Black Mass, the recently released blockbuster starring Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson and Joel Edgerton, tells the story of real-life Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger. Depp is fantastic in the lead role as Bulger, reminding us of his abilities as a character-actor (think Sweeney Todd, Donnie Brasco) after mixed results at the box office in several recent outings.
Ably-directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Out of the Furnace), the story is based on the outstanding novel of the same title by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill. Black Mass details how Bulger rises to the top of the Boston underworld after becoming an FBI informant, resulting in many of his own misdemeanours being overlooked in return for informing on rival gangsters. Bulger was the inspiration for Jack Nicholson’s character in 2004’s “The Departed“, and although not quite as perfect as Nicholson, Depp does a great job of portraying a psychopath during the peak years of his criminal career.
The story takes a further twist with the revelation that Bulger’s brother, Billy (played by Benedict Cumberbatch), is the local state Senator. The film is careful to paint the former politician positively (no proof has ever been found that he aided and abetted his brother’s criminal enterprise) however no such luck befalls Bulger’s FBI contact, John Connolly. Connolly is played by Joel Edgerton, who gives a near-identical performance to that of 2013’s Australian movie, Felony, playing the embattled cop who struggles to justify the cost of his own corrupt activities.
Needless to say, this is a violent and sometimes gruesome film (probably not one to take a first date to, unless he/she is warned in advance!), but nevertheless an entertaining and informative journey into the life of one of America’s most infamous criminals.
Watch the trailer by clicking here .
7/10
Words by Richard Skipper
BLACK MASS will be released in Australian cinemas October 8.
Rating – MA15 +
Run time – 122 minutes
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