Review of Black Mass (2015) by Ron T B — 15 Jan 2016
Black Mass is like a poor man's Departed or Goodfellas, which is sad as it is a lot more realistic. A grimy South Boston story revolving around the notorious Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger and his federal friends the movie has an unlikely cast of Australians, Brits and Captain Jack Sparrow putting on some mighty unconvincing Buowston accents and prosthetics for the benefit of a story that is perhaps exciting as a documentary but that has been done to death as a movie. The hubris of a criminal empire, the complicity of the police, a lead with terrifying intensity, this is classic 90s Scorsese. Hell It's aughties oscar bait Scorsese. Do we really need it again? Johnny Depp is very very good, putting on the best performance since Rango, or if we don't count animation, Fear and loathing or perhaps even Donnie Brasco (lol), But is it enough to erase atrocities like Transcendence, Mortdecai or the Lone Ranger?
Black mass is unnecessary and while it gives us good performances from Depp and others it is derivative and bland. Skip it.
This review of Black Mass (2015) was written by Ron T B on 15 Jan 2016.
Black Mass has generally received positive reviews.
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