Black Mass

Black Mass

Rating 8 out of 10

I tend to like gangster movies as a whole although many of them seem to be too over the top and not that good.  I wanted to see this movie but it was not real high on my list.  Everest came out this weekend except it was only in 3D.  I am not a fan of 3D so Black Mass here I come.

This movie is based on the true story of the rise and eventually fall of Boston wise guy James "Whitey" Bulger.  He was mostly a small time thug back in the 1960's and early 70s.  He spent time in jail including a stint in Alcatraz.  He didn't really come to power until he joined forces with childhood friend, now FBI agent, John Connolly.  The FBI had good intentions in the beginning.  Willing to trade Bulger's small time crimes for intel on the big mafia goons running rampant in the city.  The problem was with the help of the FBI Bulger cleaned out all his competition and turned out to be as bad or worse than what they had.  Connolly became drunk with the promotions at the FBI and the perks Bulger threw his way.

The casting is mostly pitch perfect.  Johnny Depp does a good job and would not be surprised to see him get an Oscar nod later in the year.  When he casts his steely evil eyes toward someone it gives you a chill.  The rest of the cast is also good as is the way it was filmed.  The movie does a good job of telling the story without dragging it out in a three hour overblown movie like many do.

Overall I was entertained and if you like these type movies at all you will be too.