by Ryan Lewellen
James “Whitey” Bulger’s (Johnny Depp) life story is one of the most epic and troubling crime sagas in American history. With the help of corrupt FBI agent, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) granting Bulger Informant Status, he removed the ruling Italian mafia of 1970s Boston, and replaced them with his own Winter Hill gang. He made a fortune on World Hailai gambling in South Florida. He allied with the IRA in the 80s, and attempted to ship them a giant stockpile of weaponry. He “obtained” a winning Massachusetts lottery jackpot of $14 million, and when his empire collapsed, he successfully ducked his arrest while listed number two on the FBI’s most wanted list, right behind Osama Bin Laden, for 12 years. He was a brilliant manipulator, businessman, murderer, psychopath… and a sweetheart and a charmer.
What Black Mass does best is humanize this real life monster. It sounds like faint praise to say this is Johnny Depp’s best or most appealing performance in years, but I am willing to go as far as claiming its one of his best of all time. With the aid of some eerie facial prosthetics, he is transformed into the pale, blue-eyed demon that is Whitey Bulger, but the most unnerving thing about the depiction of the brutal crime boss, is how likeable he can be in the hands of such an extraordinary actor. Bulger is desperately loyal to his loved ones, and having only heard about the darkest side of the infamous criminal, watching him be so tender with his son, elderly women, and his friends, is beyond shocking. Depp handily delivers both sides of his character to tremendous effect.
All around, the acting is superb. One hell of a cast was assembled for this project, and each player has maybe never been better than now. Edgerton is particularly great, and the larger his character lives off the success of his nearly omnipotent alliance, the funnier he is, and watching him strut through the picture like a lost rooster is a blast. Also worth mentioning is the work of longtime-unsung supporting cast hero, Rory Cochrane, as Stephen Flemmi, Whitey’s right hand man. He isn’t allotted the most screen time, but every second he has is filled with tension, heart, and depth. Face permanently stuck in an unfeeling frown, he still evokes a huge emotional spectrum. During a third act police interview, Flemmi is asked to describe his relationship with Bulger. Somehow, without that same deadpan expression budging an inch, his answer explodes with subtext.
Unfortunately, that is the extent of the film’s greatness. Sure, all the pistons are firing as they should: it looks great, the writing is solid, and everything feels organized and deliberate. How then, does this movie not play like Gangbusters? How can it be so dull and powerless? How can the incredible true story of Whitey Bulger not be the most exciting film in years?
Probably because we’ve mostly seen all of this before. Martin Scorsese’s stylish and energetic Oscar-winner The Departed was heavily based on the life of Bulger. Also, obviously through no fault of the filmmakers, this biopic features a multitude of scenes and plot mechanics featured in other well-known gangster films. Again, Scorsese comes to mind with Goodfellas. In Black Mass, director Scott Cooper has chosen a kind of gritty realism over cinematic flair or artful form. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but when all of this familiarity slowly enters and exits, in scenes which feel more and more repetitive, it’s hard not to compare them to more exciting films from the past. The story of The Winter Hill Gang deserves some grit, and we are handed plenty in the form of flabbergasting violence. Just when I thought I’d been completely desensitized, this movie comes along and starts coldly pushing buttons I didn’t know I had.
Most of the film is that cold push, low on passion, but big on tension, but I couldn’t tell you I was ready to walk out at any moment. Again, the problem isn’t that this is a lousy film. The problem is, it simply isn’t as good as it should be. The performances are squandered on a somewhat bland film one would expect to be outstanding. Instead, BLACK MASS is just another crime drama, one which might eventually be forgotten, unless every other awards season picture fails to make more of an impression.
Johnny Depp, however, could go down in history.
