The true story behind boston gangster whitey bulger, played by. Black mass is a new york times and boston globe bestseller, written by two former reporters who were on the case from the beginning. Apr 23, 2015 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. A mobster expert separates truth from fiction in black mass. Black mass, whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal was originally published in 2001 when bulger was still on the run with the requisite movie tiein version hitting shelves this summer and.
But its also a superficial way of dismissing the film while ignoring its essence. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob dick lehr, gerard oneill new york. It is an epic story of violence, doublecross, and corruption at the center of which are the black hearts of two old friends whose lives unfolded in the darkness of permanent midnight. It tells the story of how bulger became an fbi informant and how he begins to use the status to his advantage in his criminal activities. Mar 07, 20 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.
Black mass movie vs true story of whitey bulger, john connolly. In researching the black mass true story, we learned that the charles mcguire character is a combination of various agents who. The movie tells the true story of whitey bulger johnny depp, the former leader of the mob crew known as the winter hill gang. For a biopic of a reallife person, this feels like an oddly standard mob thriller.
The real story of boston gangster james whitey bulger is filled with drugs, violence, and murder. Black mass is a horror film where the user becomes part of the action. Sep 17, 2015 black mass, whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal was originally published in 2001 when bulger was still on the run with the requisite movie tiein version hitting shelves this summer and. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob, by dick lehr and gerard oneill. Like any movie based on a true story, black mass was bound to take dramatic license with the story of the fbis unholy alliance with james whitey bulger. It charts his criminal activities and his subsequent dealings with the fbi. Being the self that i am, i like to know the history of what happens in my city.
Black mass on dvd february 16, 2016 starring johnny depp, joel edgerton, benedict cumberbatch, jesse plemons. Black mass is the story of whitey bulger johnny depp, who was the brother of a state senator and the infamous violent leader of south bostons winter hill gang. The performance given by depp is an intense and he will hopefully get an oscar nomination for it. Long past his heartthrob era, johnny depp became a real actor able to deliver a chill when his face subtly changes to an expression of expectant evil which it does frequently in black mass. Sep 23, 2015 black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger and the winter hill gang, hit theaters on friday sept. The drama tells the true story of this unholy alliance. The town of rosewood was destroyed, in what contemporary news reports.
Black mass, the new johnny depp film based on the life of boston mobster whitey bulger, who stood just behind osama bin laden on the fbis mostwanted list for years, hardly. Black mass, directed by scott cooper, is a biographical movie about the american mobster james whitey bulger. Bulger was the subject of toronto international film festival stunner black mass starring johnny depp. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. The film tells the true story of how bulger, the brother of a state senator benedict cumberbatch, became the most feared gangster in boston while simultaneously serving as. Black mass is the real life story of infamous boston crime kingpin whitey bulger. Sep 17, 2015 the script, by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, is based on the 2000 book black mass. That portrayal in the movie rings true to the storyline laid out so masterfully in. The script, by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, is based on the 2000 book black mass.
Black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth. The true story of irish mobster james whitey bulger comes to terrifying life in the latest sneak peek at black mass. Black mass is a 2015 film directed by scott cooper, starring johnny depp, joel edgerton, and benedict cumberbatch. 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. That portrayal in the movie rings true to the storyline laid out so. Apr 21, 2015 the film tells the true story of how bulger, the brother of a state senator benedict cumberbatch, became the most feared gangster in boston while simultaneously serving as an fbi informant to. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob. May 01, 2000 black mass was one of the most interesting book that i have read.
Its the true story of boston gangster james whitey bulger, and its told with gritty filmmaking and robust. Bulger is the subject of toronto international film festival stunner black mass starring johnny depp. Michelle obama has been hosting virtual story time on. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob which follows the criminal career of mobster james whitey bulger.
Michelle obama has been hosting virtual story time on mondays, and. After osama bin laden was killed in 2011, whitey moved into the top spot on the list. The story starts in 1975 with james whitey bulger depp already the chief of the irish mob in south boston. In its heart, black mass is a moral tale with notatallsubtle religious overtones. The film has an ensemble cast including johnny depp, joel edgerton, benedict cumberbatch, kevin bacon, jesse plemons. Black mass was one of the most interesting book that i have read. The 25 best movies based on true stories on netflix april 2020. B the friends of eddie coyle and the departed may be better movies, but they are supposedly fiction, while black mass purports to tell a true story. Barry levinson talks whitey bulger and the black mass movie. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in. The movie is pure fiction based on a true story from 19781994, kevin weeks served as a member of the winter hill gang, and a close friend.
