Black Mass (2015) * * *

Directed by:  Scott Cooper

Starring:  Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Corey Stoll

Black Mass tells a tragic story.   Not about its subject James "Whitey" Bulger (Depp), who acts incorrigibly according to this pathology.   He is a career criminal and killer.    Nothing could or would change that.    Bulger wouldn't want to anyhow.    The tragedy is in the form of FBI agent John Connolly (Edgerton), who flushes his career and ultimately his life down the toilet by forming "an alliance" with his childhood friend Bulger.    The alliance allows Bulger to serve as an FBI informant in exchange for the FBI turning a blind eye to Bulger's crimes.     The FBI is more consumed with taking down the Italian Mafia in Boston, acting as Bulger's defacto private army in his war against the Italians.    Connolly tells Bulger not to murder anyone because the FBI would refuse to cooperate then.    Bulger agrees to this stipulation with his fingers crossed behind his back.  

Connolly's proposal to align with Bulger is self-serving payback for Bulger's friendship as a child.   Connolly rises in the bureau while Bulger becomes the organized crime leader in Boston.    The alliance is mostly one-sided, with Bulger providing very little useful information while Connolly covers up Bulger's dealings and continually goes to bat for him.     It is obvious to everyone but Connolly that he stands the most to lose in this partnership.    Yet, Connolly justifies his relationship with Bulger since, "Jimmy protected me when we were kids."   It is hero worship taken to the extreme.

Black Mass begins as the FBI is investigating Bulger and Connolly.    The "vice is closing in" says Connolly's partner, who knows the end is near.     The FBI is able to turn key Bulger associates who witnessed and participated in various acts of murder, extortion, conspiracy, etc.    What is amazing is how long Connolly was able to keep this up.    The FBI reluctantly agreed to Connolly's proposal to begin with, but Connolly is able for years to convince the FBI not to prosecute Bulger.    It is only the arrival of a no nonsense federal prosecutor that causes the scheme to crumble.     Bulger has the run of the country, but yet can't help but draw attention to himself by murdering enemies and friends alike.

Johnny Depp plays Bulger.    Behind the heavy makeup, colored contact lenses, and receding hairline, we see his Bulger as a man at peace with being a criminal and murderer.    He has enough charisma to keep people loyal to him, but is quick to dispose of those who cross him.    We see a sensitive side to him when he deals with his mother and his state senator brother Billy (Cumberbatch) as well as with his son, who dies at an early age from Reye's syndrome.    His relationship with his brother is a close one, buoyed by the fact that each stays out of the other's business.   

Connolly is every bit the opportunist Bulger is, but wears a suit and tie to work.     What was the motive behind his partnership with Bulger?   Career?   Loyalty?   Friendship?   We see a man who takes an awfully big and unnecessary risk aligning himself with the gangster.    Bulger takes advantage of the situation, seeing the FBI as "doing the work for us."    Connolly is a fool with nothing to gain and everything to lose.    It is amusing to see Connolly bend over backwards and sideways to protect Bulger, who anyone can see isn't holding up his end of the bargain.    His balls are bigger than his foresight.    To him, the FBI shutting down the Bulger operation would be a fate worse than death.   He would no longer be able to associate with Bulger, which would be unacceptable to him.     What makes things worse is how Bulger hardly reciprocates in this supposed friendship.    Connolly is just another guy he can use.

Black Mass is a well-made film with solid performances.    It never escalates into classic mob fare like The Godfather, The Departed (you can't help but see the similarities between Bulger and Jack Nicholson's Frank Costello), and Goodfellas.    Does it even intend to?    It is content with showing Boston bathed in clouds and cold.    I don't recall if any scenes take place in summer or in warm temperatures, even the ones in Florida, where Bulger invests in a corrupt jai alai organization.    Black Mass doesn't achieve that level of greatness that Scorsese and Coppola approached.    We never truly see inside Bulger so he isn't as compelling as a Corleone or a Henry Hill.   Black Mass doesn't allow us inside.    It is a film about atmosphere and coldness filled with mostly selfish, vicious characters.    There is little emotional tug, but still I think it is paced well and envelops us in its myopic world.