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

for best director, Joel Edgerton steals the spotlight in some scenes and bloody nails it in all the screen time he gets. This film also has a nice funny side to it as well which really makes you laugh then BAM all seriousness. By far probably the best film I have seen this year!Deserves more than 10/10

viewer. I hate all "emotional journeys", no movie has ever "changed my life", I would rather kick a toaster down the street than watch a "drama", i consider 99% of movies to be trash and all i'm ever looking for is some entertainment. The expectations i go into every movie with is that I will stop watching within 10 minutes to an hour .

Boston gangster James "Whitey" Bulger is mesmerizingly haunting. With piercing blue eyes and an apt demonic appearance, the make-up team's magnificent work allowed for Depp to walk in and completely knock it out of the park. To those who're charging down the streets at 15 miles an hour, screaming, "Johnny Depp is back!" at the top of their lungs, I would ask: did he ever really leave? Or has he been here all along, tainted by the less-than-decent films he's appeared in? I'd put my money on the latter because, even with his most atrocious movies, he always loses himself in his characters. And that's what acting is all about.If there's anyone that can rival Depp's work here it would have to be Joel Edgerton, who actually ends up stealing the spotlight more than a few times and downright nailing it throughout. His character, placed at the center of the plot, is about as sympathetic as a corrupt FBI agent could possibly be, in a movie filled with unlikable characters. However, Depp and Edgerton aren't the only selling points here; Cooper is a filmmaker who's capable of working exceptionally well with ensembles. And with a cast as impressive as this: Kevin Bacon, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Corey Stoll just to name a few, it's hard to pinpoint a single weak link. This is the mob movie that fans of the genre have been waiting forever for; it is brutal, refreshing, and impossible to look away from. The story, however, is quite dense, and the occasional pacing issues didn't help. But the performances are what make it digestible, and what, ultimately, makes BLACK MASS one of the year's best.

violent time in American History & its utterly brutal. Watching Whitey Bulger, the monster, unleash his power, has moments that leave you astonished. The supporting characters, also, are equally conniving, with each one, giving us shades of pure menace. The True Story unfolds in a furious pace & the brutality, leaves you numb.Jez Butterworth & Mark Mallouk's Adapted Screenplay is excellent. The Writing is razor-sharp, no-holds-barred! Its a scary story, that's been Written without any inhibitions. Its Purely About Crime! Scott Cooper's Direction is masterful. 'Black Mass' is his Finest Effort to date. He has handled the film with complete command. Masanobu Takayanagi's Cinematography is stunning. It so accurately compliments the narrative's mood. David Rosenbloom's Editing is crisp. Junkie XL's Score is fabulous. Action-Sequences are gruesome, but effective. Make-Up is flawlessly done. Art & Costume Design are satisfactory.Johnny Depp as James "Whitey" Bulger, is spine-chilling. Its an unforgettable, eerie portrayal of the notorious Kingpin. Its a performance that proves Depp's versatility & fearlessness as an actor. Joel Edgerton as John Connolly, is astounding. He gets into the skin of the character & delivers a career-best performance. For Depp & Edgerton alone, 'Black Mass' is unmissable. Reserve Best Actor & Best Supporting Actor Nominations at all the Award Ceremonies next year for these two scene-stealers! Amongst the supporting cast, Benedict Cumberbatch as William "Billy" Bulger, is efficient, Kevin Bacon as Charles McGuire, is solid, Dakota Johnson as Lindsey Cyr, is affecting & Peter Sarsgaard as Brian Halloran, is simply outstanding.On the whole, 'Black Mass' needs to be watched & experienced. Its One Great Gangster Flick! Strongly Recommended!

Cumberbatch does a great turn as a Senator and politico. If there is one character in the story I would feel sorry for, it is John Connolly, the FBI agent who uses his old school connections with the Bulgers to feather his own nest !! He should have known that crime doesn't pay, and the bad guys always get caught - maybe not right away - but they always get caught !!

