Long past his heartthrob era, johnny depp became a real actor able to deliver a chill when his face subtly changes to an expression of expectant evil which it does frequently in black mass. If johnny depps mesmerizing performance is the chief selling point of black mass, there is much else to recommend this sober, sprawling, deeply engrossing evocation of bulgers south boston fiefdom. Johnny depps black mass performance was all wrong, according. The title of the film, adapted from a book by dick lehr and gerard oneill. In 1970s south boston, fbi agent john connolly edgerton persuades irish mobster james whitey bulger depp to collaborate with the fbi and eliminate a common enemy.
Telling a true story about a mobster responsible for so many deaths could become a valachi papers exercise in just one killing after another, which this film does, but there is that deep family friendship loyalty thing done. Nov 27, 2015 johnny depp gives an utterly chilling performance as the notorious james whitey bulger in the bostonset crime drama black mass. Sep 17, 2015 only johnny depp could begin 2015 with one of the years worst movies and end it with one of the best. Johnny depp talks transforming into whitey bulger in black mass and his dogs. Sep 17, 2015 the main purpose for black mass is to get star johnny depp in the running for a best actor academy award nomination, if not an outright victory. Apr 24, 2015 threetime oscar nominee johnny depp sweeney todd. Johnny depp looks like a ghost in scott coopers black mass. Please note that is not associated with any other sites, blogs. First trailer, images and posters for the crime drama black mass starring johnny depp, joel edgerton, dakota johnson and benedict cumberbatch. Johnny depp on playing whitey bulger in black mass. The source material for the film was a book written by boston globe reporters gerard oneill and.
Sep 11, 2015 johnny depp s new film, black mass, marks a gear shift for the actor. Aug 27, 2015 black mass producers on johnny depps awards plans, tom cruises power and why relativity failed. Johnny depp transformation for black mass lifeisabirdsong. Black mass, which is based on the book of the same name by two boston globe reporters who. In this adaptation of the book from boston globe reporters dick lehr and gerard o neill. The main purpose for black mass is to get star johnny depp in the running for a best actor academy award nomination, if not an outright victory. Apart from giving us depps best performance in years, black mass directed by scott cooper of crazy heart fame tells the kind of story you wouldnt believe if it wasnt true. Johnny depp talks transforming into whitey bulger in. All of the plottwists that were supposed to feel surprising didnt feel very surprising.
And he says that his reason is that despite three decades spent in. The film was very interesting and would definitely recommend it. The film has an ensemble cast including johnny depp, joel edgerton, benedict cumberbatch, kevin bacon, jesse. The screenplay by mark mallouk and jez butterworth is based on the book by the reporters dick lehr and gerard oneill of the. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in. The guardian called black mass a mighty comeback for the 52yearold actor, and the associated press surmised it may turn out to be johnny depp s year. Theres no surer way to make johnny depp chuckle than to cite those who call his icy performance as the boston gangster whitey bulger in black mass a return to form for the actor. Johnny depp s insane dior fragrance ad is peak johnny depp.
Johnny depps starring role as legendary boston gangster james whitey bulger in the film black mass has critics praising the actor for his most restrained and realistic performance in. The pirates actor transforms into legendary criminal whitey bulger for a careertopping performance. Black mass best quotes if nobody sees it, it didnt. While black mass lacks an emotional core, and the pacing is poor, the intrigue of the story and depp s performance make it work. Johnny depp talks transforming into whitey bulger in black. As bulger, depp doesnt let a masterly makeup job mask the nuances of his characters twisted psyche. Oct, 2015 johnny depp says he has no interest in receiving an academy award for his role as whitey bulger in the new film black mass. Scott cooper narrates a sequence from black mass featuring johnny depp. Sep 19, 2015 theres no surer way to make johnny depp chuckle than to cite those who call his icy performance as the boston gangster whitey bulger in black mass a return to form for the actor. Black mass starring johnny depp and joel edgerton is available on dvd at cockburn libraries.
What ultimately makes black masss engine run are the performances, headlined by legendary work from depp. In the new film black mass, johnny depp plays infamous gangster. Apr 14, 2017 johnny depp talks transforming into whitey bulger in black mass and his dogs. Johnny depp delivers an oscarcaliber performance in. This site is maintained and updated by its owner, site moderators and fans of actor johnny depp, and is in no way affiliated with mr. Johnny depp gives a mesmerizing performance in black mass. Based on the book by dick lehr and gerard oneill and directed by scott cooper crazy heart, the film takes a hard look at the conditions which allowed whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidate power, and become one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in boston. Black mass film, johnny depp makeup artistry bring whitey bulger to life on. It revolves around the life of real life criminal whitey bulger, and his rise and fall in boston. With johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch, dakota johnson, joel edgerton. Thats johnny depp giving everything hes got in a riveting, rattlesnake performance as south boston gangster james whitey bulger in black mass.
