Picked out some time ago as a ‘comeback’ for Johnny Depp after years in Pirates and Tim Burton hell, it’s fair to say that Black Mass, which is based on true events, hasn’t generally lived up to expectations. Depp plays James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, a notorious Boston gangster who rose to prominence in the late 70s and 80s.
Whilst I think that the material is generally superior to most things he has been in recently, Depp is one of the weakest elements of the film. It feels too much like he is giving a performance, with his bald wig and dodgy false teeth. Joel Edgerton, as the FBI agent John Connolly who Bulger is in cahoots with is also uncharacteristically unimpressive. The acting honours actually go those lower down in the cast lit, character actors like Jesse Plemons and Rory Cochrane who are much more convincing. Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger’s senator brother is good, but it seems like he is in a different film, one that isn’t developed at all.
There is some cracking dialogue, and good individual scenes, such as a steak eating scene which is very Goodfellas like, but the story becomes a little repetitive as Bulger crosses the line and John has to convince his bosses that he has the situation under control.
Ultimately very watchable but nothing special.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10