It’s been a long time since anyone has seen Johnny Depp take on a strictly serious role. Based on the book of the same title, Black Mass is director Scott Cooper’s take to grab audiences. And it works. The poster for the movie features a balding Depp, arms crossed, wearing shades, covered by a bloody banner of the supporting cast.
But, there’s a larger task at hand than the realism or impressive cast list. At its heart, Black Mass is about South Boston’s most notorious gangster, “Whitey” Bulger, and his meticulous rise to power due to support from a corrupted FBI precinct.