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Saw an alternate ending for The Departed on YouTube last night and it totally changed how I see the movie

Was up late scrolling and stumbled on a version where Sullivan gets caught way earlier by Queenan. Makes me wonder if other directors have hidden endings that are actually better than whats in theaters.
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jamesfox
jamesfox3d ago
No way, they let Sullivan get caught by Queenan? That's wild. I always thought the whole tension of the movie was built on him barely slipping through. An ending where he gets got earlier would completely change the stakes. Makes you wonder if Scorsese shot like six different versions. I guess some directors just sit on alternate cuts forever.
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troy832
troy8323d ago
Right? I've been in post-production on smaller stuff and you'd be surprised how many alternate scenes end up on the cutting room floor. @jamesfox hit it on the head about the tension. That narrow escape is the whole engine of the second half. If Queenan catches him earlier, the whole vibe shifts from a tightrope walk to just... a different movie. My buddy worked on a film where the director had three completely different endings and just picked one the week before the premiere. Scorsese probably has a vault full of alternate takes on this one. Sometimes the best call is the one that keeps the audience on edge the whole way through.
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