Review of Black Mass (2015) by Orlando O — 09 Mar 2016

Black Mass is a crime drama about a gangster leader James âWhiteyâ? Bulger and his control over South Boston. A plot about James Bulger (Johnny Depp), a Irish winter hill gang leader, who controls most of South Boston with their organized crime.

Then, FBI agent John Connelly (Joel Edgerton) returns home to South Boston, as a long time friend of James, he tries to get him to infiltrate his rival gang and become an informant. An exchange to give the FBI Connelly some information, he can get some protection for his family, gang, and his brother William (Benedict Cumberbatch), who is the state senate.

The direction and narrative of the film is quite dull. The narrative structure does not help develop these characters. There is a big ensemble of a cast like Rory Cochrane, Kevin Bacon, Jesse Plemon, Corey Stoll, Peter Sarsgaard, and Dakota Johnson.

All these amazing talents all have small brief appearances, when James Bulger interacts with them. Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch also did well as well. Johnny Depp did give a fair performance as James Bulger.

It also felt like the make up work to make him look close to the actual James Bulger, did look cheesy. He does try to give a great performance, it feels like his performance is always relying on the make up work to change his appearance.

The tedious narrative structure of following up on some characters prosecuting James Bulger and their roles they had to do with him back in the 1970s and 1980s did not help. It begins with Kevin Weeks (Jesse Plemons) sharing his point of view, as a newcomer to the gang and his handy man of watching the front door at bars or being a driver.

Until John Connelly shows up, then we see his character trying to get James to be the informant of exploiting information on other gangs. As we see James, either killing them one by one to seek information or tying loose ends.

The plot structure is not exacting in a strong suit. Even Johnny Deppâ(TM)s performance seems like a highlight of the movie. It is not the best in a way. Black Mass is a fair gangster drama film that has a weakly structured plot, less engaging with the drama in the characters, and a big cast with little to show.