Black Mass is a tale that is perhaps one of the darkest movies I've seen in a long time. The visual portrayal of Bulger's rise to power is one without filters, where violence, threats, and death rain in high definition splendor. Unlike older mob movies that resulted to gunfights and quick, clean kills, Black Mass gets its hands dirty with detailed torture and gore painting the silver screen a sickly red. Those with weak constitutions will need to avoid this picture, especially during the instances where Whitey results to other means to deal with the "rats" of Boston. I give props to Scott Cooper and his team for unfolding a portion of the mafia world, but like so many took it a little too far than was necessary. How many random characters being shot in the head does one really need to see to get the message? The major component that I felt was the greatest aspect of this movie was the acting. Once more Johnny Depp has impressed me with his talent, temporarily chucking the whimsical and wacky for the dark and dismal. Depp brings a level of unease and terror I never thought possible in both looks great makeup and delivery of his lines. Like many of my fellow reviewers have stated, this could indeed be an Oscar worthy role for Depp and while he was the main pillar of this movie there were other supporting actors who need a little praise. Joel Edgerton as the corrupt CIA officer packs a pretty mean punch, oozing with festering greed, as he feigns ignorance for Whitey's services, while trying to cover his hide. Benedict Cumberbatch plays the role of a politician to the T, with the confidence, arrogance, and cheesy grin to sell the crowd. The movie could have been even better if Cumberbatch could have been more integrated in the film, but he made the most of his time. And of course Kevin Bacon uses his familiar tactics , which although not impressive, did help tie the story together. Now what about the story? Whitey's tale is very detailed, showing the life changing events that shaped him into the threat he became. Even more detailed is the corrupt deals Whitey makes, and the drama that unfolds with each shot. However, despite all the attention to detail, the tale isn't all that exciting. Black Mass felt more like an upscale documentary, devoid of any movie magic or exciting choreographed scenes. The pace of the movie is slow; at times feeling like it's going nowhere, primarily due to a lack of suspense. Maybe if there had been a rival in his history, or at least some glimmer of hope it could have had a little more thrill to it. The details also make things a bit convoluted as well and hard to follow until they literally state the purpose a few minutes later. What does this boil down to? A need for editing, to not only assist with the clarity, but also keep the depression to an absolute minimum. However, if you are one for the facts and wish to avoid the fluff that Hollywood thrives on, this movie's dynamics will more than entertain you.Black Mass certainly has some of the best mobster betrayal seen for some time, capturing the ruthless nature of the Boston underbelly. However, if you can't stomach intense violence, and you are looking for some more exciting twists to a film you need to pick another option. This film has a lot of quality to it, but overall it wasn't the most entertaining or impressive film to grace the silver screen. Being a biography, this movie probably would have been better suited for a TV special on the History channel. My suggestion is to wait for this one to come to Redbox to watch in the comfort of your own home, unless of course you are an avid mob movie fan, or Depp enthusiast. My scores are: Biography/Crime/Drama: 8.0 Movie Overall: 6.5

supporting actor in this movie. It's a must see for anyone looking for an intense grisly story.

early years and later fugitive years. Not enough of his personal life is shown as well. The focus is too much on the rub outs and the agents. There are several brutal killings but it's not too graphic by today's standards.The cast is stellar. Johnny Depp though not very Irish looking is quite convincingly made up and sinister with less hair and bad teeth. He is effective without overacting. Benedict Cumberbatch is a strange choice to play the senator brother, not looking like Depp at all and coming across quite British and reserved. Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons convincingly plays Whitey's sidekick Kevin Weeks. Joel Edgerton is well cast as the FBI childhood friend of Whitey. Corey Stoll has a small but effective role as a good guy who comes in to clean up things. Peter Sarsgaard is suitably druggie as the drug snorting associate. Dakota Johnson as the baby mama is surprisingly effective. More of Whitey's personal relationships could have been shown.Worth a watch for the fascinating true story.