Bulger is manipulating everyone, leading the Bureau astray and making them look ridiculous. We’re in over our heads, and he's fully aware of it—a worrying situation for all involved. Black Mass recounts the life of Whitey Bulger (played by Johnny Depp), who was connected to a state senator and served as the notorious, violent head of South Boston’s Winter Hill Gang. The film follows his criminal actions and later interactions with the FBI. Scott Cooper directed Black Mass, and it's one of those cases where a truly exceptional central performance is let down by the overall quality of the movie. Depp completely embodies Bulger, delivering a remarkable portrayal that showcases his talent as an actor. However, the potentially powerful subject matter doesn’t quite come to life on screen. Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by previous films from directors like Coppola and Scorsese? This feels like a low-budget copy of those superior works, presenting something closer to a cartoonish depiction than a nuanced character study. While it holds interest as an examination of a single individual, much of the story is handled cautiously, inserting emotional elements where they aren’t really needed. Many of the supporting characters, who are essential to the plot, feel underdeveloped, and the film's tempo is slow and unrefined. Despite this, there's solid acting from the cast around Depp, especially Joel Edgerton as the dishonest FBI agent John Connolly, and Masanobu Takayanagi’s cinematography creates a delicate and atmospheric visual style. There appears to be an interesting story struggling to emerge, but the fifteen-year wait to bring it to audiences hasn’t been justified. There are moments of genuine intensity, though they're infrequent, resulting in a rather conventional gangster film. 5/10

Source on TMDB