Black Mass Review
R: Brutal Violence, Language Throughout, Some Sexual References and Brief Drug Use
Warner Bros. Pictures, Ratpac Entertainment, Cross Creek Pictures
2 hrs and 2 Minutes
Cast: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon, Adam Scott, Jesse Plemons, Corey Stoll, Peter Sarsgaard, Juno Temple, David Harbour, with Bill Camp, and Julianne Nicholson
Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during my adolescence. Outdated language might be seen in these old posts. Since then, my thoughts and values have grown. This review is being presented as they were originally written, grammatical errors, shitty sentence structure, and typos galore. Because to do otherwise would be that same as claiming these flaws never existed.
BACKSTORY: Wednesday September 16th I went to a screening of Black Mass in my home theater of Brooklyn with my mom and Gil which felt really good to be in.
STORYLINE: John Connolly and James "Whitey" Bulger grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the late 1970s, they would meet again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. What happened between them - a dirty deal to trade secrets and take down Boston's Italian Mafia in the process - would spiral out of control, leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments, and, ultimately, to Bulger making the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.
REVIEW: Remember in January when Johnny Depp did Mortdecai which had the general public get tired of his unfunny silly character shtick? Well you can forget that film ever happened because withing the same year, Depp manages to redeem himself in an Oscar worthy performance as James "Whitey" Bulger in this film, Black Mass. Where you see Depp in makeup in a numerous of his previous roles, this is the most unrecognizable he's ever been in. The makeup used on him makes him look like a vampire than he was playing a vampire in Dark Shadows. Even if you do a frame to real life picture comparison between the two it's convincing how much he does look like the real Whitey. This is a graphic R rated gangster flick filled with the same beats and amount of violence and gore, but it's setup that reels you right into the story. The film is divided into chronological events from the 70s to the 80s told by Bulger's personal hitmen who are testifying against their former boss on the reflections of crimes that they did. Its amazing to see the lives of everyone involved in Whitey's crimes and their personal lives that they dealt with which led to their downfall. There are certain cast members who were marketed, but have very small roles where by the next act they're completely gone with only another character introduced. Some of the cast leaves an impact on you and some of them don't. Every actor has a chilling scene of Depp frighteningly tormenting them, because he's a wild card. The chills that goes down your spine is well earned in this film. There are moments where you can obviously tell which character was going to die when they fuck up but gets dragged on yet it's other moments where Bulger is just cold and tormenting the minds of innocent that makes just shiver in your sleep. Scott Cooper literally went Out of The Furnace to make this film and directs his cast with such charisma and passion and gets a great performance from nearly everyone. Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi helps give the look of the setting feel as if we were in Boston during the 70s. The picture is constantly gritty where it follows a dark and dim color palette every now and then and balances with the violent theme. There are moments the film is choppily edited and extends its sequences for for so long especially in it's running lengthy time, but when're invested in this you are never taken out. The film even ends on a note that makes you want to find out about the primary source of the film and the documentary that elaborates more on the victims of Bulger's terror.
LAST STATEMENT: Black Mass is a jaw droppingly gripping crime drama that is helmed by amazing cinematography, direction, cast, and most of all Johnny Depp's incredible performance.
Rating: 4/5 | 87%
Super Scene: It's a family secret
