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RonC's Replies
Well, he wasn't "forced", he took on the assignment. With his intelligence, he could have done something far less risky. But yes, he found it hard to deal with. Sullivan - who was long groomed by Costigan and was under his thumb - had no choice but to be a mole. His stress manifested itself in a different way. Sullivan craved status and respectability more than Billy.
I liked him in it. i wondered about the 2 cops Dignam and Ellerby - the former seemed very volatile and hotheaded for an undercover guy (more than Billy, it just seemed to be his natural way) and Ellerby seemed to be a smooth careerist who didn't actually accomplish anything much.
It's interesting that Costello seems slightly disappointed that Billy wants to join him since, as you say, he respected his honest father. But he takes him on anyway and, as you say, trusts him. Though of course Billy is not QUITE who he presents himself to be - if Costello had figured out he was a cop he would have been killed. Or maybe Costello igured it out and didn't care since he was a protected informant and respected Billy's other qualities. Someone like French would've killed him regardless.
Sullivan did show the stress of having to do what he did - he spent so long as Costello's boy that he had become corrupted. It does seem he craved respectability but Costello essentially reminded him, no chance. So yeah, he was all about self-preservation. He did get Costigan a hero's funeral (deserved) but that was also likely a way to make himself look good.
Yes! And Costigan had a desire to prove himself - though given his obvious intelligence and the fact neither of his parents seemed to be criminals, I wonder what exactly he was trying to prove and to whom. Dignam seems to be implying it's a mystery even to Costigan. It's interesting that Costello seemed slightly disappointed that Costigan wanted to work for him - he respected Billy's father's honesty. As you say, Costello didn't respect Sullivan - maybe he took him for granted having moulded him for years and maybe Sullivan was too subservient - and, of course, willing to be a rat (just as well Sullivan made it through police academy, or what would've been the point of all those years invested by Costello!). Sullivan craved respectability and status in a way Billy didn't - people liked him, as you say: he was, ironically, more honest and selfless than his cop counterpart (taking on a dangerous undercover job - didn't seem to be just about the money).
Barrigan saying, "Did you think you were the only one he had on the inside?" seems to indicate he knew Sullivan was a mole - as you say, keeping tabs on him. But not vice versa/ Costello did indicate he was concerned Sullivan might be succumbing to his desire to be respectable but reminded him who was boss. And as Billy taunted Sullivan, Costello trusted him more than he did his mole.
Sullivan was less subtle in his homophobic slurs (after the game). Really laying it on even after the other team had gone. Something to hide maybe?
I think Billy wanted the shrink to pass the tapes on to Dignam if he (Billy) died.
As a former undercover cop he would likely know how to make it look like a gang hit. Sullivan might look like a dead hero but the shrink and Dignam would know the truth. Or if Dignam is really embittered he might release the tapes and shame the police department.
Given Ellerby introduced Dignam as having done "extensive" undercover work and they had their little cuss-filled macho back and forth, there seems to be some respect there. Dignam might indeed have come back. Dignam was a hothead but presumably a good worker - maybe this has happened before and he just needed time to cool off.
It's interesting that Dignam had done "extensive" undercover work. With his temper and aggressiveness, how long would he last? Billy had a bit of a temper too but he could rein it in - he didn't tend to be the aggressor.
Baldwin's character (Ellerby) seemed a bit of a complacent careerist, playing golf, advising Sullivan on how to get ahead in social terms. talking about "marginally disrupting" crime in the city (maybe realistic, but not suggesting he takes it altogether seriously). And he didn't seem concerned about the idea of a mole (though he might not have been told). Did he actually accomplish anything in the movie? No wonder Dignam didn't trust him.
His advice might have been well-intended but, as David's father points out, not necessarily the best idea. Letting them know he was Jewish from the start would have sorted out who his friends were likely to be - the ones who didn't care what he was, but who he was.
There's a shot of Dillon smirking when he sees David working, thus revealing his "lower" status (and making Dillon feel superior even though David took his team spot). And when David is losing his temper at one of the nasty boys, another worker (blonde guy who supported him later in the honour vote) swaps tables with him, saying "you need this job as much as I do". In some upper class circles wealth seems not to be discussed much - it's taken for granted.
Colin might have some issues. He has difficulty performing sexually with Madolyn, he's blatantly and loudly homophobic (even by the far from sensitive standards of his milieu), he makes a big production of checking out his female colleague's backside and of talking about how his manhood is working "overtime" with his girlfriend to Ellerby- all of which might suggest he's sexually insecure, as you say. There's also as you say, the pressures he's facing as a mole - he seems to crave respectability (the apartment, the girlfriend, the legitimate career) but knows he's stuck working for Frank. The realtor might be sussing Colin out or insulting him, which would be in keeping with the insecurity about his manhood.
Do you know if the song is available on a CD? I haven't been able to find it on any Disney compilation...thanks!
Yes, Frank certainly had a bunch of women.
Interesting comment by Colin in his final confrontation with Costello to the effect of "is that what all this is about - all those women and no kids?" I wonder if Frank has a sexual problem too...or if Colin just feels like the rejected son (one more reason apart from self-preservation to kill Frank).
Colin might be afraid that shacking up with a police shrink is not a good look to Frank...dangerous for both him and Madolyn. Still, if Frank is the "co-signer" of the apartment (who else would it be?), presumably he could pop around any time.
Yeah, there are lots of interesting doublings, parallels, ironies etc in the film when you think of it.
Costello had two women with him at the opera (and maybe afterwards, who knows?). Maybe with women, drugs, opera, whatever, he just enjoys what he can get. He seems kind of blase about things: I guess when he's reached the level of (criminal) success he has and can basically have or do whatever he wants, he might be a wee bit bored with life. Costigan at least gives him a protege, a reminder of the past and someone to talk to (French is a companion of sorts, but more of a work associate).
The "is Colin gay?" questions is an interesting one to discuss. Or stressed, or at some level guilt-ridden...he does give Costigan, in a roundabout way, due credit at the end for his service even if it's to save his own skin - he did a good thing for a bad reason. If only Costigan had left that envelope where it was...
I agree Colin and Billy might have different sexual reactions to pressure (and perhaps to Madolyn).
I don't recall there being a marriage in the film between Colin and Madolyn (not such a good Catholic then?). I suspect if she brought up the idea of insurance or he found out, it would make him even more paranoid.
So - was the gang member who didn't give up Billy before he died an undercover federal agent or a regretful gangster who didn't want his last act to be ratting out Bill?
I agree, would be good to see another "straight" adaptation of Arthur. Ditto with the Greek myths. Agreed, sincerity is often hard to come by these days in movies (so is originality, but that's another story....). I quite liked Excalibur. I wonder if a straight version of The Sword in the Stone would work (the Disney film was not one of the studio's best efforts). Or a new version of Camelot where the leads could actually sing (not be dubbed or not so good)?