Black Mass

Johnny Depp at his best! It's great to see Johnny back after all those failures and even in such a demonic performance. The story is interesting, and it almost always is if you tell a story about the most feared gangster. The film also has a very enjoyable pace, a raw delivery at times and the highlight is the dinner at a table of friends where the tension hangs in the air and makes makes you feel sick, yes that's how disturbing Depp is. The finale, typical of these gangster biopics, is also pleasing, giving real details of all involved. If you like gangster films, you should be satisfied. 80%. (10/22/2015)

Johnny Depp is slowly ceasing to be an actor I would necessarily seek out. For example, I was almost looking forward to this movie more because Benedict Cumberbatch is in it. On the other hand, Depp took the opportunity to play something different and he succeeded. What didn't work were the masks, which at first glance I found horrible. And at second glance. How to watch a moving wax museum. (01/18/2016)

Valuable for mapping real events. With a plethora of stars (why did Kevin Bacon disappear from the big screen?), but dramaturgically weak, Black Mass is dull, with only one or two scenes that really get to the viewer. Depp’s transformation, however, is chilling and admirable. (11/25/2015)

A two-hour conversational reconstruction of real events, where everything is perfectly fine, but at the same time nothing surprises, nor does it significantly break us out of the lethargy of the monotonous and emotionally alienating narrative. We don't identify with the characters, we merely follow their pre-plotted fates through the eyes of a disinterested judge, just as the deliberately austere direction does. I enjoyed Depp's amazing performance (that's how you act with your eyes), the well-written dialogues and Junkie XL's signature music, but the rest remains well in the shadow of classic works of the Hollywood mafia school. (07/01/2016)

Not great, but very watchable average. I understand that not everyone can be Scorsese, but this narrative flows on a wave of blandness, with only three interesting scenes in the whole film, until you start wondering about the wasted potential. And then the well-known truth that a film is as charismatic as its lead doesn't help either. It’s a pity, because Depp is amazing. His piercing, sinister look and the way he speaks will make you crawl across the table in fear. Great job, Johnny, it's a shame the film itself can't keep up with you. (04/05/2016)