Mark Wahlberg's Homecoming

Fresh off his summer hit movie "Invincible," Mark Walberg moves back to his hometown, Boston, as part of an acting dream team starring in Martin Scorcese's "The Departed."

Wahlberg grew up in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, one of the toughest sections of the city, so playing a Massachusetts state police officer is something the actor, who was incarcerated at the age of 16, has some experience with.

"Sitting in the trailer on Dorchester Avenue, where I had gotten arrested by so many police officers I was portraying was a nice change," he told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "You also are reminded of the responsibility I have to create opportunities for those kids because there aren't a lot and they look up to me. So I have to give back and do the right thing."

Wahlberg said that after he was arrested and lost his freedom, he realized he had to turn his life around. He rebelled against the norm and became a rapper and actor. Being creative and artistic wasn't cool where he came from, he said.

"It was all about being the tough guy," Wahlberg said. "If you see these guys in this role. People who don't know Boston or haven't seen the movie don't understand the world or that attitude. That's all I thought existed. You have to be the toughest guy in the neighborhood."

The movie is about Boston's criminal underworld and was shot entirely in Wahlberg's hometown. The authenticity has served him well, and he has been receiving rave reviews. The entertainment industry publication Variety said, "Cast sparkling down the line led by Walberg, who steals every base on the field and takes them home."

"Anytime you are working with people that have that experience and talent, it raises your game," Wahlberg said. "But, you know, people talk about about – I felt everybody just came in to do something for Marty (Scorcese). You have a lot of big stars. And everyone just wanted to do what Marty wanted them to do. The screen play was great and Marty is Marty. Just trust him in that and it turned out great."

Wahlberg's character convinces Leonardo DiCaprio's character to go undercover to investigate some of the state's most dangerous criminals. Wahlberg has said that his character is a mean, miserable man, but he said he can find a little bit of both of his parents within him.

"He's a combination of a lot of people that I know and have encountered along the way," Wahlberg said. "He's a no nonsense guy. Without giving away too much, you definitely think because of his attitude he's going to be on the wrong side of the law as well. But he's just, you know, it is what it is. He doesn't care who likes him or you know, approves of how he does his job. He's in a position where he doesn't have to answer to anybody, which is great for him."