Starring: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Juno Temple, Dakota Johnson, Brad Carter, Kevin Bacon, Corey Stoll, Adam Scott, Peter Sarsgaard, Jesse Plemons, Julianne Nicholson, Rory Cochrane
OUR RATING: ★★★☆☆
Story:
Bio-crime drama directed by Scott Cooper. Based on a true story, Black Mass (2015) centers on mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) and FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) who persuades Bulger to collaborate with the FBI to bring down the Italian mob in exchange for protection for Bulger. However, the alliance spirals out of control, leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments, and, ultimately, the biggest informant scandal in the history of the FBI and Bulger becoming the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history.
Our Favorite Quote:
'There are lessons again and again throughout your whole life. And you got to learn from these things.' - Whitey Bulger (Black Mass) Click To Tweet
Best Quotes
John Connolly: I grew up with Jimmy and his brother Billy, the senator, and that is a bond that doesn’t get broken.
FBI Agent: I need to know everything you know about the Winter Hill gang, and specifically, what you know about your former boss and now fugitive, James Whitey Bulger.
Kevin Weeks: Well, let’s start.
Kevin Weeks: In the beginning, Jimmy was a small time player. He was a very smart, disciplined man. And the next thing you know he’s the damn Kingpin. You know why? Because the FBI let it happen.
John Connolly: Your brother, he’s wading in some very dark waters.
Bill Bulger: Jimmy’s business is Jimmy’s business.
John Connolly: We all need friends, even Jimmy. Even you.
Billy Bulger: Hey, Ma, did you hear Old Mother Burke died over on Baker’s Street? No one found here for a couple of weeks.
Mom Bulger: That’s right. And when they broke down the door, the cats had devoured the best part of her.
Billy Bulger: That’s beautiful, Ma.
John Connolly: I’m not asking you to help me. I’m asking you to help your brother.
Billy Bulger: That’s the same thing now, isn’t it?
John Connolly: I can help you, Jimmy, and you can help me. It’s an alliance.
Whitey Bulger: We’ll get the FBI to fight our wars and we do whatever we want to do.
Charles McGuire: Bulger’s playing us, making a fool of the Bureau.
Fred Wyshak: How come no one has nailed Whitey Bulger? He seems to be involved in every crime in the city, and yet the Bureau keeps saying he’s clean!
John Connolly: Well, what’s Bulger done?
Fred Wyshak: What’s he done? Everything!
Whitey Bulger: Take your shot, but make it your best. Cause I get up, I’ll eat you.
Whitey Bulger: [to his son] Hey, buddy. I need you to listen very carefully to what I’m saying, because there are lessons again and again throughout your whole life. And you got to learn from these things, right? It’s not what you do, it’s when and where you do it, and who you do it to or with. If nobody sees it, it didn’t happen.
Lindsey Cyr: Jimmy, he’s six. You really think that’s the best thing to be telling your kid?
Whitey Bulger: Yeah.
Mrs. Cody: Jimmy! When did you get out of Alcatraz?
Whitey Bulger: Ooh, that’s nearly ten years ago.
Mrs. Cody: Well, it’s wonderful to have you back in the neighborhood, son.
Whitey Bulger: What did you marinate this steak in? Because it’s out of this world. You’re killing me with it.
John Morris: Now, now, it’s a family secret.
Whitey Bulger: Oh, come on! You got to tell me that. What’s the secret? Come on, you can do it, come on, that is one of the best goddamn steaks I have ever had in my life, ever. What’s the family secret recipe?
John Morris: It’s ground garlic and a little bit of soy.
Whitey Bulger: That’s it?
John Morris: Yeah, that’s it. That’s it.
Whitey Bulger: I thought it was a family secret.
John Morris: It’s a recipe.
Whitey Bulger: No. No. You said to me this is a family secret, and you gave it up to me, boom, just like that. You spill the secret family recipe today, maybe you spill a little something about me tomorrow, hm?
John Morris: I was just saying that…
Whitey Bulger: You were just saying? “Just saying” gets people sent away. “Just saying” got me a nine-year stretch in Alcatraz, you understand? So, “just saying” can get you buried real quick.
Whitey Bulger: [suddenly laughs and points to Morris] Look at his face!
Whitey Bulger: You always have a choice. You just happened to make the wrong f***ing one.
John Morris: We’re in too deep, and he knows it!
John Connolly: Like it or not, Marriane, you married a street kid. And the streets taught me that you give and you get loyalty from your friends. And loyalty means a lot to me.
Trailer:
Black Mass is directed by Scott Cooper, and stars Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch. The film tells the true story of infamous rise and fall of James “Whitey” Bulger, the most violent criminal in South Boston history. While Black Mass lacks an emotional core, and the pacing is poor, the intrigue of the story and Depp’s performance make it work.
