Black Mass
Johnny Depp leads this true crime drama as Whitey Bulger, the ruthless South Boston criminal who sought to take down an invading Mafia family by becoming an FBI informant. From the director of Crazy Heart and Out of the Furnace, co-starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Juno Temple, Dakota Johnson and Joel Edgerton.
Jack Nicholson's Frank Costello character in Scorsese's The Departed was loosely based on Bulger, currently in jail for multiple murders.
- Director:
- Scott Cooper ('Crazy Heart', 'Out of the Furnace')
- Writer:
- Jez ButterworthMark Mallouk
- Cast:
- Johnny DeppBenedict CumberbatchJoel EdgertonDakota JohnsonJuno TempleJesse Plemons
Reviews & comments
Flicks, Tony Stamp
flicksGiven the title of the film and tone of the trailer, I was expecting something a bit more sinister from Black Mass, the story of Irish-American mobster Whitey Bulger’s “unholy alliance” with the FBI during the 1970s. Instead, the film ends up feeling like a cover version of previous crime dramas, with only a few moments that truly unsettle.
Black Mass
In my mind Black Mass is kind of similar to American Hustle - it has an element of intrigue and a wonderful cast of talented actors but it's plot is dragged out and weirdly predictable. I think the source material is partly to blame for the pacing and structure as it is based on true events. Johnny Depp is pretty good in this film, which has become harder...
Out of his Depp-th?
There’s a large shadow looming over every scene of director Scott (‘Out of the Furnace’) Cooper’s ‘Black Mass’, and it belongs to Martin Scorsese. As a gangster movie, it struggles to escape the weight of Scorsese’s classic crime thriller, ‘Goodfellas’, whilst in its lead it never evades the memory of Jack Nicholson in Scorseses’s ‘The Departed’....
About time Johnny got his game on!
With performances like this, I get reminded of Johnny Depp's talent and popularity. His solid performance in this movie shows off his serious side. Which is a relief! As lately, he's been choosing some seriously stupid characters to play. Whhhy!? Too try hard for my liking and definitely not the cool I know possible from this man! Definitely a watch for...
Great performance
First of all I was quite aware of the Bulger story. I watched a documentary on it. I also things about the story on a special features dvd of The Departed. Anyway. The film is about James Whitey Bulger and his involvement with the FBI. I will say the performance from Depp is chilling. Even guys who worked with Whitey were blown away. Depp personifies evil,...
Depp is Black!
James 'Whitey' Bulger is a name that I was unfamiliar with and even when I was sitting in the cinema, waiting for the film to begin, Boston's most infamous Irish mob boss was still an unknown quantity. This ignorance in the criminal Kingpin actually worked in my favour, allowing me to sit back and enjoy the film without trying to compare Depp's portrayal of...
Variety
pressDepp does career-best work as notorious Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger in Scott Cooper's taut, elegantly understated crime drama.
Time Out
pressDepp is more engaging than he's been in years, even if his performance can feel a little restricted and one-note.
The New York Times
pressI'm as susceptible as any other deskbound, conflict-averse fantasist to the visceral appeal of a good gangster movie. But "Black Mass" isn't one.
The Guardian
pressA big, brash, horribly watchable gangster picture taken from an extraordinary true story and conceived on familiar generic lines.
SBS
pressThe steady flow of sour deals, minor slights avenged, and prostitutes that require beating to death begin to wear on one's attention.
Los Angeles Times
pressA bleak, claustrophobic based-on-fact film that draws us completely into a dark world of crime and complicity.
Flicks, Tony Stamp
flicksGiven the title of the film and tone of the trailer, I was expecting something a bit more sinister from Black Mass, the story of Irish-American mobster Whitey Bulger’s “unholy alliance” with the FBI during the 1970s. Instead, the film ends up feeling like a cover version of previous crime dramas, with only a few moments that truly unsettle.
Variety
pressDepp does career-best work as notorious Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger in Scott Cooper's taut, elegantly understated crime drama.
Time Out
pressDepp is more engaging than he's been in years, even if his performance can feel a little restricted and one-note.
The New York Times
pressI'm as susceptible as any other deskbound, conflict-averse fantasist to the visceral appeal of a good gangster movie. But "Black Mass" isn't one.
The Guardian
pressA big, brash, horribly watchable gangster picture taken from an extraordinary true story and conceived on familiar generic lines.
SBS
pressThe steady flow of sour deals, minor slights avenged, and prostitutes that require beating to death begin to wear on one's attention.
Los Angeles Times
pressA bleak, claustrophobic based-on-fact film that draws us completely into a dark world of crime and complicity.
Black Mass
In my mind Black Mass is kind of similar to American Hustle - it has an element of intrigue and a wonderful cast of talented actors but it's plot is dragged out and weirdly predictable. I think the source material is partly to blame for the pacing and structure as it is based on true events. Johnny Depp is pretty good in this film, which has become...
Out of his Depp-th?
There’s a large shadow looming over every scene of director Scott (‘Out of the Furnace’) Cooper’s ‘Black Mass’, and it belongs to Martin Scorsese. As a gangster movie, it struggles to escape the weight of Scorsese’s classic crime thriller, ‘Goodfellas’, whilst in its lead it never evades the memory of Jack Nicholson in Scorseses’s ‘The Departed’....
About time Johnny got his game on!
With performances like this, I get reminded of Johnny Depp's talent and popularity. His solid performance in this movie shows off his serious side. Which is a relief! As lately, he's been choosing some seriously stupid characters to play. Whhhy!? Too try hard for my liking and definitely not the cool I know possible from this man! Definitely a watch for...
Great performance
First of all I was quite aware of the Bulger story. I watched a documentary on it. I also things about the story on a special features dvd of The Departed. Anyway. The film is about James Whitey Bulger and his involvement with the FBI. I will say the performance from Depp is chilling. Even guys who worked with Whitey were blown away. Depp personifies...
Depp is Black!
James 'Whitey' Bulger is a name that I was unfamiliar with and even when I was sitting in the cinema, waiting for the film to begin, Boston's most infamous Irish mob boss was still an unknown quantity. This ignorance in the criminal Kingpin actually worked in my favour, allowing me to sit back and enjoy the film without trying to compare Depp's portrayal...
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