Black mass is certified fresh sep 16, 2015 critics say black mass explores welltrodden crime movie territory as well, but the film is elevated by johnny depps mesmerizing lead performance and excellent work from a solid supporting cast. Black mass, directed by scott cooper, who helmed 2009s oscarwinning film crazy heart, tells this bizarre story based on a book of the same. Unlike the book black mass, where the journalists are the heroes, the film. Black mass, the new johnny depp film based on the life of boston mobster whitey bulger, who stood just behind osama bin laden on the fbis mostwanted list for years, hardly needs to diverge. Gangster whitey bulger, found dead tuesday, wasnt a fan of johnny depp s portrayal of him in black mass. Black mass is more the departed than goodfellas jack nicholsons mobster in the. Bulger story may find the story not overly interesting, despite the terrific performances. Black mass, a widereaching look at james whitey bulger johnny depp, an irishamerican mobster, and the impact his life of crime had on his. In his latest film, black mass, depp, in a stunning transformation, creates a gripping and multilayered portrait of infamous gangster james whitey bulger. Sep 17, 2015 i n his portrayal of whitey bulger in the new film black mass, johnny depp, 52, is barely recognizable, his face obscured behind a mask of prostheses and topped by the receding grayblond hair. Johnny depp in a scene from black mass warner brothers.
In many of his other roles he seems to be channeling actors who made extravagant makeup and extreme gestures part of the experience. Black mass by scott cooper johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch. In black mass, johnny depp plays the notorious boston crime lord whitey bulger, and its nice seeing him give a real performance for a change, after swashbuckling and mumbling his way. Black mass is a crime drama thats based on the book black mass. He has played gangsters and petty criminals before but never one. Black mass johnny depp does careerbest work as notorious boston gangster james whitey bulger in scott coopers taut, elegantly understated crime drama. The movie is based on the life of the boston mobster including his often debated relationship with the fbi. The film has an ensemble cast including johnny depp, joel edgerton, benedict cumberbatch, kevin bacon, jesse plemons. Johnny depp has no interest in getting an oscar for black mass. After the critical and box office failures of the lone ranger, transcendence, and mortdecai, depp needed a win and gets one with director scott coopers black mass, a. Sep 24, 2017 the amazing process of johnny depp becoming whitey bulger for the movie black mass. As i stepped into a recent screening, a number of questions ran through my mind. In black mass, we welcome johnny depp back from the land of the freakishly flamboyant, that unbeloved country he has occupied for the past few years see the lone ranger, into the woods or mortdecai.
Johnny depp performance makes black mass a mob hit. Black mass is a decent flick, but by no means is it anything more than. Black mass whitey bulger dead in cell by karen nov 2, 2018 9. Sep 17, 2015 all this makes depp exactly the right person to play bulger in black mass. The true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of south boston, who became an fbi informant to take down a. Telling a true story about a mobster responsible for so many deaths could become a valachi papers exercise in just one killing after another, which this film does, but there is. Johnny depp and joel edgerton in black mass 2015 benedict. Black mass an unholy alliance featurette hd youtube.
Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal introduction. He provides a calm yet sinister presence as whitey bulger, demanding your attention in every scene he is in. People have their humanity, actor johnny depp has been quoted as saying while promoting his latest film and greatest performance in years as james whitey bulger in black mass, a film based upon a book by dick lehr and gerard o neill. Oct 11, 2015 johnny depp at the premiere of black mass. To plot his performance of the vicious mob man, depp said he had to. Exciting young director scott cooper helps johnny depp get back in touch with his missing gravitas. While black mass lacks an emotional core, and the pacing is poor, the intrigue of the story and depps performance make it work. Johnny depps performance as boston mobster whitey bulger has. Depp completely disappears into the role of whitey bulger, and while the actors physical and behavioral transformation is what. Sep 16, 2015 johnny depp on playing whitey bulger in black mass.
