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Black Mass

Black Mass

Drama · Crime · History · 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 invading his turf.

Movie details

Black Mass

“Keep your enemies close.”

2015 Drama · Crime · History 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.5 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Black Mass?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Scott Cooper

Written by

Jez Butterworth · Mark Mallouk

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp

James 'Whitey' Bulger

Joel Edgerton

Joel Edgerton

John Connolly

Julianne Nicholson

Julianne Nicholson

Marianne Connolly

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson

Lindsey Cyr

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon

FBI Agent Charles McGuire

Benedict Cumberbatch

Benedict Cumberbatch

Billy Bulger

Peter Sarsgaard

Peter Sarsgaard

Brian Halloran

Court is in session

Put Black Mass on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.