BLACK MASS
Director: Scott Cooper
Writers: Mark Mallouk, Jez Butterworth
Stars: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson
Director: Scott Cooper
Writers: Mark Mallouk, Jez Butterworth
Stars: Johnny Depp, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson
Johnny
Depp has had a bit of a tough run as of late. Once a dynamic actor with an
incredible screen presence, it seemed that that version of Depp had vanished,
and in his place, a bumbling parody of his former self that made bad choices in
regards to scripts. Mortdecai failed
to win over its audience, Transcendence disappointed
and The Lone Ranger reminded us that
Depp should never, ever work with Gore Verbinski again. How happy I was,
however, to see Depp return to form in gangster biopic Black Mass. Depp plays Whitey Bulger, an insanely violent criminal
that is enlisted as an FBI informant in order to bring down a Mafia family.
When seeing this film, it was impossible not to make comparisons to Legend, another gangster biopic that came out earlier this year. Undoubtedly, Legend was the better film, but Black Mass certainly has its strong points. Depp completely owns the role of Bulger, and brings in an intense and often terrifying performance, and whenever a scene takes place without him, you sit there longing for him to come back, because his screen presence in this film is captivating. The film is brutally violent in parts, and the filmmakers never shy away or try to restrict how much they can show. Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger's brother was also a good little extra.
The film, however, does have a problem with pacing, which can be the central problem when it comes to biopics. At two hours long, the filmmakers do get a lot in there, but at times it feels rushed. Dakota Johnson still shows that she has difficulty acting, as her performance here is just as dull and uninteresting as it was in the equally terrible 50 Shades of Grey. There are also not a lot of scenes worth remembering, with the exception of one or two.
Black Mass is an often mixed film with moments of greatness and moments of nothing much going on, held together by Depp on top form. It's unfortunate that Black Mass and Legend have come out within the same year, because for those who have seen both, comparisons are going to be made. A decent watch, but for a gangster biopic with some teeth, go check out Legend.
When seeing this film, it was impossible not to make comparisons to Legend, another gangster biopic that came out earlier this year. Undoubtedly, Legend was the better film, but Black Mass certainly has its strong points. Depp completely owns the role of Bulger, and brings in an intense and often terrifying performance, and whenever a scene takes place without him, you sit there longing for him to come back, because his screen presence in this film is captivating. The film is brutally violent in parts, and the filmmakers never shy away or try to restrict how much they can show. Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger's brother was also a good little extra.
The film, however, does have a problem with pacing, which can be the central problem when it comes to biopics. At two hours long, the filmmakers do get a lot in there, but at times it feels rushed. Dakota Johnson still shows that she has difficulty acting, as her performance here is just as dull and uninteresting as it was in the equally terrible 50 Shades of Grey. There are also not a lot of scenes worth remembering, with the exception of one or two.
Black Mass is an often mixed film with moments of greatness and moments of nothing much going on, held together by Depp on top form. It's unfortunate that Black Mass and Legend have come out within the same year, because for those who have seen both, comparisons are going to be made. A decent watch, but for a gangster biopic with some teeth, go check out Legend.
3/5
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