Engrossing gangster film

Rating: Null/10 (4 November 2015)

The True Story of an alliance Between the FBI and the Boston Irish Mob.
Director Scott Cooper offers an intermittently ultra violent, well acted and staged film, the Black Mass is strong gangster film with a large scope. While not reaching the heights of the Godfather parts, Goodfellas or Once Upon a time in America, it's certainly up there if not surpasses the comparable Donnie Brasco and Casino.
There's a strong supporting cast of actors, lead Johnny Depp is steely and downright intimidating as "Whitey" Bulger. His brother Bill, a politician is played by Benedict Cumberbatch and (even though top billed) has limited screen time. Joel Edgerton is FBI agent John Connolly and steals the show. Notable is Kevin Bacon.
Depp is fantastic right down to his shoddy teeth, the aged makeup as it flips between time periods, not just on Depp, but the other cast members is terrific. The set design, locations and music captures the period back drop flawlessly.
While some of the accents may not be perfect, Cooper and writers Jez Butterworth Mark Mallouk based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill offer a deeply engrossing shocking gangster tale.