BLACK MASS

US, 2015, 122 minutes, Colour.
Jonny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon, Peter Sarsgaard, Jesse Plemons, Rory Cochrane, David Harbour, Adam Scott, Corey Stoll, Julianne Nicholson, Bill Camp, Juno Temple.
Directed by Scott Cooper.

Anyone expecting the dramatisation of religious sacrilege or of demonic rituals will be quite disappointed. This is an urban crime story, a portrait of a ruthless gang leader and the role of the FBI. A Black Mass involves the worship of Satan – and this may serve as a metaphor for the central relationship of the film, and a deal with the devil, in the form of Jimmy “Whitey” Bulger of Boston and his school friend, John Connolly, an FBI agent, who makes a deal with Bulger to bring down the Italian Mafia in the city.

Many audiences will find that they are observing the characters and the action rather than becoming involved. While the central character is completely sinister and brutal, there is no identification with him – unless one is something of a psychopath. The film opens with one of his drivers being interrogated by the FBI and giving up information about his boss, so the audience knows that it is a portrait of a loathsome criminal, becoming even more loathsome as we see him as a personality and in action. Throughout the film, other members of his gang are interrogated by the FBI offering further information about him.

He is played by Johnny Depp, in almost the opposite extreme from his Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean. He looks older, pasty-faced, sometimes hooded eyes, bad teeth when he sometimes smiles, receding hairline, quietly spoken but intensely single-minded and ruthless. Joel Edgerton plays John Connolly, a more complex character, who had grown up with the Bulger brothers in South Boston, Irish background, antagonistic towards the Italians, and determined to bring down the Italian Mafia. His deal but the devil, with Bulger, is getting information for the FBI about the Italians from Bulger himself, while protecting him in his empire building.

Actually, Bulger had spent 10 years in prison before the film opens but has a group of reliable henchman around him, gets rid of those he considers disloyal, and is involved in all kinds of rackets, drug-dealing, extortion. He ruled in Boston from 1975 to 1995.

Also in the picture is Bulger’s younger brother, Billy Bulger, who is a Massachusetts Senator – and a strange piece of casting with Benedict Cumberbatch as Billy Bulger, who has an ambiguous attitude towards his brother. Also in the picture is Kevin Bacon as the officer in charge of the FBI in Boston who becomes impatient when Bulger doesn’t supply sufficient information for attacks on the Italian Mafia.

For a moment, we think that Bulger might be a nice kind of person underneath as he is very kind to an old lady in the neighbourhood but this is soon dispelled. His child develops a fever, illness taken to hospital, put on life support which his partner wants to switch off but elicits an eruption of anger from Bulger who cannot bear to think of his dead child.

For those who have seen films like The Departed, Martin Scorsese’s film about racketeers in Boston and undercover agents (on both sides), a lot of the action will seem familiar. There are visits to Florida, business deals which go sour and end in murders, minor vicious criminals, like one played by Peter Sarsgaard, who is brutally murdered on screen. There is a good cameo by Juno Temple as a young prostitute, sure that she has not yet given any information to the police, but nevertheless to be got rid of.

This couldn’t last. Dissatisfied henchman are prepared to open up to the FBI. A new, straight-down-the-line FBI head, played by Corey Stoll, comes to Boston and targets John Connolly as well as Bulger.

There is a lot of detail in the film, performances, crisp dialogue, action sequences that are worthwhile – but, on the whole, we are observing rather than becoming involved.

1. A true story? The 20th century? The 21st century perspective? Boston, Italian and Mafia gangs, Irish gangs from South Boston? Credible investigations, the FBI?

2. The title, the nature of the Black Mass, dealing with the devil? Connolly and his dealing with Jim Bulger?

3. Boston, 1975 to 1995, the city itself, the variety of scenes, the tenements and streets of South Boston, homes, the public buildings, the waterfront, the FBI, the ordinary and the extraordinary? And the scenes in Florida, the contrast with Boston? The musical score?

4. The narrative, the variety of informants, Kevin, Stevie, the cumulative effect? The portrait of Jim Bulger and the perspective on him? sinister and brutal?

5. Audience knowledge of the crimes? The intimations from Martin Scorsese films, especially The Departed? Audience response to Bulger? Johnny Depp playing the role, his look, manner, low key when speaking? The 10 years in prison? Returning, his relationship with his mother, kind to the neighbour, the bond with his brother? His partner, the child and illness, his response in hospital, not wanting to cut off life support, his partner and her reaction, his abrupt response? His relationship with his henchmen, the loyalties? Antagonism towards the Mafia? The details, the drugs, extortion, the number of murders? A crime monster?

6. The contrast with John Connolly, the complexities of his character and experience? From South Boston, the friendship with the Bulgers? Joining the FBI, his aims, antagonism towards the Mafia, determined to get them? Working with Charlie McGuire?, John Morris, Robert Fitzpatrick? As a team? The special bond with John Morris? The idea of using Bulger? Currently meeting with him, the discussions, the plausibility, the agreement? The secrecy? Bulger confiding in Steve? The approval of the authorities?

7. John, his background, South Boston, growing up with Bulger? His social life, his wife, the tensions? The Christmas dinner with the Bulger family? The links with Billy? Years passing, the authorities wanting information? His meeting with Bulger, pleas, the envelope in his car, success, listening to the tapes, the raid on the Mafia? And the protecting of Bulger’s gang enterprises?

8. Work of the FBI, combating Boston crime, Charlie McGuire? and his leadership, growing impatient? Morris and his involvement? Fitzpatrick? the belief in Connolly and his methods?

9. Bulger and action, his men, going to Florida, the discussions, the information from Brian Halloran, giving him the $20,000, the murder of the businessman after his golf game? Brian Halloran and his fears? His ruthless killing his men? The brutality his murder, especially his pleas, Bulger relentless?

10. The years passing, Bulger and his empire, Steve and his participation in the murders? The insertions of his confessions to the FBI? The issue of the prostitute, her personality, sex with Stevie, released from prison, her talking to Bulger, to the apartment, Bulger killing her?

11. Billy, the Senator, his reputation, large family, discussions with John? Knowledge or not of his brother’s criminal activity? Seeing his reputation, the parades, socials, speeches? The death of their mother? The funeral? The aftermath? The Christmas dinner and the guests?

12. The IRA episode, getting the weapons, the trawler, the personnel from Ireland, the plant, giving the information, the arrests?

13. Bulger, not changing his personality, his cruelty, the Empire growing, his reliance on Kevin (and the initial sequence of Kevin as a bouncer, the fight, Bulger taking him in the car, the murder, getting Kevin as driver and as one of his henchmen – and Kevin testifying)?

14. The arrival of Wyshak, serious, the files, Connolly coming in to talk with him, ticket gift, Wyshak as straight down the line, with the agents, the comparisons of information given by Bulger and from other sources? Suspicions of Connolly?

15. Bulger coming to the house, John’s wife and her condemnation of her husband, his swagger like Bulger (and the audience seeing him with the women in Florida)? Going to her room, Bulger and his going to the room and confronting her? The discussion at the table, the steaks, the source and the request to John Morris, his revealing the secret, Bulger taunting him, Connolly being taken in?

16. The informants, Bulger exposed, his sitting in the church contemplating, the headlines, showing them to Kevin and his disbelief? His phone call to Billy?

17. His disappearance? The 16 years? Found in California? Billy cutting off John Connolly? The arrest of John Connolly, his wanting to keep his dignity but the rough treatment by the police?

18. The information given about the criminals, their sentences?

19. In the tradition of films about crime in America?