“Black Mass” has no problem drawing the reader into the film. 

It open with James “Whitey” Bulger saying “I’ve been sitting here for 15 F****** minutes watching stick your fat F****** fingers in the bowl and then licking your F****** fingers and putting them back in the F****** bowl which is for public F****** use,” in essence threatening to take a life over the nut bowl in the bar.

If you’re not a movie-analyzing cinema fanatic, don’t go see this movie. “Black Mass” follows the story of James “Whitey” Bulger played by Johnny Depp. The plot follow James as he rises to become the biggest crime kingpin in Boston, through a secret alliance with the FBI. This deal with the FBI is made with Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) and how James changed his life. Along with James’s brother and U.S Senator William Bulger (Ben Cumberbatch). The movie does have some very renowned actors varying from Star Trek’s Khan Ben Cumberbatch, Public Enemy’s Mafia member Johnny Depp, and the UFC hopeful from Warrior Joel Edgerton.

Scott Cooper directed this movie not just as an autobiography on the Boston-born gangster, but a multi-leveled movie. This movie does break from his usual movies, but Cooper does it well, which does not surprise due to his cinematic variety. He has directed movies in the past that take a somber look at the life of a character like in “Get Low.” “Black Mass” uses dramatic scenes and symbolism throughout that bring the film to a deeper level. The title itself of “Black Mass” has its own secondary meaning, referencing Boston’s Irish culture which is Catholic based, and the blackness affiliated with James. James ”Whitey” Bulger is even characterized by Johnny Depp as this powerful, intimidating, evil mass murderer when he enters a room despite James’s smaller size. There are underlying traits and effects that are created by James in the other characters of the film. This is not a movie for someone who is looking to be spoon fed their entertainment; it takes someone who will look behind the surface level throughout and focus to understand the heavy Boston accent in mannerisms.

The movie can be a highly interesting and rewarding watch. In this case, I’d like to give Black Mass two separate ratings. For a someone who just wants action, you will not enjoy this movie, so I rate it 4/10. The cinema guru and intellectual movie watcher, for the audience member who focuses on every detail, you will love this movie so I give it a solid 8/10. Black Mass is a great representation of the true story of a prominent American gangster and his life without the cinematic CGI and Hollywood explosions that often bury a movie’s plot.