Thursday, September 24, 2015

The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: BLACK MASS



The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: 
on BLACK MASS (2015, 122 minutes, R)

The Quick of It -
I may not be the best person to review a 'based on a true story' film.  They always seem lacking to me... and this is the case here, possibly justified.  Don't get me wrong, these movies are at the core a tough project to capture on film, to have a real-world pacing that promises to keep the audience engaged.  For me, BLACK MASS struggles, almost to the point of dragging ass along the carpet in short spurts.  The acting is above par, which is no surprise with such an intense cast.  The cinematography and on-screen character interaction are strong, as director Scott Cooper proved he can in OUT OF THE FURNACE.  But the story seemed so ephemeral and never pushing into the darker history of the man that is James 'Whitey' Bulger.  The narrative treatment of having the tale told through third party perspectives may have been intentional and clever, but this style of storytelling made the process lackluster in the end.  The action you hope to see is quickly glossed over or never touched.  You almost feel that everyone involved was afraid to expose the greater demons hidden deeper in the truth for fear of retaliation.  Who knows...

Grade: C+

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