Johnny Depp IS James “Whitey” Bulger in this account of Jimmy Bulger’s rise to notoriety in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Based on true events, “Black Mass” boasts a great cast featuring Kevin Bacon, Corey Stoll, Dakota Johnson and Benedict Cumberbatch, and details the alliance between Bulger – the head of the Irish mob in South Boston – and FBI agent, John Connolly (Joel Edgerton).

Bulger was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list for 12 years before he was caught in June 2011. He was tried and sent to prison to serve two life sentences for racketeering, extortion and murder. The film really paints Bulger as a violent, unforgiving psychopath, but reminds you that he was also a doting father, a protective brother, and a loving son. And Depp is so brilliant that you forget that it’s him up there on the screen…

Reel Queen Verdict

Not unnecessarily violent, and though mob movies are not usually a genre I watch, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would and I’m giving it a 7.5/10.