Black Mass

Parental Rating: R

Contains: Language    Violence    Drug Use    Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens September 18, 2015

Runs 122 minutes

James (Jimmy) "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp) was raised on the streets of South Boston and went on to become the head of the Sugar Hill gang and godfather of the Irish mafia. He was one of the most infamous, violent criminals in Boston, while his brother Billy (Benedict Cumberbatch) went on to become a high ranking state senator. John Connolly (Joel Edgarton) was a striving F.B.I. agent who grew up with the Bulger brothers. He brokered an "alliance" with Jimmy whereby Jimmy would provide information that would help John and the F.B.I. take down the Italian mafia but actually led to Jimmy's rise in power. Of course, this spiraled into betrayals, murders and ultimately indictments of almost everyone involved. Jimmy went on the lam and was considered one of the F.B.I.'s most wanted for over 20 years until his recent capture.

This is a fantastic movie. I was familiar with the name Whitey Bulger and I knew that he had recently been apprehended, but I had no idea of the level of corruption and other criminal activities in which he and the F.B.I were involved. This is an intense film with strong language and violence. Whitey was not a good person and it was dangerous to cross him. I thought Johnny Depp was really good. And, Joel Edgarton was terrific throughout his character's rise and fall. Even if you don't know anything about this story, it doesn't matter. You will be riveted by this film. Definitely go see it!

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