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Title: Black Mass (2015)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Johnny Depp | ... | James 'Whitey' Bulger | |
| Joel Edgerton | ... | John Connolly | |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | ... | Billy Bulger | |
| Dakota Johnson | ... | Lindsey Cyr | |
| Kevin Bacon | ... | FBI Agent Charles McGuire | |
| Peter Sarsgaard | ... | Brian Halloran | |
| Jesse Plemons | ... | Kevin Weeks | |
| Rory Cochrane | ... | Stephen Flemmi | |
| David Harbour | ... | John Morris | |
| Adam Scott | ... | FBI Agent Robert Fitzpatrick | |
| Corey Stoll | ... | Fred Wyshak | |
| Julianne Nicholson | ... | Marianne Connolly | |
| W. Earl Brown | ... | John Martorano (as W Earl Brown) | |
| Bill Camp | ... | John Callahan | |
| Juno Temple | ... | Deborah Hussey | |
Based on a true story of James "Whitey" Bulger, an Irish Mob godfather and a FBI informant who had a "secret trading" deal with his brother, William "Billy" Bulger, a state senator and a Boston public figure, and John Connolly, an FBI agent. They planned to take down theft Italian mob and mafia in Boston, which went awry and things turned massively violent. When the credence for each other began fading out, drug dealing, murders, and extortion started to rise, and forced the FBI's Boston office to confirm that Whitey Bulger was one of the most notorious criminals in US history and also one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List criminals. Written by Gusde
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Black Mass: A Near Miss
'Black Mass' is another is a line of crime dramas set in Boston. The film will inevitable be compared to 'The Departed.' And it falls short in the comparison. The acting is top rate, and Depp is much better, not as hammy, than the comic portrait of a crime boss by Nicholson in 'The Departed.' Depp is genuinely threatening in the film and the make-up job given him in the film adds to the fright.
'Black Mass' has the look of a 70s television show, and that works in its favor. In fact, the overall look of the film is exquisite. That, and the acting, are the two best things in the film. However, the movie is both too much and not enough.
'Black Mass' tries to cover too much and thus it lacks focus. This is where 'The Departed' succeeds. While 'The Departed' has many layers and character, it has a focus: the Southie, Billy. 'Black Mass' doesn't have a main theme, a main character, a main protagonist or antagonist. There are a bunch of characters in tense situations with some irony and symbolism. However, in the end, there is nothing to hold onto, no lessons, no emotions, love or hate, for any characters.
As I was watching, both my film buddy and I thought the same thing: Scorsese could have made this story work with his writing and directing. We also thought that in an era of long- form television that it could have made a great 10-20 episode show. Then it could have gone into depth about the childhood relationships between crime boss Bulger, his FBI friend Connolly and Whitey's brother, State Senator Billy Bulger.
As miniseries, it could have more deeply explored the racial tensions between the Irish and Italians with the African Americans stuck in the middle. It could have taken a deeper look into Boston politics and corruption, police corruption, and more. The miniseries could have also gone further into the Irish American funding of the IRA. As it was, it touched on each of those issues in an unsatisfactory fashion. If the film had taken a deeper look into any ONE of those themes, it would have made for a better movie.
Rating: Matinée
For the great look and outstanding acting, I suggest you see it on the big screen. Otherwise, wait for the miniseries. Hey, a man can dream.
Peace, Tex Shelters