Directed by Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart), Black Mass tells the story of James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp), the brother of a state senator and the most violent criminal in the history of South Boston. Becoming an FBI informant, Bulger played a significant role in taking down the Italian Mob invading his turf. The film has an impressive supporting cast consisting of Dakota Johnson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, Corey Stoll and Juno Temple.
Take a look at the trailer below and see if Depp’s Bulger gives you chills.
Whoever Warner Bros. hired to cut this trailer together, it’s obvious that they understand how to entice an audience. Black Mass seems to have borrowed the marketing strategy that Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper (another Warner Bros. production) used when it was first being advertised in theatres. Instead of having a random assortment of clips that tells the entire story of the film, Black Mass, like American Sniper, focuses on a single tension-filled scene while showing a few violent acts committed on the part of Bulger. It’s extraordinarily effective at immediately capturing the attention of the audience, making them want to see what happens next.
As the trailer clearly showcases, its Depp’s performance as Bulger that’s the real attention-grabber. While we only get a brief glimpse at Depp’s take on the infamous Boston gangster, it looks as if he’s taking the role very seriously. After spending a decade masquerading as an intoxicated-pirate, a pale-skinned Mad Hatter and whatever that monstrosity Mordecai was, it’s refreshing to see him actually trying to be serious.
If I have one complaint about the trailer, it’s the very fake blue contact lenses that Depp is wearing. Most likely worn to be both piercing and intimidating, they come off looking unrealistic and even comical. Maybe the filmmakers thought the lenses would add to Depp’s role as Bulger, giving him an otherworldly appearance. In the end, they’re only a distraction, taking away from what appears to be a very strong performance that we haven’t seen from Depp in quite some time.
Black Mass hits theatres September 18, 2015.
What about you reader? Impressed by first trailer for Black Mass? Could this be Depp’s big comeback? Let us know in the comments below!
