The Film
Living in New England, it's hard not to know the name James "Whitey" Bulger. A lot of other people are pretty familiar with that name, too. The man spent a good 16 years running from the law, which earned him a top spot on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. In 2011, he was apprehended, at the age of 81.
Whitey's tale spawned multiple newscasts, interviews, and books. It didn't take long for Hollywood to sign up an all-star cast for Black Mass. Based on the 2001 book Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill, the film chronicles Whitey's years as an FBI informant.
The story kicks off in 1975, with Whitey (a scary-as-hell Johnny Depp) and his Winter Hill Gang controlling all of the organized crime in South Boston. To gain an even bigger piece of the pie, Whitey makes a deal with John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), a childhood friend and FBI agent. However, Whitey isn't just some snitch. He's actually providing information in an effort to wipe out a rival gang, the Angiulo Brothers.
Black Mass isn't your typical gangster flick, but Whitey wasn't your typical gangster. The film focuses on some interesting points in his life, but omits a lot. For instance, the relationship between Whitey and his brother Billy (Benedict Cumberbatch) is basically a blip here. However, this isn't a tale of two brothers and how they managed to pick completely opposite career paths. It's a mob movie.
And like any good mob movie, there are a lot of hits -- a lot of them. It's pretty stomach-turning in some parts. It doesn't help to know that this is based on a true story.
It's hard to say how much of Black Mass is true, but it is an entertaining film. Depp is downright frightening -- but thankfully, not Mortdecai frightening. It's great to see him back to business, in such a meaty role. The rest of the cast is a great match, most notably Rory Cochrane, Peter Sarsgaard, W. Earl Brown, and Julianne Nicholson. There are plenty of other famous faces in Black Mass as well, but nothing distracts from the story or Depp's portrayal. Black Mass is one of his best roles yet.
Want to know more about Whitey and this movie? Check out Lora Grady's theatrical review of Black Mass.
The Picture
Despite the 1975 surroundings, Black Mass has a sharp 2.40:1 image. It doesn't have a super-bright color palette, but everything is pretty spot-on and manages to depict the time period perfectly. However, the highlight here is the detail, which is particularly awesome in the film's many close-ups. Of course, we know Johnny Depp is wearing heavy makeup, but facial lines, pores, and those creepy blue eyes all stand out. Other characters look equally as sharp, but none are quite as memorable.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track is a decent match for the image. Dialogue is key here, with every word coming through clear as a bell. However, there are plenty of moments that work the surrounds, most notably crowd chatter, rain, and of course, gunshots... lots and lots of gunshots. Otherwise, the soundtrack manages to perk up some of the film's quieter moments and there's one club scene that will get the room shaking. It's probably not the film you'll pull out for a demo, but Black Mass doesn't disappoint.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
After a few questionable film choices, it's nice to see Johnny Depp in such a meaty role. He's definitely the star of Black Mass -- and rightfully so. After all, it's the story of Whitey Bulger, which he plays to a scary tee. The film may have a few gaps, but it's an interesting tale with an equally interesting cast. The AV is pretty much what you'd expect from a big-budget mob film, but the extras are a nice surprise. If you're a fan of Depp, gangster films, or biopics, Black Mass is a must-see.
Product Details
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