Black Mass

Name: Black Mass
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, Crime
Released: September 18, 2015
Duration: 122 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton, Johnny Depp

2015

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 477 Ratings

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7.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 477 Ratings

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Black Mass

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: September 18, 2015 | R

Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton, Johnny Depp

Summary: In 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. The drama tells the true story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidateIn 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. The drama tells the true story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidate power, and become one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history.… Expand

Director: Scott Cooper

Genre(s): Action, Biography, Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 122 min

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Critic Reviews

Scott Foundas

Sep 4, 2015

If Johnny Depp’s mesmerizing performance — a bracing return to form for the star after a series of critical and commercial misfires — is the chief selling point of Black Mass, there is much else to recommend this sober, sprawling, deeply engrossing evocation of Bulger’s South Boston fiefdom and his complex relationship with the FBI agent John Connolly, played with equally impressive skill by Joel Edgerton. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Sep 4, 2015

Scott Cooper’s Black Mass is a big, brash, horribly watchable gangster picture taken from an extraordinary true story and conceived on familiar generic lines. Read full review

Neil Smith

Nov 23, 2015

Though the women could be stronger and the accents occasionally jar, cooper’s study of moral corruption enthrals. The Johnny-ssance starts here! Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Sep 15, 2015

The “banality of evil” was never so hypocritical, so banal and so evil. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

Sep 16, 2015

By necessity, Black Mass begins in a hole it can never dig out of. It’s the portrait of a monster told in a flat line. Read full review

Ty Burr

Sep 17, 2015

It’s a solid if not stellar crime drama, well put together, very well acted, and lacking only a genuine reason to exist. Read full review

Christopher Gray

Sep 16, 2015

Like any crime saga without a more potent thematic hook, the film's relentlessly insular script dwells on themes of loyalty and fraternity. Read full review

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User Reviews

CompaCaballero

Sep 19, 2015

This Is The Type Of Movies We Want Johnny Depp To Star Finally. Hopefully He Starts Making Better Movies Like This To Show Us That He Really Has Acting Skills Johnny Depp Oscar Performance

7 of 21 users found this helpful714

Phantasma

Sep 22, 2015

A chilling retelling of the life of a notorious mobster, Black Mass is a film that can be a pleasant surprise for fans and film critics alike. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Whitey Bulger is frighteningly uncanny, although it does have the Depp flair that most of us know and love. BarelyA chilling retelling of the life of a notorious mobster, Black Mass is a film that can be a pleasant surprise for fans and film critics alike. Johnny Depp's portrayal of Whitey Bulger is frighteningly uncanny, although it does have the Depp flair that most of us know and love. Barely recognisable underneath his costume, this is certainly one of the darker films that he has done, and while ambitious, it has paid off.

While I agree with some people who suggest that Depp hasn't had the best few years in terms of film releases (Dark Shadows and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides spring to mind), I feel that this film has definitely helped boost his career, and it is a good reminder that not only is he versatile, he's still got it. It's a performance as memorable as Edward Scissorhands and Jack Sparrow (Sorry, Captain Jack Sparrow...), and maybe this is the first of many good films that is to be released with him starring in the future.… Expand

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

Jacob

Sep 19, 2015

Black Mass is an intense film. Along with doing a good job telling and presenting the story of a gangster it serves as a redeemer for Johnny Depp. The performance given by Depp is an intense and he will hopefully get an Oscar nomination for it. If only I could say the same for Cumberbatch’sBlack Mass is an intense film. Along with doing a good job telling and presenting the story of a gangster it serves as a redeemer for Johnny Depp. The performance given by Depp is an intense and he will hopefully get an Oscar nomination for it. If only I could say the same for Cumberbatch’s clearly fake Boston accent.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

EpicLadySponge

Feb 20, 2016

While not the best Johnny Depp movie I've ever seen, it still manages to hold what they call it... greatness... onto the film. Highly enjoyable based on your opinion.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

bfoore90

Sep 22, 2015

After a few critical misfires Johnny Depp finally delivers a quite intense and disturbing performance as James "Whitey" Bulger. The movie carries itself well, doesn't drag or feel boring, it keeps you glued and that is the giveaway. A fine cast also helps the movie but Depp's performance isAfter a few critical misfires Johnny Depp finally delivers a quite intense and disturbing performance as James "Whitey" Bulger. The movie carries itself well, doesn't drag or feel boring, it keeps you glued and that is the giveaway. A fine cast also helps the movie but Depp's performance is near Oscar worthy, never before have I seen him in such a unrecognizable scary and sociopathic role where you can hardly remember that it is Johnny Depp as the lead.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

Axgrinder

Sep 18, 2015

Only mildly interesting. I expected Bulger’s life to be fascinating, but it’s more like Joe Pesci’s character in Goodfellas on Lithium.

This gangster story covers little new ground. The movie is conventional storytelling that lacks drama and feels a bit too long as it labors through twoOnly mildly interesting. I expected Bulger’s life to be fascinating, but it’s more like Joe Pesci’s character in Goodfellas on Lithium.

This gangster story covers little new ground. The movie is conventional storytelling that lacks drama and feels a bit too long as it labors through two decades of Bulger’s life as a criminal who murdered those around him whom he viewed as a potential threat, and then skips over how he went in to hiding and managed to avoid capture for 16 years. Many of the scenes are reminiscent of Goodfellas only much duller. While you might think it would be cool to be a Wiseguy, you’d never want to be a member of the Winter Hill Gang, because their lives are completely devoid of any joy, excitement or anxiety.

J Depp will no doubt receive a Best Actor nomination, but it’s not enough to make me recommend this movie. After a long summer movie drought, this movie was like the promise of rain in the Kalahari Desert, only to see it evaporate before ever touching the ground.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

Broyax

Dec 30, 2019

Une sorte de saga criminelle du pauvre, très pauvre et très éloignée des (rares, certes) références dans le genre mais tout de même : qu'est-ce que c'est mauvais ! je dirai que c'est criminel de faire un film pareil, aussi nul à chier dans tous les compartiments, où que l'on regarde...

LaUne sorte de saga criminelle du pauvre, très pauvre et très éloignée des (rares, certes) références dans le genre mais tout de même : qu'est-ce que c'est mauvais ! je dirai que c'est criminel de faire un film pareil, aussi nul à chier dans tous les compartiments, où que l'on regarde...

La mise en scène est molle, le scénario est ramolli et surtout prétexte à des bavardages futiles et insignifiants à peine dignes d'une série télé à deux balles ; le film entier pédale dans le choucroute, s'égare en poncifs et pendant ce temps, on commence à roupiller d'ennui...

Jonny Depp, ce bon vieux Johnny n'est pas si vieux, loin de là... il fait partie de ces acteurs qui ont toujours fait plus jeune que leur âge, alors il a fallu le grimer pour qu'il ressemble à un ringard d'ex-taulard mais c'est peine perdue : il a juste l'air d'un con et son jeu s'avère très décevant. On voit bien qu'il est dépassé par le rôle et mal dirigé. Pourtant, il avait démontré dans Blow qu'il pouvait jouer les mauvais garçons mais ici de toute façon, rien ne va : un ratage complet qu'il vaut mieux mettre au placard ou plutôt... dans une grande poubelle.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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47	#47 Most Discussed Movie of 2015
7	#7 Most Shared Movie of 2015