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Black Mass (Blu-ray Review)

March 20, 2016 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Starring: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Jesse Plemons
Director: Scott Cooper
Running Time: 123 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: March 21st 2016 (UK)

At the beginning of Black Mass I was worried that the whole thing was going to be spoiled by Johnny Depp’s makeup, or more particularly the ridiculously blue contact lenses he wears as part of his efforts to make himself look like the real James ‘Whitey’ Bulger. Thankfully, relatively quickly you get used to it, helped by the fact this is the best performance Depp has given in years.

The movie tells the real-life tale of Bulger, who grew up on the tough streets of South Boston before becoming a gangster and the leader of the vicious Winter Hill Gang. His childhood friend, John Connolly (Joes Edgerton), is now an FBI agent, who comes up with a plan he thinks can help the feds take down the Mafia and other parts of Boston’s organised crime. He wants to get Bulger to turn informant, in return for the FBI turning a blind eye to his gang’s activities. [Read more…]

Fresh Black Mass Trailer – Johnny Depp is a major mobster

August 1, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Three-time Oscar nominee Johnny Depp (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Finding Neverland,” the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) stars as notorious mobster James “Whitey” Bulger in the drama “Black Mass,” directed by Scott Cooper (“Crazy Heart”).

The film also stars Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly; Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”) as Whitey’s brother, powerful State Senator Billy Bulger; Rory Cochrane (“Argo”) as Steve Flemmi, Whitey’s closest partner in crime; Jesse Plemons (TV’s “Fargo”) as Whitey’s main henchman, Kevin Weeks; and Kevin Bacon (“Crazy, Stupid, Love.” TV’s “The Following”) as FBI Special Agent in Charge Charles McGuire.

In 1970s South Boston, FBI Agent John Connolly (Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster Jimmy Bulger (Depp) to collaborate with the FBI in order to eliminate their 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 while consolidating his power and becoming one of the most ruthless and dangerous gangsters in Boston history.

Cooper directed “Black Mass” from a screenplay by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth, based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill. It’s due out in the UK in November. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Scott, Dakota Johnson, Corey Stoll DIRECTORS: Scott Cooper FILMS: Black Mass

New Black Mass Trailer – Johnny Depp gets involved in organised crime

May 24, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Synopsis: Black Mass stars Oscar® nominee Johnny Depp (“Public Enemies”, “Donnie Brasco”, the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films) as Whitey Bulger and Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) as FBI Agent John Connolly. Filming began in Boston under the direction of Scott Cooper (“Out of the Furnace,” “Crazy Heart”).

#The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch (“Twelve Years a Slave”) as Whitey’s brother, Billy Bulger, who is a Massachusetts State Senator; Jesse Plemons (AMC’s “Breaking Bad”) as Whitey’s longtime partner in crime, Kevin Weeks; Dakota Johnson (“Fifty Shades of Grey”) as Lindsey Cyr, Whitey’s former girlfriend and mother of his only child; Rory Cochrane (“Argo”) as Steve Flemmi, another member of the Irish mob; Julianne Nicholson (“August: Osage County”) as John Connolly’s wife, Marianne; and Adam Scott (ABC’s “Parks and Recreation”) as FBI Agent Robert Fitzpatrick. Rounding out the main cast are David Harbour (“End of Watch”), Jeremy Strong (“Zero Dark Thirty”), Brad Carter (HBO’s “True Detective”), W. Earl Brown (“Draft Day”) and Corey Stoll (“The Bourne Legacy”).

‘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: the Italian mob. The drama tells the true 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.’

The movie is due out in November. [Read more…]

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Scott, Dakota Johnson, Corey Stoll DIRECTORS: Scott Cooper FILMS: Black Mass

Black Mass Trailer – Johnny Depp’s hairline recedes for the Whitey Bulger crime thriller

April 23, 2015 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Johnny Depp is currently back in the world of Jack Sparrow on the set of the new Pirates Of The Caribbean movie, but he’s got something rather different coming up, where he stars in the biopic of Boston gangster Whitey Bulger. He certainly looks rather different though, with receding hairline, coloured contacts and facial prosthetics.

He’s joined by a great cast, including Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, Jesse Plemons, Corey Stoll, Rory Cochrane, Sienna Miller, Adam Scott.

James ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Johnny Depp) was a Boston criminal who ended up becoming an FBI informant, with the help of his longtime friend and FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) and his brother (Cumberbatch). However Whitey didn’t completely turn good guy, as his tips to the feds were mainly about getting rid of his mob competition.

When Connolly tipped Bulger off that the feds were planning on double-crossing him, the criminal went into hiding for more than a decade, rising to the top of the FBI’s Most Wanted list before he was eventually caught in 2011 while hiding out in Santa Monica, California.

Billy was never implicated in Whitey’s criminal activities, but his political opponents inevitably tried to use his brother’s reputation against him.

[Read more…]

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton FILMS: Black Mass

Benedict Cumberbatch & Adam Scott Join Johnny Depp In Black Mass

May 22, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Benedict Cumberbatch is the new Guy Pearce, or at least he is in Black Mass, as THR reports that he’s taking over from the Aussie actor in the Whitey Bulger biopic.

He will play Whitey Bulger’s brother Billy, the former President of the Massachusetts State Senate.

Billy was never implicated in Whitey’s criminal activities, but his political opponents inevitably tried to use his brother’s reputation against him.

Adam Scott has also signed on to be FBI agent Robert Fitzpatrick

Cumberbatch is a bit of a last-minute replacement as shooting is currently under way in Boston.

