If there was an actor who needed to get out of a rut, it was Johnny Depp. I am a huge fan of his previous roles. He is by far my favorite actor, but the weird eccentric characters were getting old because they were just one after another, after another. I wanted to see another Donnie Brasco type role from him. In “Black Mass” he delivers the performance that everyone wanted and needed to see.
The pacing of this movie is definitely a slow burn and there is a lot of information being told in the narratives. It is an account of Whitey Bulger during his rise and fall as a kingpin in south Boston. The accounts of these events are told so well through the entire movie that I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would happen next.
The entire cast gave great performances and could not have been played any better, except Adam Scott’s mustache. This cast is full of A-list actors and actresses, none of which stand out as themselves. Everyone does a great job of really developing his or her characters. Benedict Cumberbatch is one that really impressed me with his role. Although he has an English accent, he did a great job at portraying a native Boston accent. Despite the outstanding supporting cast, this movie lives and breathes on Depp’s performance. He is violent, creepy, and dangerous throughout the whole film. Every time he is on screen you are captivated by this character and you never once would say, “that is Johnny Depp”. He literally becomes James “Whitey” Bulger.
I suggest that everyone sees this one in theaters even if you are not a fan of crime movies. “Black Mass” delivers on so many levels. Cinema Wise gives the film a 4 out of 5.
This review brought to you by Ryan Wolfe.
Cinema Wise 