Black Mass, starring Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch.
With a receding hairline, cold blue eyes and prosthetic across his face, it's almost impossible to recognise Johnny Depp in this crime drama about Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger, one of America's most notorious gangsters.
Though Depp is no stranger to finding characters through costume and makeup, compared to recent efforts such as Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lone Ranger, his portrayal of Bulger marks a return to form.
At first the physical transformation is distracting, but it's not long before Depp's intense, quietly disturbing portrayal of this cold-blooded killer pulls you in.
It's complemented by an equally good performance from Australian actor Joel Edgerton as FBI agent John Connolly.
Joel Edgerton portrays John Connolly in a scene from, Black Mass. Photo / AP
Based on the book by former Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerald O'Neill, Black Mass tells the true story of Jimmy Bulger, a small-time Irish American crook in blue-collar South Boston during the mid 70s. Bulger was recruited by childhood friend John Connolly (Edgerton) to inform on his competitors, the Italian Mafia. In return, the FBI turned a blind eye to his own criminal activity, leaving him to become one of the most ruthless and untouchable criminal bosses in Massachusetts' history.
Bulger and Connolly's relationship is at the centre of this story. They're ambitious men who convince themselves and those around them the truth isn't what it seems. Bulger, who kills informants with his own hands, considers himself not an informer but to be in a business "alliance" with the FBI, while Connolly tries to ignore the blood on his hands as information passed to Bulger ends with graves being dug.
Screenwriters Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth make an effort to capture a rounded view of Bulger beyond being a psychopath -- he's also a father, son, and brother to Senator Billy Bulger, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. However, the most revealing performances are often from those in smaller roles whose characters are impacted by Bulger's reign of terror.
Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Billy Bulger and Johnny Depp portrays Whitey Bulger in the film, Black Mass.
Standouts are Peter Sarsgaard as a junkie embroiled in Bulger's business, Rory Cochrane as Bulger's hitman Steve Flemmi, whose job begins to weigh on him, and David Harbour as Connolly's timid FBI partner.
Dakota Johnson also holds her own against Depp as the mother of his son, and is possibly the only person who stands up to Bulger and lives to tell the story.
Mallouk and Butterworth's sharp script uses Bulger's associates being interviewed by investigators as a narration, enabling director Scott Cooper to flash back through Bulger's almost two-decade rule at a good pace, aided by a tense musical score from Dutch composer Tom Holkenborg. Masanobu Takayanagi's cinematography never feels rushed, with the camera often levitating in around Bulger as he silently seethes.
Johnny Depp and Rory Cochrane appear in a scene from, Black Mass. Photo / AP
The action comes in short, sharp bursts of gunfire that deliver a shot of adrenaline, or slightly longer scenes when Bulger kills with his own hands, but Cooper doesn't let the violence overwhelm his story, often turning his camera to the witnesses rather than the victim.
Black Mass isn't quite in the same league as The Departed (also inspired by Bulger) or Eastern Promises; but this smart, well-acted and entertaining film beats to its own drum and is an intriguing addition to the genre.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton Director: Scott Cooper Running Time: 122 mins Rating: R18 (Violence and offensive language) Verdict: Nicely paced, well acted gangster flick
