MovieChat Forums > The Departed (2006) Discussion > Did Queenan and Costello know each other...

Did Queenan and Costello know each other since childhood?

posted 9 years ago by Johnny0581
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm saying this because they both look to be approximately the same age (late 60'-ish to 70 years old) they both called one another by their first name, and both seemed to know each other's parents when Queenan made a comment about his mother and father and Costello made a comment about Queenan not having a father growing up.

It's possible both grew up to be on the opposite side of the law but knew one another pretty much all their lives. Costello also mentions Queenan when he first torture's Costigan when he tries to join his gang by banging his injured arm with a boot.

[–] fyfytj 9 years ago

I got this feeling, too. They grew up together, knew each other at least as acquaintances or maybe even as friends. Costello becomes a hoodlum and Queenan more law abiding, and that was where the divide happened.

[–] NikolajCostas1005 9 years ago

I think it's an element possibly culled from the Whitey Bulger story (upon which Costello is loosely based). Whitey Bulger grew up with John Connolly, who later became an FBI agent with whom he collaborated. Colin Sullivan is also partly based on that character. Bulger's own brother became a notable, law abiding city official.

Also, it's a reflection of the tight knit (South?) Boston community. For example everyone on either side of the law seems to know who Jackie Costigan is and Colin Sullivan also went to school with Myles Kennefick, Costello's courier.

I notice your English gets better when you want something.