Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3.5/4
Great acting. Johnny Depp is unrecognizable
Terry - wrote on 09/19/2016
The film follows the notorious Whitey Bulger from a few years after his release from Alcatraz up until his disappearance in 1994 and eventual capture in 2011, and the brutality and fear he used to run South Boston. The interesting about Bulger is the partnership he had with the FBI. The FBI wanted to take down the Italian mob in Boston and Bulger wanted them out to take over the various rackets. This resulting in Bulger and the FBI working together with Bulger becoming a protected informant while providing the FBI with information on the mob only he could know. This protection enabled Whitey to carry out his everyday illegal activities and violence without any threat of arrest.
It’s the story of one of the most notorious and merciless gangster in America history portrayed amazingly …
Rating of
3/4
Those eyes what's with the eyes?
Indyfreak - wrote on 06/21/2016
Johnny Depp is back ladies and gentlemen! Black Mass is a solid crime drama but let's be frank, it is all the more watchable and unnervingly entertaining thanks to Johnny Depp's performance as James "Whitey" Bulger a smalltime gangster who became one of the most notorious crime bosses in American history. How did he get there?
He had a friend in the FBI covering for him. Yes you read that correctly. Bulger's ally was the ambitious and sycophantic John Connolly who grew up with both Whitey and his brother Billy Bulger (who not only later became a senator but talks and looks like Benedict Cumberbatch). Connolly's parallel story showing his fall from grace compared to Whitey's rise to power is an interesting contrast. While the supporting cast aren't bad though I can't promise that most …
Rating of
N/A
Verrückt
cinegeek.de - wrote on 03/07/2016
Black Mass, die Geschichte des Bostoner Gangsters James "Whitey" Bulger ist ein bizarrer Film geworden. Er funktioniert nur, wenn man sich exakt auf die Wellenlänge des Films begibt. Hier hat der Wahnsinn Methode. Liest man die Inhaltsangabe auf dem DVD Cover, verspricht Black Mass überhaupt nichts Neues. Wir treffen Bulger (Johnny Depp), seinen Bruder William "Billy" Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch) und den FBI Agenten James Connolly (Joel Edgerton), einen alten Freund Bulgers. Ausserdem begegnen wir Bulgers Freundin Lindsey Cyr (Dakota Johnson) sowie seiner Gang. Alle Rollen sind superb gespielt, haben ihre grossen Auftritte, bleiben als Charaktere aber unbestimmt. Manchmal war ich regelrecht überrascht, einige von ihnen wieder zu sehen, dass sie überhaupt noch am Leben waren! Man hat …
Rating of
3/4
Depp was great, but the movie was blah
Matthew Brady - wrote on 10/04/2015
Never spill the family secret.
The story is about Whitey Bulger, brother of a state senator and the most infamous criminal in South Boston. Childhood friend John Connolly would become a leading figure in Boston's FBI office while Bulger become a figurehead in the Irish mob. When they connected, Connolly convinced Bulger to help take down the Italian mafia - but as things spiral out of control, Bulger finds himself as part of the FBI's Most Wanted.
Ever since the first teaser trailer for Black Mass came out, I knew for a fact that Johnny Depp was back to his old roots and finally playing a character that wasn't Jack Sparrow. It looked gritty, sharp, brutal and totally refreshing to see Depp in this type of role. I was hyped as sh*t to see this movie and I couldn't wait to watch …
Rating of
2.5/4
Depp Wow's, Rest is Just Acceptable
Unknown - wrote on 09/24/2015
'Black Mass' is not the true-life gangster story I was hoping for. This awesome cast is a dream come true. Depp leads with a completely immersive performance. Easily one of his best, if not the best. Many of his one-on-one talks with other characters showcase a simmering tension through his psychopathic unpredictability. He induces fear in others with a shift in tone and look during confrontations. He's a terrifying presence. Many of these people don't make it to the next scene. That leads me to my main problem. The movie itself is just a hanger to display great acting. There's a procedure-like structure to it's scenes. Lack of a solid thru-line, or any characters to experience this with, gave me little involvement in the story. It becomes a series of checklist moments to …
