Black Mass has a great cast, but only two get used well

Rating: 6/10 (8 December 2015)

Scott Cooper is a guy who directed Crazy Heart which I've heard is good but haven't seen, and Out of the Furnace which I was unimpressed by for its tone. Regardless, his film have a solid feel to them - they feel robust, and he is great for getting great people in-front of the camera.
In this film, the two featured leads, Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton, deliver the best work they could possibly do; Depp's performance as James Bulger is malevolent, terrifying, and in many scenes totally believable. He isn't a light, jolly, seductive figure that Depp's reputation lends itself naturally towards, and I think is totally worthy of an Oscar. Joel Edgerton as John Connolly, Bulger's FBI handler who is manipulated is fantastic as the man whose awe of Bulger drags him in deeper and deeper to the point where he can't separate personal and professional boundaries.
The biggest problem with the film is that the emotional fulcrum point is around the two most emotionally compromising people. The other cast are fairly wasted; the most notable example is Benedict Cumberbatch, who does great as Senator Billy Bulger, who creates a honorable, no bs man who loses his position because of his brother is pushed to the side despite a great performance with a believable Boston accent.
Overall the film is a strong one, but it keeps itself from being perfect. Depp's performance however IS perfect, and is solely worth seeing for that.