What ultimately makes Black Mass’s engine run are the performances, headlined by legendary work from Depp. He provides a calm yet sinister presence as Whitey Bulger, demanding your attention in every scene he is in. The rest of the ensemble also shines. Edgerton is fantastic, slowly deteriorating into corruption. Cumberbatch and Dakota Johnson are also great in their limited roles.
The story Black Mass tells is so fascinating, it’s hard to believe it’s true. The level of FBI corruption and sinister mob activity that was allowed to happen is shocking. Even through the bumpy script and pacing, I was totally invested in the story and trying to figure out how all of these events took place. Every scene with Depp is enthralling, putting you on the edge of your seat. There are some truly unforgettable scenes in this film, all of with have Depp front and center.
The biggest crime Black Mass commits is in the pacing. Way too much time is spent with the FBI, and not enough with Depp. While the FBI stuff is interesting, there are multiple scenes that accomplish the same thing as the ones before it. A solid 15-20 minutes could have been cut or trimmed from those scenes, and more of that time could have been devoted to showing the rise of Bulger and how he became a king pin.
Director Scott Cooper does a good job conveying the sincerity of the events that took place, but without an emotional core, the film comes off feeling rather bleak. None of the main characters are good, clean people. While that could work, the script isn’t powerful enough to overcome the fact that there is no one to root for. By the ending, I was left feeling dirty and rotten for watching two hours of people getting away with being evil and corrupt, and then suddenly facing consequences in the last 10 minutes.
On the surface, the film is big, brash and very glossy. The violent scenes are visually pleasing, and the backdrop of 70’s-80’s Boston is rather spot on. But underneath these thin layers, Black Mass is nothing more than a paint by numbers gangster biopic. If not for Depp’s performance, this film would just serve as a reminder that you could be watching Goodfellas or The Departed. Still, as a knock-off of better gangster films, the true story intrusive coupled with the performances make this a film I didn’t mind watching and would like to watch again to try and analyze why so much time was spent with the FBI.
Overall, Black Mass isn’t a groundbreaking gangster biopic. The pacing is off, and there is no one to emotionally latch on to. However, if you view it as a showcase for the return of Johnny Depp, and find the story as intriguing as I did, this film is still a solid viewing. If Goodfellas and The Departed aren’t available, Black Mass is a fine substitute. Depp is worth the price of admission alone.
Black Mass is a gripping crime-drama biopic starring Johnny Depp as Irish-American mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, the most notorious gangster in U.S. history, who was persuaded by his childhood friend and now FBI agent, John Connolly (played by Joel Edgerton) to become an FBI informant since they both need to fight a common enemy: The Angiulo Brothers who were looking to invade Bulger’s territory. However, this relationship between Bulger and the FBI quickly spiralled out of control as murder, extortion and racketeering quickly became prominent and it doesn’t take very long until everything completely collapses.
Firstly, there is a lot to enjoy in this movie, particularly the performances. Depp’s performance as Bulger is an absolute tour-de-force and it is a triumphant return to form from him. He commands every scene that he is in and does a fantastic job of instigating huge tension in every scene, thanks to his character’s unpredictable personality, which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Given that this film inspired Martin Scorsese’s outstanding 2006 gangster thriller The Departed, it is ironic that Depp’s portrayal of Bulger reminded me of Jack Nicholson’s character from that film.
I also really enjoyed the supporting cast in this movie. Joel Edgerton pulls off a great performance as Connolly and other actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch (who plays Bulger’s state senator brother, Billy Bulger) and Kevin Bacon (playing Connolly’s boss, Charles McGuire) also shine in the movie. In addition, the story behind this movie is excellent, intriguing and was executed brilliantly thanks to brilliant direction from Scott Cooper. The duration of the movie (just over two hours) gave enough time for the story to be told perfectly so that it didn’t feel too rushed but at the same time, it didn’t feel overlong.
However, I did have one slight problem with this movie: the pacing. I can’t deny that there were times when I was slightly bored waiting for something big to happen and it did get painfully slow at times. It doesn’t help when you go from feeling completely shocked after someone is unexpectedly executed by Bulger and his gang, right back down to the feeling of boredom and wanting to be excited again.
Nevertheless, these slow scenes were usually saved by the terrific performances from the actors featuring in them and overall, despite the movie’s pacing being slightly questionable, I still felt satisfied with this movie but don’t go to see this film expecting an instant classic. As a fan of Johnny Depp, I welcome this return to form with open arms and I do hope that this film sets him up for an Oscar nomination at this year’s Oscars ceremony.
Rating: 4/5