Black Mass (2/16/2016)

Rated R for brutal violence, language throughout, some sexual references and brief drug use.

Starring Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sienna Miller, Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon and Peter Sarsgaard

Directed by Scott Cooper (Out of the Furnace and Crazy Heart )

A brutal look at the life of James Whitey Bulger.

In 1970’s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. 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.

To say I was surprised to learn that Johnny Depp had been cast as the legendary crime boss James Whitey Bulger would be a massive understatement. Depp has made a career of playing the weird, wild and bizarre rolls. He seems very comfortable playing a vampire, a pirate, a blade-fingered freak, or a singing demon barber, however playing a real-life person in a real-life world seems to be a stretch. But I have to hand it to him; he was absolutely fantastic and unbelievably scary as Jimmy Bulger.

The rest of the cast including Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Kevin Bacon are incredibly strong. And when making a biopic, cast is extremely important.

Although more importantly than the cast, is the story. And the story of James Bolger is shockingly disturbing. The amount of violence and criminal activity keeps the audience amazed that this is a true story and not the work of Hollywood fiction. There were several times that the violence on the screen made me wince…and that violence is relentless throughout the film.

Director Scoot Cooper does a decent job, but I can’t say he re-invented the gangster movie. There are several scenes that reminded me of Goodfellas, The Godfather, The Departed, or others. I actually like those films and kept wondering through the movie, “was this life imitating art or art imitating life.”

This is a gangster film about one of Boston’s most notorious gangsters, so I was not surprised at the amount of language and violence. And although it was well done, I still can only give it a “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There are a few mild sexual references, but no sex or nudity.

The violence is very graphic and bloody. We see several people shot, beaten and tortured.

There are over 250 F-words, 75 S-words and others.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. What would you say FBI Agent John Connolly is trying to do in the film?


2. How does he go about doing it?


3. What lessons do we learn in this film about what happens when someone tries to do the right thing the wrong way?


4. Can you think of a time when you did the right thing the wrong way? What happened?

Read Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Read Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.


5. How can you quote “trust in the Lord” instead of doing things quote “the way that seems right to man”?