William Monahan

A brilliant suicidal artist, Thomas, attempts to escape his privileged existence by heading out to the desert, only to encounter homicidal, chameleon-like drifter Jack. Their first encounter at a campfire sets up a nonstop, violent duel of physical and intellectual equals, a chase that moves from the spectacular vistas of the American desert to a noir Los Angeles, where Thomas's notoriety as an artist is revealed.

In South Boston, the Massachusetts State Police are waging a war on Irish-American organized crime. Undercover cop Billy Costigan is assigned to infiltrate the mob syndicate, which is run by gangland chief Frank Costello. Billy quickly gains Costello's confidence. Colin Sullivan is a hardened young criminal who has infiltrated the police department as an informer for the syndicate. Colin is rising to a position of power within the Special Investigation...