Sometimes a film is easy to sum up. Sometimes it sucks so terribly, or shines so brightly, that a quick writeup is all that’s needed. Sometimes I’m tired and can sum up my feeling on a film because exhaustion apparently sharpens my focus. Or something. Onward, to Black Mass!
Nutshell: Black Mass is a clear-eyed look at a shady time in the FBI’s history, and the life of a notorious Boston mob boss. Right up there with GoodFellas and Casino. Or better yet, Depp’s equally fine Donnie Brasco. Grade: A
What is it: a biopic about Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger and the corruption of some members of the FBI’s Boston office when they decided to use Bulger as an informant. Spoiler Alert: Bulger gets more out of the deal than the FBI does, and the gangster evaded capture for his crimes for years. The dirty FBI agents — and Bulger’s compatriots — didn’t fare as well.
Why should you see it: Black Mass is a fascinating look at the inner workings of Boston’s “Irish Mob”, and how an idea can be good in theory, but horrible in… execution. As Bulger, Depp thoroughly inhabits the character, giving a nuanced performance that many have labeled too humanizing for such a notorious real-life killer. Listening to the actors warm up their Bah-ston Southie accents is a treat. So is seeing so many cool actors in one place; Depp, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, Adam Scott, Corey Stoll, and Benedict Cumberbatch to name a few.
How did I like it: This movie could have easily been simply “The One Where Johnny Depp Wears Contacts And Old Age Makeup”. Instead, it’s a thoughtful, immersive look at what happened when Bulger became an informant (something Bulger to this day denies), and the events leading up to his flight from justice. Black Mass doesn’t point fingers, and it also eschews the good guy/bad guy trope. Everyone is a little bit grey here, and they only get greyer as things progress.
Stuff I loved? Adam Scott’s impressive FBI pr0nstache. Cumberbatch’s oozing charm as a politician that may not be dirty, but knows way too much to be clean. The cohesive feel of the cast playing Bulger’s “Winter Hill Gang”. The amazing soundtrack, from The Animals to the Stones, pipes and drums to disco. The way Edgerton’s agent starts to strut and preen as he becomes dirtier and dirtier. David Rosenbloom’s whipsmart editing that manages to let the story flow regardless of the jumps in chronology and/or location. The absolutely amazing performance Dakota Johnson delivers as Bulger’s common-law wife Lindsey; she’s able to match Depp even when things get intense, and I’m really hoping she gets to dig into more of this caliber of work.
Remember when Johnny Depp was more than a Tim Burton/Disney caricature? If you don’t, then catch Black Mass, and remember.
I love stand-up comedy. I really love stand-up comedy when it teaches you something too, or at least makes you think. So Craig Ferguson’s “Join or Die” series sounds right up my alley. That the History Channel picked it up gives me hope that it’ll be pretty awesome. (I’ve loved his prior specials Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit O’ Revolution and Does This Need to Be Said?)
Okay folks. Ready for some movieness? Here’s The Intern. In case you haven’t seen 
A movie franchise based on a crazy-popular YA trilogy of novels. Sound familiar? Oh yeah, Hollywood is definitely mining the Young Adult section of the bookstore right now. And The 5th Wave is the newest book-to-film coming our way.
Eww, COOTIES! Who doesn’t remember that from school? Whether you had ’em, ran from ’em, or did a little of both, it’s a rite of passage. And apparently it’s also lethal…at least to adults unlucky enough to get caught by a passel of infected kids. Well, at least in Cooties it is. Don’t believe me? Check out the trailer:
It’s variants day y’all! DC Comics has spread the word that there will be special Baltimore Comic-Con variant covers for Batman #44 and Harley Quinn #20!
Get your lanyard, get to Baltimore, and get your S.H.I.E.L.D. ops on y’all. Ming-Nay Wen, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D‘s very own Melinda “The Calvary” May is coming to Baltimore Comic-Con!
Honestly? This year’s lineup is spectacular. I mean awesome. I basically want to just set down in my Clockwork Orange strap-down chair, grab my eyedrops, and settle in. But I’m down here. So I’ll have to wait. ‘Til these hit the local multiplex, here’s what I’m dreaming about catching at the Toronto International Film Festival. Mmmmmmovies…
Johnny Depp does love roles he can sink himself into. So watching him play the notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger in Black Mass should be pretty sweet. Seen the trailer?
Atomic Fangirl 