MovieChat Forums > The Departed (2006) Discussion > The female was a mean person (and a poor...

The female was a mean person (and a poor character)

posted 9 years ago by erioudsfkc
16 replies | jump to latest

I just watched the movie and had to create an account because I was shocked about the female character and had to hear your thoughts about it.

My main problem is this : why does she cheat on Matt Damon with Leo Di Caprio ? We had no clue whatsoever that she was unhappy with him, she even said to Leo that her love affair was "very serious". And even if she was unhappy, then why not leave Matt Damon first, like a decent person ?

In her situation, the only thing she could have done when Di Caprio tried to kiss her was : get offended… But she didn’t and slept with him instead, which was out of tune with her character and everything it represented (a nice, caring, honest woman).

Not only does she cheat on him while moving in his place, but she has not the slightest remorse while announcing her pregnancy to Matt Damon even though she knows it may not be his baby.

I don’t undurstand why such a vicious and evil behaviour was given to such a calm and peaceful character. It was so out of place.

It would have been logical if it was a mean of saying "There are no good people, even among women". But that’s not what Scorsese wanted, because we can feel all along he wants us to side with her. Therefore, I think it’s a mistake of writing because it fits nowhere.

[–] wlan 9 years ago

I think you're right. I never thought of her in a bad way before reading your post. I just noticed she is a sl.t, she is in a relationship with him, she is living in his house, then cheating on him and telling him happily that they are having a baby. And without a marriage!

That also makes Costigan an as.hole as well. He knows she has a relationship but still makes advances to her and sleep with her. What an honorable behaviour.

You're right again, Scorcese wanted to present those two as good people to audience, but actually they are 2 backstabbing immoral creatures. No matter Sullivan is an as.hole himself.

I think most women flirt on their husbands' or boyfriends' back. Nobody is perfect.

[–] Boricanator (1440) 3 years ago

Don’t take it out on Costigan. He was a mess. He had no family or friends and emotionally ravaged with his undercover work. The Doctor was the only one he felt a connection with.

And, let’s face, what she did was unethical. Sleeping with your patient is unethical and illegal. She even mentions how she likes his vulnerability. In essence, Costigan is a victim.

[–] Druff (1796) 7 months ago

>Sleeping with your patient is unethical and illegal.

They stopped being doctor/patient immediately after the first meeting in her office and then she even mentioned that again later just in case any numbnuts viewers out there missed it. Maybe if they hammered on it a third time you would have caught it? Probably not.

[–] Boricanator (1440) 7 months ago

It doesn’t work that way.

https://www.psichi.org/page/164EyeSum12dHandelsm#:~:text=The%20APA%20Code%2C%20Standard%2010.08,of%20the%202%2Dyear%20rule.

“This leads us to the issue of therapists initiating (or agreeing to) sexual activity with former clients, which is a little more controversial and often misunderstood. The APA Code, Standard 10.08(a), states: "Psychologists do not engage in sexual intimacies with former clients/patients for at least two years after cessation or termination of therapy.” This is the first part of the 2-year rule. One purpose of the prohibition against post-therapy sexual activity is that the effectiveness of therapy can be compromised if clients are either hopeful or concerned that the therapeutic relationship might turn into a romance the day (or month, or year) after therapy is over.”

[–] Druff (1796) 7 months ago

They had one single appointment that didn't even last 10 minutes. She knew nothing about him. They might as well have met in a bar or on the street. The reason doctor/patient relationships are considered unethical is because the doctor is privy to the patient's most personal intimate secrets and can use that to take advantage. Not an issue in this case.

You fucking sewing circle clucking hens, clutching your pearls, I love it! XD

[–] Boricanator (1440) 7 months ago

I see the problem is that you are ignorant and can’t read.

[–] Druff (1796) 7 months ago

Great comeback, retard! I'll never recover =(

[–] geearf 9 years ago

For all you know, they had a serious but "don't ask, don't tell" relationship...
If not, well it's not like it's an uncommon behaviour these days, the bb.com misc crew always loves to explain that to people.

