Plot
The true story of Whitey Bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of South Boston, who became an FBI informant to take down a Mafia family invading his turf.
Release Year: 2015
Rating: 8.7/10 (2,617 voted)
Critic's Score: 72/100
Director: Scott Cooper
Stars: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson
Storyline
John Connolly and James "Whitey" Bulger grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the late 1970s, they would meet again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. What happened between them - a dirty deal to trade secrets and take down Boston's Italian Mafia in the process - would spiral out of control, leading to murders, drug dealing, racketeering indictments, and, ultimately, to Bulger making the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List.
Writers: Mark Mallouk, Jez Butterworth
Cast: Johnny Depp -
James 'Whitey' Bulger
Joel Edgerton -
John Connolly
Benedict Cumberbatch -
Billy Bulger
Dakota Johnson -
Lindsey Cyr
Kevin Bacon -
Charles McGuire
Peter Sarsgaard -
Brian Halloran
Jesse Plemons -
Kevin Weeks
Rory Cochrane -
Steve Flemmi
David Harbour -
John Morris
Adam Scott -
FBI Agent Robert Fitzpatrick
Corey Stoll -
Fred Wyshak
Julianne Nicholson -
Marianne Connolly
W. Earl Brown -
John Martorano
Bill Camp -
John Callahan
Juno Temple -
Deborah Hussey
Taglines:
Based on the true story of one of the most notorious gangsters in U.S. history
Filming Locations: Harvard Club of Boston, 374 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $65,000,000
(estimated)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Johnny Depp left the project due to salary issues. He later returned in the lead role. See more »
Quotes:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 10/10
The icy blue eyes of notorious Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger
stare out from the screen in Scott Cooper's "Black Mass" like the gaze
of some confident jungle predator calmly lying in wait, holding his
ground until the moment he moves in for the kill. And that same coolly
calculated composure extends to every aspect of how the actor playing
Bulger embodies the role, or rather disappears into it. But if Johnny
Depp's mesmerizing performance — a bracing return to form for the star
after a series of critical and commercial misfires — is the chief
selling point of "Black Mass," there is much else to recommend this
sober, sprawling, deeply engrossing evocation of Bulger's South Boston
fiefdom and his complex relationship with the FBI agent John Connolly,
played with equally impressive skill by Joel Edgerton. Something of an
anti-"The Departed" (which was partly inspired by the Bulger case), the
movie has an intentionally muted, '70s-style look and feel that may
limit its appeal to the date-night multiplex crowd, but quality-
starved adult moviegoers should flock to one of the fall's first
serious, awards-caliber attractions. Not only that but Benedict
Cumberbatch (who plays as a Senator and as Whitey's brother) has given
a stellar performance. He is truly a talented person who gives his all
in every film/show he acts.
BOTTOM LINE: Johnny Depp deserves an Oscar, if not then at least a
nomination. Truly worth watching
0