Black Mass, 2015.
Directed by Scott Cooper.
Starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Adam Scott, Corey Stoll and Kevin Bacon.
SYNOPSIS:
The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.
Our introduction to Johnny Depp’s James “Whitey” Bulger sees him in a bar with his Winter Hill Gang, staring intensely at a bowl of peanuts for some unknown reason. Nevertheless, it allows us to collect some very important, quick thoughts; the physical transformation on display for Johnny Depp (complete with piercing icy blue eyes and a slicked back receding hairline) paints the revered actor wholly unrecognizable. From minute one we become enamored with what is going through the head of this apparent sociopath, giving off the vibe that he’s ready to go on a rampage. And the second you are done coming to the conclusion that you’re looking at one nasty, evil motherf*****, Whitey begins verbally abusing his henchman for shoving those peanuts into his mouth and dipping his saliva drenched fingers back into the bowl meant for public consumption.
Essentially, to say that Johnny Depp’s performance as the notorious gangster (he actually ended up being second on the FBI’s Most Wanted list right below Osama bin Laden) is the cornerstone of Black Mass would be an enormous understatement. This is unquestionably the charismatic actor’s comeback role, accomplishing everything from resurrecting his career from the gutter, to bringing this delightfully psychotic criminal to life, to placing himself in contention for Best Actor 2015. Simply put, Johnny Depp owns Black Mass, elevating what is admittedly a mediocre gangster affair into something worth remembering.
So where does Black Mass falter? For starters, the structure of the plot is jarringly odd, not really giving viewers a reason to care about the various characters. It’s clear that Whitey alienates himself from society, becoming even more remorseful and terrorizing as key members of his immediate family die off for different natural reasons, but how and why this affects him isn’t really explored. I believe it’s mentioned in passing once, but that’s really it. The movie seems content with depicting Whitey becoming a violent kingpin simply because he could. It obviously wasn’t about the money, since he never fixes his teeth or is seen indulging in expensive clothes or sexual encounters.
There is also the disappointing fact that Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t get to do much despite playing the state senator brother to Whitey. These two men are respectively the most powerful men in Boston thanks to completely different methods, but that juxtaposition isn’t really explored. The brothers remain close, and that’s really all we gather.
Despite feeling highly isolated from caring about anyone in Black Mass, it conjures up a number of intense scenes, namely a dinner table scene involving a passive aggressive threat about ratting. It’s just one of many scenes that allow Johnny Depp to pop off the screen as a terrifying menace to anyone and everyone, regardless of how strong his relationship may seem with someone. If you cross him, you’re dead.
With that said, a lot of Black Mass‘ key moments come during the first two acts of the film, along with the majority of the bloodshed. This means that the final act falls relatively flat, ending the movie with more of a whimper than a bang. I realize the filmmakers are trying to stick to reality and not embellish everything into a climactic showdown, but it really is surprising that the movie slowly begins to wrap itself up when it does. Furthermore, you’re still not left caring about anyone going to jail or those that put a stop to the gang’s dominance over South Boston; it’s just stuff that happened.
Again though, not many movies in general can claim to have as electrifying a performance as Johnny Depp in Black Mass. Credit also must go to a strong supporting cast featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, Corey Stoll, and even Dakota Johnson who shares a very emotional scene when her and Whitey’s son tragically becomes fatally ill. It can’t engage on a level similar to the best mafia films, but Black Mass is a strong showcase for actors featuring some splendidly bloody murders.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder – An aficionado of film, wrestling, and gaming. Follow me on Twitter or friend me on Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=qvTY7eXXIMg
Originally published September 18, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
