Although it doesn’t quite rise to the level of the classic mobster movies it tries to emulate, Black Mass is a solid entry into the genre. The biopic tells the story of a tenuous real-life alliance between South Boston crime boss James ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Johnny Depp) and FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), and it’s as gritty and gruesome as you’d expect from a crime movie about one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history.
Primarily set in the 1970s, Black Mass tracks its characters for more than 20 years. Trying to pack so much into just two hours prevents the story from finding much emotional depth. It also leaves some top-notch actors, including Kevin Bacon and Benedict Cumberbatch, without enough to do (and an entire storyline featuring Oscar-nominee Sienna Miller on the cutting-room floor). Despite its shortcomings, it’s an entertaining story about an unbelievable but true event in history.
Perhaps the best reason to see the film is for the award-worthy efforts of its two lead actors. It takes a while to see past Depp’s over-the-top makeup, but his portrayal of the heartless Bulger is powerful and terrifying. Australian Edgerton plays a convincing Southie, and perfectly embodies Connolly’s inflated ego and eventual unraveling.
Should You See It? Yes. —B.M.
Viewed at Des Peres 14 Cine