Critical Mass: Johnny Depp shines in Black Mass, but does the rest of the film ... - Entertainment Weekly

After years of roles that led Johnny Depp into cartoonish directions that didn’t quite connect with audiences, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor returns in strong form with Black Mass. Playing real-life Boston crime lord James “Whitey” Bulger, Depp has received near-unanimous praise for his chilling performance, but can the rest of the film and its deep bench of supporting players live up to that central role?

Black Mass follows Bulger as he finds himself caught between his criminal life and acting as an FBI informant in an attempt to protect the area he claims from an invading Mafia family. Bulger is connected to the FBI by his deal struck with John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), while his brother and Massachusetts senator Billy Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch) must reconcile his family loyalty with Bulger’s actions.

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