10 Subtle Movie Homages You Definitely Missed
7. Crosses For Death - The Departed (Homage To Scarface)
The Departed has its critics, with the final scene and scurrying rat being a little on the nose for some people, but it’s still a stellar movie. It finally broke Scorsese’s Oscar hoodoo, winning Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and the coveted Best Picture Award.
It’s no surprise, given that gangster movies belong to another era and Scorsese is a film auteur, that it pays tribute to another classic: Scarface. Not the 1983 Al Pacino led film, but instead the 1932 original.
This homage is so subtle it’s almost impossible to spot on a first watch, but once you’re aware of it, it’s unavoidable. Some people even recommended knowing the homage before watching, as the foreshadowing can increase the sense of dread.
X marks the spot, but in this case, X marks the death. Just like Scarface, every death is preceded by an X visible on screen a minute or so before. This can be on street signs, tape on windows or walls, crossed light beams or carpet patterns.
This ingenious little wink has some symbolism too. None of the deaths in The Departed or Scarface are accidents; they’re a result of someone being a ‘marked man’ to take out.