Black Mass - Movie Review

Who's In It?

Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, and Johnny Depp


What's It About?

Johnny Depp plays real Boston crime lord Whitey Bulger, who turned FBI informant under the impression it would take down the mafia closing in on his turf.

Any Good?

Johnny Depp is brilliant as Whitey Bulger, he's totally convincing and bizarre looking with the blue eyes/yellow teeth combo, it's a HUGE step from his usual quirky same characters. While he is incredibly well acted, the film does the same thing every other crime media does and has the scene where the main boss says something insane calmly and then laughs and says they were joking. It also does the Al Capone everyone-loves-him angle that The Departed had, it just reduced him to a normal, samey villain.

The real Whitey Bulger

While Johnny Depp was amazing, he was outdone in my opinion by Joel Edgerton as the FBI agent he was informing. The transformation was brilliant - if predictable -, he goes from slightly cautious and nervous new guy to acting as if he's a crime lord himself; going as far as to try commanding his boss' boss around and threatening his wife .

Brilliant acting, great action scenes and just as good character development are dragged down by the fact this is nearly EVERY crime story you've ever heard. While I did enjoy the film, it was just that fact in the back of my mind that really took off the edge of all the intense scenes and reminded me that I know what's going to happen at every turn.

Rating: