See it at the Movies

BLACK MASS

with Joyce & Don Fowler
Posted 9/29/15

* * * * (Joyce)

* * * ½ (Don)

(Gangster movie)

Johnny Depp plays Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger with heavy makeup and a nasty attitude.

The movie plays out like many previous …

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See it at the Movies

BLACK MASS

Posted

* * * * (Joyce)

* * * ½ (Don)

(Gangster movie)

Johnny Depp plays Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger with heavy makeup and a nasty attitude.

The movie plays out like many previous gangster movies, made more interesting by the fact that most Rhode Islanders followed the life, career and demise of Bulger on local TV and newspapers.

Joyce liked this one a little better than I did. I found many of the violent scenes familiar, and I thought the Bulger character could have been explored a bit more.

The film centers on Bulger’s alliance with his boyhood pal now FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), covering only casually his relationship with his politician brother, Billy (Benedict Cumberbatch).

The feared leader of the Winter Hill Gang is without a doubt a dangerous psychopath, murdering or having murdered any person who gets in his way. When the mafia or any ethnic group moves into South Boston, Whitey quickly makes his move.

Connolly convinces his boss and co-workers to protect Bulger in exchange for the thug providing information on the mafia. The deal turns out to be very one-sided, as Whitey literally gets away with murder.

Whitey gets over his head when dealing with the Miami gangsters who fixed jai alai (You mean all those bets I used to make at Newport Jai Alai were questionable?).

Depp is eerie as Bulger, staring directly into the eyes of those he doesn’t trust. A simple conversation about a guy giving him his family’s secret recipe is as creepy as any horror movie.

The story is told through the eyes of his trusted associate (Jesse Plemons), as he gives up his boss when the new FBI chief takes over and pushes Connolly to the limit.

Not sure where the name “Black Mass” came from, but we do see the evil Bulger sitting alone in church on a couple of occasions.  There are some good shots of South Boston.

The movie ends with Bulger’s uneventful capture in Florida and some “Where are they now” graphics.

Rated a big R, with lots of violence and profanity.

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