Black Mass

Black Mass, the latest film by director Scott Cooper is one of the best films of the year in my professional opinion. It's right up there with Mad Max: Fury Road and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. It's not a high octane, action packed, shoot em up, but it will put you on the edge of your seat. It will grab you by the throat and not let go until you've left the theater. It is a flawless masterpiece, and because of that I give Black Mass five buckets of Killer Korn (with extra butter).











There are truly good movies, movies that almost leave you breathless and wanting more after you initially see them. There are movies that will have you proclaiming 'BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR!' until you sit around and realize how that movie "could have been better if..." I have fallen prey to those movies as well, so I know what that feeling is like. Well it's Tuesday, and after much deliberation I still firmly believe that the movie I saw on Sunday starring Johnny Depp as James 'Whitey' Bulger is definitely one of the best movies of 2015. There isn't any of that annoying second guessing or any "if only they had done that" madness. Scott Cooper put together an absolutely amazing film about one of Boston's most notorious crime lords, and it's just Scott's third time in the director's chair. Yeah, you read that right. This is his third movie. His last one, Out of the Furnace, was one of those "if only" movies. It had all the elements to be awesome. It had a great cast and a great location. It just didn't have a great story. His first movie though won Jeff Bridges an Oscar. Crazy Heart was a great film about addiction, redemption, and friendship. It also showed that Cooper knew what he was doing behind the camera.

That talent of Cooper's is on full display in Black Mass. For all those that questioned Johnny Depp's abilities. After seeing this movie all that will cease. Depp delves so deep into this role that you no longer see him. You see Whitey. You fear Whitey, and what he or his Winter Hill Gang may do to someone that crosses them. Johnny brings Whitey to life in such a way that will be recognized come award season, bank on that. Starring alongside Johnny is Benedict Cumberbatch who plays his brother Billy Bulger, Joel Edgerton who plays FBI agent Johnny Connolly, Dakota Johnson who plays Lindsey Cyr, Rory Cochran who plays Whitey's right hand man Steve Flemmi, Kevin Bacon playing Charles McGuire, and Corey Stoll who plays Fred Wyshak. A truly talented cast, and Scott Cooper got great performances out of them all. There were no weak links in the chain, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement.

Black Mass was a period piece and that period was the early to mid 80's and the one person that deserves a shout out is the production designer, Stefania Cella. From the houses to the cars to the clothes, she nailed it all, and if it was her idea to put Depp in the black Members Only jacket then she is a genius. The movie is framed and shot exquisitely by cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi. The camera work and the angles kept this movie from becoming stale. It was masterful work by a talented man. The gothic score crafted by Tom Holkenborg aka Junkie XL is one that will ensure us seeing his name a lot more in the near future. The music he put together fits this film so perfectly that I can't help but marvel at how far he's come in the art of scoring. I am now willing to forgive his 300: Rise of an Empire score. With Mad Max and now Black Mass under his belt, 2015 is shaping up to be the year of Tom. Well done, sir. Look, I can't recommend Black Mass enough, but you will thank me afterwards if I have in any way, shape, or form pushed you into seeing it. Bank on that, and I'll see you at the theater.