Black Mass tells the tale of notorious Boston gangster, James “Whitey” Bulger. It follows the true story of how he and FBI Special Agent John Connolly forged an unsavoury alliance. Told through the testimony of Bulger’s old gang mates’, the film sports a stellar cast, Joel Edgerton taking on the role of Connolly and Benedict Cumberbatch of Bulger’s brother Jimmy. Peter Sarsgaard, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, and Corey Stoll all appear too. There are some fantastic performances all round by this cast, but it’s Johnny Depp’s deeply chilling portrayal of Bulger that is ahead of the pack.
Written by Jez Butterworth and Mark Mallouk, the story walks you through the increasingly seedy Bostonian Gangster scene with a gripping focus on Bulger’s story. Although it follows the growth of his ‘organisation,’ we slowly witness his character’s descent into paranoia and emotional impulsiveness, and the subsequent warping of Connolly alongside him, in defending his actions and promoting his value to the FBI. Scott Cooper does a great job directing, with excellent chemistry between the characters in a highly believable manner in a world where gangsters and politicians are so messily entwined. The overall plot holds together well, yet there are some loose ends that are never completely cleared up and leave you feeling just a little bit more underwhelmed than you should at the end of this movie, although the eventual outcome of the people portrayed in this movie are outlined in a Band of Brothers-style round up.
The setting of South Boston, colloquially known as “Southey”, provides a grounded backdrop for the fairly unrelatable story (for the majority of us), with its many thick – though sometimes wavering – Bostonian accents. The aesthetic provides a strong smack around the face, letting us know we are definitely in the late ‘70s and ‘80s with a vibrant wardrobe, from Bulger’s tight, flared jeans, to Connolly’s countless pieces of gold jewellery. This is supplemented by a functional yet forgettable score that helps the film along, but does not go on to do much more than that.
All in all, Black Mass is a fine piece of filmmaking with Johnny Depp’s so-called “comeback performance,” which delves into the gruesome and horrifying world of one of the USA’s most notorious gangsters and allows us to witness the devastating partnership that led to the events outlined in the film. It is a very gritty depiction and not one for the faint-hearted, yet those who enter with that in mind and a thirst for witnessing the life of a man with such a hunger for power, you will not leave disappointed.
Matt Bolland
Image: Warner Bros. Pictures