[–] Lucy9596 9 years ago

There is a whole bunch of criminals, several moles, the boss of the criminals is also a snitch for the FBI and you think the shrink is a bad person? You are kidding, right?

Can.You.Hear.Me?
Hell yes!

****

[–] wlan 9 years ago

yeah, why not? Does the existence of other criminals cover her mean and sinful acts? No.

[–] jensmile1 9 years ago

Not to mention she was a Dr/therapist who had sex with an extremely vulnerable patient.

[–] Etxpeme 9 years ago

My main problem is this : why does she ? We had no clue whatsoever that she was unhappy with him, she even said to Leo that her love affair was "very serious".

She wasn't exactly happy. You can see that when Billy asks her if she loves her boyfriend and she answers that they have a serious relationship (she doesn't answer ''Yes, I love him'', if she had been really happy and in love, she would have said so).

Colin was very distant, he never told her anything about his life nor work and every time she tried to talk important stuff he jokingly avoided the issue. He was charming, had a good job and no psychological problems (unlike Billy) but he was too cold and didn't show her real love or connection. And don't forget when she tried to hang a picture of herself in his appartment and he didn't let her, all in a jokingly-no-big-deal- kind of way but we can see by Vera Farmiga's acting that she didn't like that very much. On the other hand, we have Billy, who saw her picture over a desk or something like that and, without asking her, hung the picture for her showing he did care for her and her past.

So, Colin was good on paper but it was just a convenience thing, there wasn't real love. Billy was a mess, but he was real, honest and did show her he cared for her. She didn't leave Damon's character just because, as I said, he was the right option on a rational level. Which answers:

And even if she was unhappy, then why not leave Matt Damon first, like a decent person ?

Not only does she cheat on him while moving in his place, but she has not the slightest remorse while announcing her pregnancy to Matt Damon even though she knows it may not be his baby.

This was either a director's mistake or she was so excited, she didn't think it could not be Colin's son. Also, who said Billy and her didn't use a condom?

Edit: I found this on the Trivia section: At the end of the movie when Billy brings the tape to Madolyn, we can deduce that the child is not from Colin Sullivan but from Costigan. She wants to tell him something but he leaves right before she does.

So maybe she did wanted to tell him after all.

[–] chicago85 9 years ago

This movie is a remake of a Chinese movie. Many think the original is better. I watched both and enjoyed both but there were some differences especially the ending.

I don't know everything. Neither does anyone else

[–] thomas196x2000 9 years ago

I have to agree. Deep down, she was just as big a POS as many of the other characters in the film.

[–] DancingintheDark (1614) 7 months ago

“Just as big a POS as many of the other characters in the film,” how do you figure that? Yes she cheated on her boyfriend, and this is both wrong as well as shitty but to fair her boyfriend was a lying, manipulative, control freak, and was most likely a psychotic sociopath, who btw was unable to please her emotionally as well as physically.
So she let her guard down and ended up fucking Billy, at least she owned it and told Billy that it was over instead of perpetuating the affair with more lies and deceit.
imo I don’t think it’s appropriate to lump her in with everyone else in the film who rubbed you the wrong way.

[–] Speeed (191) 20 days ago

There were quite a few scenes where Matt Damon would start to initiate intimacy right when he knew they were going to be interrupted i.e. the phone already starts ringing and he snuggles up to her for kisses or when the movers already rang the doorbell and he does the same.

Also, there was a scene at breakfast where Vera Farmiga mentions to Damon about not being able to perform in bed the night before and said it's no big deal and "..is actally quite common."

I think it was starting to show that Damon wasn't exactly head over heels over her and Farmiga's character could feel it. I think she was actually a bit lonely, so she was easily attracted to DiCaprio. The framed-picture scenes mentioned above by Etxpeme also showed this.