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ACTORS: Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Scott, Johnny Depp FILMS: Black Mass

Jesse Plemons & Juno Temple Up For Black Mass

April 3, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

A couple of months ago Jesse Plemons’ name was linked with Star Wars, but now he’s landed a different role, as THR reports that he’s up for Black Mass, starring alongside Johnny Depp and a fellow new addition, Juno Temple.

The film is a biopic of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Depp), a Boston criminal who ended up becoming an FBI informant, with the help of his longtime friend and FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) and his brother (Guy Pearce), who was the former President of the Massachussets State Senate. However Whitey didn’t completely turn good guy, as his tips to the feds were mainly about getting rid of his mob competition.

Plemons will be Kevin Weeks, “a blue-collar tough guy who is part of Whitey’s inner circle.” Temple meanwhile will be a prostitute.

As Black Mass is due to shoot this summer, it suggests Plemons is out of contention for Star Wars, which isn’t too surprising as he was just one of many young actors JJ Abrams met for role in the movie.

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ACTORS: Jesse Plemons, Juno Temple, Johnny Depp FILMS: Black Mass

Guy Pearce Will Have A Black Mass With Johnny Depp

March 14, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

After it all fell apart last year, Black Mass is back on track with Johnny Depp signed up once more for the lead role, and Joel Edgerton co-starring, with Scott Cooper set to direct. Now Variety reports another great actor has signed on, as Guy Pearce will also star.

The film is a biopic of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger (Johnny Depp), a Boston criminal who ended up becoming an FBI informant, with the help of his longtime friend and FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) and his brother (Guy Pearce), who was the former President of the Massachussets State Senate. However Whitey didn’t completely turn good guy, as his tips to the feds were mainly about getting rid of his mob competition.

Bulger served as the inspiration for Jack Nicholson’s Frank Costello in The Departed and Pete Postlethwaite’s Fergus ‘Fergie’ Colm in The Town.

Filming is set to start this spring in Boston, with an October 2015 release date set.

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp, Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton DIRECTORS: Scott Cooper FILMS: Black Mass

Tom Hardy In Talks For Black Mass, With Johnny Depp Confirmed For The Crime Flick

February 8, 2014 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Tom Hardy

A few weeks ago it was revealed that after stepping away from the Whitey Bulger biopic Black Mass last year, Johnny Depp was circling the project again. He got interested again after shooting of the movie was delayed and the director swapped from Barry Levinson to Scott Cooper. Now Deadline reports that Depp has finalised his deal to play the Boston crime.

They also report that Tom Hardy is in talks to play FBI agent John Connolly. Joel Edgerton was previously attached to play Connolly, but he is no longer involved in the project. There’s no news on how close Hardy is to signing.

Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth wrote the original script, adapted from Black Mass: The True Story Of An Unholy Alliance Between The FBI And The Irish Mob by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neil. The story James ‘Whitey’ Bulger, a major player in organised crime, who became an FBI informant with the help of his childhood friend, the FBI agent John Connolly. Bulger wanted to rid his neighbourhood of Italian mafia elements. While that may sound like a good thing, it actually just strengthened the grip Bulger’s Winter Hill Gang’s grip had on the community.

The FBI eventually double-crossed Bulger, causing the criminal to go into hiding for more than a decade, before he was eventually caught hiding out in California in 2011.

Shooting is is scheduled to begin in May.

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp, Tom Hardy DIRECTORS: Scott Cooper FILMS: Black Mass

Johnny Depp Out Of Whitey Bulger Biopic Black Mass

May 30, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

When Johnny Depp was sorting out his schedule earlier this year, he decided to make Wally Pfister’s Transcendence, then head to Black Mass, before going to the Pirates Of The Caribbean 5 set next January. However it now appears he has a gap in that list, as he’s currently stepped away from Black Mass over a salary dispute, according to Deadline.

Depp had been due to receive his usual $20 million asking price for the Whitey Bulger gangster biopic. However the project sold softly at Cannes, which has caused the producers to look at ways to cut costs (believed to be in the high $60 millions). They asked Depp to halve his fee, and the star has balked.

It could just be a negotiation tactic on Depp’s part, but at the moment he’s not part of the film. It’s a bit of a surprise as it’s only two weeks since Joel Edgerton signed on to the movie. He’s currently still involved, but he’ll need a new partner for the flick.

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp FILMS: Black Mass

Johnny Depp Going To Black Mass For A Gangster Whitey Bulger Biopic

February 4, 2013 By Tim Isaac Leave a Comment

Johnny Depp is going to be getting his gangster on as he’s signed on for Black Mass, where he’ll play Boston’s most notorious gangster, Whitey Bulger. The film is set to be directed by Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man).

The movie will be based on Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, written by former Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerald O’Neill. However events have slightly overtaken the 2001 book, with writer Mark Mallouk’s screenplay taking into account that Bulger – who had been on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list for more than a decade – was captured in June 2011.

Produer Brian Oliver commented, “I could not be more thrilled to have the biggest star in the world and Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson to finally bring this incredible story to the big screen. We have been working on this project since we originally optioned the book in 2005. Black Mass expertly details the twists and turns of this highly complex story, painting a vivid portrait of Boston’s underbelly and its corrupt political machine, as well as exposing the worst scandal in FBI history. It’s also an examination of loyalty to family, Irish heritage, and South Boston.”

Black Mass tells 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 Mafia family invading his turf. However, after the Feds closed in on their targets, they double crossed Bulger and ultimately prosecuted him, along with his partner in crime and the original FBI agent working with him.

The film is being sold at the Berlin Film Festival, with a May 2013 start date.

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ACTORS: Johnny Depp DIRECTORS: Barry Levinson FILMS: Black Mass