a luxurious apartment, unless we was corrupt.

I think we can all agree that Sullivan was corrupt.

Will Graham: I don't find you that interesting.
Hannibal Lecter: You will.

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[–] cody_lightning 11 years ago

lol

also, he had a 'co-signer', presumably costello.

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[–] DendelionBlu 10 years ago

I think we can all agree that Sullivan was corrupt.

Jesus. I can't stop laughing

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[–] WuceBrayne 10 years ago

Well, to help you all out of the dream .... the rat was never really there, it was added in later ...... Oh my god, such a bad joke, i'm sorry.
Made u look

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[–] peteepabl0 10 years ago

Yeah the guy showing him the place obviously doubts Colin's ability to afford the place, and that's why Colin reassures him by saying he has a co-signer - aka Frank and his corrupt bankroll.

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[–] abark 11 years ago

It's not a courthouse it's the Massachusetts state capitol.

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[–] dogma867 11 years ago

in the directors cut, damon runs like hell the instant he sees wahlberg, gets away and moves to Argentina.

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[–] normkerr123 10 years ago

"gets away and moves to Argentina"

Wait. What?

Is there also a scene where he calls Jodie Foster and tells her he's having an old friend for dinner?

:D

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Snoppkaka 9 years ago

Huh, that's weird. In the tv-version, Steven Seagal comes out from Damon's bathroom as the fight between Wahlberg, Damon, Arnold and Stallone is breaking out. Seagal then proceeds to beat all of them up, before wiping the dust off his pants and exiting the apartment, as the credits roll.

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[–] qofreason 10 years ago

The last scene has numerous problems, some of which stem from the broken DNA of the American adaptation: Mark Wahlberg's character is unnecessary.

In the original version, the rat had to live with the guilt of what he did; the American version lets him off easy. (It also makes it easier for the American audience, what with their thirst for blood-revenge).

The literal rat scurrying in front of the capital building was heavy handed and stupid. Subtle as a jack-hammer. It's a shame because the rest of the movie is excellent.

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[–] IcingOnTheCake 10 years ago

Matt Damon's character wouldn't have lived with anything. He seemed much too self-centered. It was all about money and self-preservation for him. I'm glad his part ended as it did but wish some of the others had better ones.

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[–] tj19 10 years ago

The American Audience? The thing about you foreigners is that it is incredibly easy to weed out the stuck-up ones. Get off your high horse and stop pretending you know anything about American audiences. And if you happen to be an American, well you don't know your own people very well. There are plenty of good American films beloved by Americans that doesn't end in bloodshed.

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[–] qofreason 10 years ago

I'm an American (assuming the Republick of Kalifornia counts).

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[–] moosefeathers 10 years ago

Ever stop to think that Wahlberb brought the rat to the apartment as a message?

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

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[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] peteepabl0 10 years ago

Frankly this is the best possible explanation I have ever heard. Hard for me to picture Dignam entering the premises as it was, though, much less with a large rat in his possession...hardly subtle.

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[–] Isaac-528-491 10 years ago

Yeah, i think it is just you! The movie is awesome. Maybe it wouldn't be so awesome if all these people didn't die.

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[–] ribby45 10 years ago

Sorry folks - the rat thing is giving me the giggles.

I didn't think too long and hard on it, apart from the fact that it was a fat, well-fed rat.
Ergo - a metaphorical rat, living well on garbage.

But no way would I let some random rodent spoil my enjoyment of a great, great film.

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