Rating of
2.5/4
Depp Wow's, Rest is Just Acceptable
Unknown - wrote on 09/24/15
'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 cover the biographical element of the film, all set to a leisurely pace. The couple of interview sequences concerning Bulger's former gang members felt completely unnecessary. Would've benefited with a more compelling narrative. As it stands, this is an acceptable crime movie with a terrific lead performance.