Black mass is certified fresh black mass explores welltrodden crime movie territory as well, but the film is elevated by johnny depp s mesmerizing lead performance and excellent work from a. James whitey bulger, the notorious boston gangster who was found dead tuesday in his prison cell, reluctantly had his popculture breakthrough in 2015s black mass, portrayed by one of the. After countless prostheticsladen performances that blurred from one to. The first image of johnny depp as whitey bulger in scott coopers crazy heart black mass was unveiled yesterday, and now we are getting a first look at the footage from the film in an allnew. Johnny depps icy blue eyes pierce through the screen and stay with the viewer long after black mass is over. Nine signs black mass could be johnny depps big comeback. Johnny depp gives a showstopping, oscarworthy performance as notorious irishamerican whitey bulger in black mass. Black mass features an oscarworthy performance from johnny. Praise for johnny depp as black mass premieres in venice. Bulger respectfully declined because i dont believe he was a great fan of the book black mass. Despite peoples feelings about the movie as a whole, almost across the board, johnny depp s performance as notorious boston gangster james whitey bulger in black mass has received praise as one. But the best thing about this film for me was johnny depp, he is so convincing and brilliant, this is what he needs to do more of, he is so good in donnie brasco, public enemies and black mass but then he does all those stupid fantasy films, he is much better in films like this.
Black mass film, johnny depp makeup artistry bring whitey bulger. Its a solid film, with an impressive central performance by johnny depp as boston crime lord james whitey bulger, but it never rises to the level of. Black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film produced and directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, based on dick lehr and gerard oneills 2001 book black mass. Black mass sees an amazing performance from johnny depp. I n his portrayal of whitey bulger in the new film black mass, johnny depp, 52, is barely recognizable, his face obscured behind a mask of prostheses and topped by the receding grayblond hair. Hats off to joel harlow and all the people invlolved. Johnny depp gives an utterly chilling performance as the notorious james whitey bulger in the bostonset crime drama black mass. Black mass, based on the book by dick lehr and gerard oneill, tells the. Telling a true story about a mobster responsible for so many deaths could become a valachi papers exercise in just one killing after another, which this film does, but there is that deep family friendship. The film is an adaptation of the 2000 book by boston globe reporters dick lehr and gerard oneill, which documented bulgers stronghold.
Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in black mass. Black mass producers on johnny depps awards plans, tom. Bulked up johnny depp plants a kiss on amber heard on set of james whitey bulger biopic. The movie follows bulgers rise from petty hood to violent mob boss. Johnny depp stars as bulger, who was the brother of a state senator and was eventually convinced to wear a wire for the fbi to bring down the italian mafia in boston after they invaded his territory. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in black mass. Depps performance is punctuated by sharp outbursts between periods of unnerving stillness when his eyes tell the story of murderous intent. Black mass features depps best performance in years. There is one person who is not a fan, however, and hes certainly in a position to. Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in. Oct 30, 2018 heres how much he hated the performance. What ultimately makes black mass s engine run are the performances, headlined by legendary work from depp. The demon barber of fleet street, finding neverland, the pirates of the caribbean films stars as notorious mobster whitey.
Johnny depp turns in one of his more nuanced and compelling performances in a while in black mass, however, the rest of the film seesaws between tedium and mildly gripping. Scott cooper directs, with mark mallouk penning the screenplay based on dick lehr and gerald oneills 2001 bestseller black mass. Johnny depp kisses amber heard on black mass set for james. But 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. Now depp is coming back in black mass, and for the first time in several. Whiteys rise in bostons demimonde is assisted by fbi agent john. See more ideas about black mass, johnny depp and mass movie.
Sep 17, 2015 thats johnny depp giving everything hes got in a riveting, rattlesnake performance as south boston gangster james whitey bulger in black mass. He delivers an astounding performance that has earned raves from both critics and audiences and is sure to garner awards attention. Black mass best quotes if nobody sees it, it didnt happen. In 1970s south boston, fbi agent john connolly edgerton persuades irish mobster james whitey bulger depp to collaborate with the fbi. Scott coopers whitey bulger saga is a confident and nasty film with impressive. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob. The music sounded like it belonged in a bourne movie. The new trailer for black mass shows johnny depp s whitey bulger as part family man and part brutal gangster, combining the two aspects in a. The drama tells the 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.
Black mass is a decent flick, but by no means is it anything more than decent. Johnny depps involvement with black mass dates back to february 20, when he was. Black mass is based on the 2001 nonfiction book of the same name by. Why is johnny depp s makeup so embarrassingly fake. The screenplay by mark mallouk and jez butterworth is based on the book by the reporters dick lehr and. Johnny depp s new film, black mass, marks a gear shift for the actor.