Black Mass Movie Review

Based on the real life of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, Johnny Depp’s latest film shows the dark underground from 1975. With an incredible portrayal of one of America’s most wanted now available on DVD!

One of South Boston’s best FBI agents, John Connolly, attempts to take down the Italian mob by teaming up with notorious Irish mobster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger’. What he doesn’t know is that Whitey has an agenda of his own. Based on a true story between old friends and professional rivals, Black Mass tells the dramatic rise and fall of gangs in Boston.

Black Mass Review

Depps best performance, not because it is anything more than he normally does but because it adds in a new character to his repertoire. Bulger had such a hurt life you can see through the film: the death of his child and later his mother, as Depp says Bulger’s action are always loyal and true to his character and for me that makes him unbelievable.

To add to this, the cast includes Kevin Bacon and Joel Edgerton both of who play the FBI agents John Connolly and Charles McGuire. Although their parts are conflicting and end up in very different places their exchanges really keep the pressure on the rest of the cast including William Bulger, played by Benedict Cumberbatch.

William Bulger is an interesting pick, normally I would say Cumberbatch is an amazing pick for any politician or lecturer, but not for an intellectual in Boston. His accent is awful and defiantly not one of the best casting choices.

Black Mass Movie

One of the greatest parts of this film is the tech side. Visually it looks amazing, but the style it was shot in adds to the recreation of the time period. When a director goes that extra just to enhance the watchers enjoyment you know he cares about the project. Secondly are the striking blue eyes. Depps look was based only on pictures of Whitey so the recreation process even had to create a realistic receding hair line but retain the ability to give facial expression. The result, added with the blue contacts, even shocked actors Cumberbatch and Dekota Jonson.

Of course the DVD has its special features, or feature should I say, but it does add a nice little background of Depp’s Character development. Interestingly the real life James Bulger did not allow any interviews because of his dislike of the book the script is based of off. For those who enjoy the film it’s a good little watch, little being the key word. I would have liked to see more in the extra content, I understand it’s a serious film but even more interviews with other cast members. Depp is a great actor but as is Bacon, Jonson and Edgerton and I would have liked to see some more of them.

Overall Black Mass, as its name suggests is a dark and menacing addition to any Depps film collection and I would say a film to be watched at least once.

Review by Chuckie for MarkMeets

https://www.MarkMeets.com
https://www.Twitter.com/MarkMeets
https://www.Facebook.com/MarkMeetsPR/
https://www.Youtube.com/user/MarkMeets/
https://www.Instagram.com/MarkMeets/

MarkMeets is a renowned UK entertainment website and media PR brand covering showbiz, music, tv, movies, tech, culture, west end, fashion news, reviews & interviews plus live event coverage inc London Film Premieres.