James 'Whitey' Bulger is a criminal doing criminal things like cutting the tags off his pillows and wearing skinny jeans. OK you got me, but it should be illegal for grown men to wear skinny jeans if they say they are gangsters. John Connolly is a FBI agent who is looking to bring in new informants, and the first guy he thinks of is his childhood friend who helped him get past that tough level in Pokemon, James Bulger. They form a partnership where Bulger gives the FBI information on where his enemies stash their fluffy stuffed animals so he can take over the gummy bear business. Connolly gives Bulger tips on who is ratting him out so he can give them a handshake with his gun to their face. It all begins to fall apart when people within the FBI begin asking questions about how to play cornhole.
You will like it if...
You like crime dramas based on real criminals. Most people have seen or heard about the story of Whitey Bulger. This film doesn't add much to that story other than the usual dramatization of the story and gummy bears. The acting in this film is about as good as it gets. Depp gives a majestic performance. It almost feels like seeing a rainbow unicorn that speaks English. Joel Edgerton gets lost in the supernova that is Johnny Depp, but his star also shines bright in Black Mass. The problem is that the film takes itself too seriously. Black Mass needs more cow bell. It fails to provide a plethora of iconic lines that make these kind of movies so entertaining. The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Departed have that extra personality that makes them much better films. As good as Depp is in this role, I can only imagine what he could do with more iconic lines sprinkled into the script. As a result Black Mass is dry and lacking in personality. Gritty and realistic to a fault, the movie is entertaining, but lacks the extra creamy filling to make it great.
Next Week
The Green Inferno, Hotel Transylvania 2, or The Intern. Vote in the comments or Godzilla will pick the movie.
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