This dark portrayal of Boston's infamous James "Whitey" Bulger is as unsettling as it is gripping.
The film contains a sterling line up of actors including Johnny depp, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon and Benedict Cumberbatch but to name a few. These rich and believable characters, along with a slick production, are sure to grab your attention and hold it throughout.
Johnny Depp is particularly scary in his portrayal of James "Whitey" Bulger, due mainly to the work of the make-up department and Depp's commitment to accurately portraying the notorious crime lord of south Boston (a place somewhat different from the streets of my native Sheffield)
The film covers a period spanning from the 1970's through to the 1990's and shows the violent and corrupt nature of the crime world and law enforcement at that time. Whilst not the most fast paced or action packed film, or even the most original concept, I found that the realism of the situations and the outstanding performances held me captive throughout the film's over two hour duration.
Cameras
Arriflex 235, Panavision G-Series Lenses ,Panavision Panaflex Millennium XL2, Panavision E-, G-Series, ATZ and Angenieux HR Lenses
4 Stars
As always this is merely my personal opinion but I thought the film was great. I felt satisfied after watching and the characters and scenarios they faced played on my mind for a couple of days after. The down sides are perhaps minor but I thought the female characters (whilst decent actors) lacked in substance. And to be fair it's not exactly an original concept; namely that the world of crime and federal law enforcement are often as corrupt as they are violent. However, knit picking aside I can't really fault this film. If you are after something to keep your attention at a reasonable pace, with great performances, and the horror and violence of organised crime... then this film should definitely tick your boxes.