Jul 12, 2017 whitey bulgers enforcer slams black mass. At least six black people and two white people were killed, though eyewitness accounts suggested a higher death toll of 27 to 150. The story of james whitey bulger mobsterturnedfbiinformantturnedfugitive is the stuff of great fiction. Along with doing a good job telling and presenting the story of a gangster it serves as a redeemer for johnny depp. 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. If only i could say the same for cumberbatchs black mass is an intense film. That source material was adapted by firsttime scribe mark mallouk an executive producer on rush and the established screenwriter jez butterworth edge of tomorrow, get on up. The rosewood massacre was a racially motivated massacre of black people and destruction of a black town that took place during the first week of january 1923 in rural levy county, florida. May 22, 2012 black mass is a new york times and boston globe bestseller, written by two former reporters who were on the case from the beginning. Johnny depps chilling and transforming performances is the highlight of this gritty, truetolife adaptation of an american crime story. Disgraced fbi agent john morris gets off really easy in.
From the perspective of someone whos been abducted, youll find your abductors throwing a black veil over your head as you are transported between increasingly freakish scenes. Director scott cooper has kept the story as close as possible to the book on which it is. The true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard oneill the movie stars johnny depp, joel edgerton, benedict cumberbatch, kevin bacon, jesse plemons, peter sarsgaard, rory cochrane, adam. Lehr and gerard oneills book black mass on which the movie was based. Boston native may duel ben affleck and matt damon for mob boss movie door. Once you select rent youll have 14 days to start watching the movie and 24 hours to finish it.
Parents need to know that black mass is based on the true story of james whitey bulger johnny depp the most notorious gangster in south boston history and his relationship with fbi agent john connolly joel edgerton. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in black mass. Published on nov 5, 2017 black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, based on the 2001 book black mass. S cott cooper s black mass is a big, brash, horribly watchable gangster picture taken from an extraordinary true story and conceived on familiar generic lines. Film composite of johnny depp as whitey bulger in black mass and. Stevie wasnt all sympathetic, mourning, and sorrowful like he is in the movie. Telling a true story about a mobster responsible for so many deaths could become a valachi papers exercise in just one killing after another, which this film does, but there is. Bulgers winter hill gang is fighting a turf war with the angiulo brothers, an italian crime gang which is trying to muscle out bulgers gang in order to take control of organized crime in boston. This book is a completely true story about bostons major criminals back in mid 1900s. Take a look back at johnny depps movie and tv career in photos.
Black mass nearly does this rich material justice, but not quite. Sep 04, 2015 s cott coopers black mass is a big, brash, horribly watchable gangster picture taken from an extraordinary true story and conceived on familiar generic lines. 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. With mila brener, winston james francis, rosie moss, kat nelson. Told in a bracing historyrevisited fashion bolstered by closeup interviews, the film feels like its allowing audiences into the. Black mass, whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal was originally published in 2001 when bulger was still on the run with the requisite movie tie. Black mass clips featuring johnny depp, joel edgerton collider. Nov 05, 2017 black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, based on the 2001 book black mass. It gave me more details that i never knew about boston massachusetts. Sep 24, 2015 a mobster expert separates truth from fiction in black mass. Black mass, the new johnny depp film based on the life of boston mobster whitey bulger. Black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston. Barry levinson talks whitey bulger and the black mass movie ign.
Everything you need to know about black mass movie 2015. Black mass story the film depicts the true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of south boston. Reallife gangsters pour scorn on johnny depp mob biopic black. Bulger was the subject of toronto international film festival stunner black mass starring. Johnny depp is known for fully transforming into his roles, though instead of becoming a drunken pirate or a wideeyed mad hatter, hes playing a real person in the mobster movie black mass. Oct 30, 2018 james whitey bulger, the notorious boston gangster who was found dead tuesday in his prison cell, reluctantly had his popculture breakthrough in 2015s black mass, portrayed by one of the. A mobster expert separates truth from fiction in black mass bbc.
Black mass movie simple english wikipedia, the free. Johnny depp was nominated for a satellite, saturn and screen actors guild award for his portrayal of the infamous mobster. Its about how evil can flourish simply by being more charismatic and decisive than good. Black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger and the winter hill gang, hit theaters on friday sept. A journalistic account of the scandal surrounding boston underworld figure james whitey bulger and his corrupt ties to.
James whitey bulger, the notorious boston gangster who was found dead tuesday in his prison cell, reluctantly had his popculture breakthrough in 2015s black mass, portrayed by one of the. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi. Black mass is a 2015 american crime movie directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr. Black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film produced and directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, based on dick lehr and gerard oneills 2001 book black mass. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard oneill. His life story was filled with drugs, violence, and murder and inspired the movie black mass starring johnny depp as well as jack nicholsons. Black mass 2015 movies based on true stories popsugar.
The black mass true story confirms that whitey was added to the fbis top 10 most wanted list in 1999, facing charges in 19 murders. The program studied the effects of lsd and other drugs on. The pair, who were childhood pals, form an alliance to help take down bulgers rivals, and things quickly get complicated. The true story behind the film black mass a definitive. Jan 30, 2020 black mass, directed by scott cooper, is a biographical movie about the american mobster james whitey bulger. In 1970s south boston, fbi agent john connolly joel edgerton persuades irish mobster james whitey bulger johnny depp to collaborat. 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.
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