Performances from Johnny Depp and Joel Edgerton save Black Mass.

Rating: 6/10 (4 October 2015)

The only thing that will surprise you about Black Mass is why we ever doubted Johnny Depp in the first place.
In all fairness Depp hasn't had the best track record as of late but not for his lack of effort. Yes he loves to hide behind make-up and prosthetics, but doesn't Mr. Depp always sink into these bizarre characters like a glove? His range of performances is something to be admired, and his portrayal of the notorious South Boston gangster Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger is no different. It's simply an outstanding performance. The entire film seems to hinge on it; he's captivating, frightening, odd, and charismatic all at once. And Depp isn't the only one doing great work here. Benedict Cumberbatch does a fine job with that difficult Boston accent, Kevin Bacon is reliable as usual, Dakota Johnson, Corey Stoll, Jesse Plemons all provide solid character work. But the real standout is Joel Edgerton. This man is unstoppable as of late. With The Gift earlier this year and now his turn as a corrupt FBI agent in this film, Edgerton has established himself as a true talent we can expect great things from. But with all these fantastic performances the film just isn't that memorable.
Director Scott Cooper does an admirable job but his approach to the content lacks insight or originality. The story stays engaging at first but looses steam midway and never seems to find it's footing near the end. Overall it's an entertaining film thanks to its actors but won't be leaving you wanting more.