Review of Black Mass (2015) by Mike D — 24 Jul 2016

Over the past two decades in particular, Boston has served as a setting for films that illustrate some of the most corrupt individuals in recent memory. While not all of these are based on true events, 'Black Mass' is, as it focuses on the sins of James "Whitey Bulger" as one of the most wanted men in American history.

Directed by Scott Cooper, 'Mass' really hones in on the relationship with Bulger (portrayed excellently by Johnny Depp) and his friend - disgraced former FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton). Amid the dirty streets of Southie, we get to see how the events transpired in the 1970s and '80s that led to Bulger being transformed from a ruthless small-time crime boss of the Winter Hill Gang to a nationally known figure. While the film has all the makings of an epic Boston crime drama in the vein of 'The Departed' or 'Mystic River,' 'Mass' fumbles and stumbles on a number of counts.

While Depp is absolutely on point in this role, his performance really overshadows that of everyone else. Because everything revolves around Bulger, even though we're supposed to see most everything through the eyes of Connolly, most of the scenes that don't feature the former just feel empty. Also, the main female characters in 'Mass' (Bulger's girlfriend Lindsey Cyr, played by Dakota Johnson and Marianne Connolly, portrayed by Julianne Nicholson) are weakly written, and their performances suffer as a result. Even a mostly convincing performance from Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger's politician brother, Billy, pales in comparison to Depp's.

There are also a few scenes included in 'Mass' that stick out like a sore thumb, included the sequences around Bulger's son. They don't really add anything to the overall film, and don't do anything to change viewers' opinion of him. The ending to 'Mass' is also pretty messy and anticlimactic. Given that Hollywood usually tries to ratchet up the excitement and controversy in movies, it's surprising that the filmmakers couldn't find a way to make the climax more interesting.

While it's not terrible, 'Black Mass' is fairly disappointing, and would be considered a poor effort if it wasn't for Johnny Depp. There are far superior Boston-set crime dramas to this.