A little background on Johnny Depp; with his general reputation to mold into any character he is casted as, sometimes acting so well that he is physically unrecognizable, people love when they hear he is starring in a new movie. By word of mouth, that movie generally becomes “the new Johnny Depp movie,” But the low ratings of his recent films show a beloved actor losing his talent or one that’s becoming desperate to accept any role handed to him. For example: Mortdecai (2015) received a 5.5 star rating on IMDB, whereas Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) received 8.1 stars. But this new film, Black Mass – based on a true story of Boston Irish Mob member, Whitey Bulger, and his relationship with FBI member, John Connolly – has turned around Depp’s career for the best. In fact, there has been buzz about this film being the one that wins Depp his first Oscar.
Set in the 1970’s amongst the crime-ridden streets of Boston, this film centers on three different groups: the Irish Mob, the Italian Mafia, and the FBI’s Boston Office. A hidden deal is made between Whitey and Connolly; Whitey is to report back to Connolly on the happenings of the notorious Italian Mafia, and, in return, Connolly would turn a blind eye to the crimes of the Irish Mob. Whitey, a blue-eyed Irish man who is balding on top, would be the last description expected for dark-featured, movie-star-esque Depp. But after my immediate recognition of the well-known actor, I completely forgot that he was also Willy Wonka and the Mad Hatter — I was transported into this gritty story of murder and illegal activity, spellbound by what humans will do for money and power.
Depp isn’t the only one who could be nominated for an Oscar. Other notable actors with stellar performances in this film include Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Depp’s character’s brother in the film – Billy Bulger, former President of the Massachusetts Senate – an important, official man with a sweet spot for his criminal brother.
With this star-filled film, the expectations were high, and they were definitely exceeded. This complex tale is more than meets the eye; it is more than your stereotypical shoot-em-up gangster film. The message it left me with about the human condition,the power of love and greed, and what one would do for their friends and family times of adversity really causes one to contemplate the complexities of human relationships in the world. Every single character is dynamic, and discovers at least one thing about themselves through this journey that they weren’t aware of beforehand. The world of Whitey Bulger in the 1970’s was a harsh one, and this film by Scott Cooper does an exceptional job of telling its extravagant story of love and murder.
