Black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger and the winter hill gang, hit theaters on friday sept. Black mass illustrates why whitey is still a household name. Director scott cooper made it a story about people, depp added. A mobster expert separates truth from fiction in black mass bbc. Bulger is the subject of toronto international film festival stunner black mass starring.
Telling a true story about a mobster responsible for so many deaths could become a valachi papers exercise in just one killing after another, which this film does, but there is. A mobster expert separates truth from fiction in black mass. Reallife%20gangsters%20pour%20scorn%20on%20johnny%. James whitey bulger, the notorious boston gangster who was found dead tuesday in his prison cell, reluctantly had his popculture breakthrough in 2015s black mass, portrayed by one of the. Jul 18, 20 in steven spielbergs lincoln, an african american corporal, played by david oyelowo, recites a chunk of the gettysburg address to its author, president abraham lincoln. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in black mass.
Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in. Black mass story, black mass hollywood movie story, plot. Black mass, whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal was originally published in 2001 when bulger was still on the run with the requisite movie tie. In this weeks based on a true story podcast episode well compare history with hollywoods version of the movie black mass. Get the latest movie times, trailers and celebrity interviews. At least six black people and two white people were killed, though eyewitness accounts suggested a higher death toll of 27 to 150. True story movies gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s with the production of movies based on actual events that first aired on cbs, abc. Helen mirren as the widow sarah winchester, who in real life did build an elaborate home, but its not what you think. Black mass is the story of whitey bulger johnny depp, who was the brother of a state senator and the infamous violent leader of south bostons winter hill gang. Black mass is a new york times and boston globe bestseller, written by two former reporters who were on the case from the beginning. May 01, 2000 black mass was one of the most interesting book that i have read. Johnny depps chilling and transforming performances is the highlight of this gritty, truetolife adaptation of an american crime story. Thats especially true for films that try to span many years. This is a list of films that are based on actual events.
The town of rosewood was destroyed, in what contemporary news reports. Mob movies based on true stories biopics, real gangster movies. Sep 17, 2015 black mass, whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal was originally published in 2001 when bulger was still on the run with the requisite movie tiein version hitting shelves this summer and. The true story behind the film black mass a definitive. Being the self that i am, i like to know the history of what happens in my city. Bulgers winter hill gang is fighting a turf war with the angiulo brothers, an italian crime gang which is trying to muscle out bulgers gang in order to take control of organized crime in boston. The pair, who were childhood pals, form an alliance to help take down bulgers rivals, and things quickly get complicated. Mob movies based on true stories biopics, real gangster. Cast revealed for local whitey bulger movie the boston globe. It charts his criminal activities and his subsequent dealings with the fbi. The rosewood massacre was a racially motivated massacre of black people and destruction of a black town that took place during the first week of january 1923 in rural levy county, florida. Black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston.
Film composite of johnny depp as whitey bulger in black mass and. The script, by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, is based on the 2000 book black mass. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard. In steven spielbergs lincoln, an african american corporal, played by david oyelowo, recites a chunk of the gettysburg address to its author, president abraham lincoln. Oct 30, 2018 james whitey bulger, the notorious boston gangster who was found dead tuesday in his prison cell, reluctantly had his popculture breakthrough in 2015s black mass, portrayed by one of the. Starring johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch, dakota johnson, joel edgerton based on the book black mass.
The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob which follows the criminal career of mobster james whitey bulger. Bulger was the subject of toronto international film festival stunner black mass starring johnny depp. Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in black mass. One thing thats undeniable is that the lush and glamorous lives enjoyed by the criminals in these real gangster movies often end in violence, imprisonment, or death. One thing thats undeniable is that the lush and glamorous lives enjoyed by the criminals in these real gangster movies often end in violence.
Johnny depps chilling and transforming performances is the highlight of this gritty, true tolife adaptation of an american crime story. That portrayal in the movie rings true to the storyline laid out so. This time it was a book by dick lehr and gerard oneill called black mass. The real whitey, an irishamerican who was born james bulger, ran the winter hill crime gang in south boston in the 70s and 80s.
Black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, based on the 2001 book black mass. Jan 16, 2017 merry ex mas full movie based on a true story lifetime movies darwin arias. Black mass movie simple english wikipedia, the free. Here are the best movie based on true crimes, ranked. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi. Sep 21, 2015 the true story behind the johnny depp movie. Black mass suffers from a common ailment of based on true events films in that real stories do not fit nicely into narratives.
The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard oneill, who covered bulgers saga for the boston. The true story behind boston gangster whitey bulger, played. Black mass is a 2015 american crime movie directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth. The program studied the effects of lsd and other drugs on. The program studied the effects of lsd and other drugs on humans, in this case using inmates as test subjects. The story starts in 1975 with james whitey bulger depp already the chief of the irish mob in south boston. Jan 30, 2020 black mass, directed by scott cooper, is a biographical movie about the american mobster james whitey bulger. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard oneill, released in 2001, the movie has been. Long past his heartthrob era, johnny depp became a real actor able to deliver a chill when his face subtly changes to an expression of expectant evil which it does frequently in black mass. The real story of boston gangster james whitey bulger is filled with drugs, violence, and murder. Black mass, the new johnny depp film based on the life of boston mobster whitey bulger, who stood just behind osama bin laden on the fbis most.
Jul 12, 2017 whitey bulgers enforcer slams black mass. Lifetime african american movies 2020 a time for love black movies 2020. May 22, 2012 black mass is a new york times and boston globe bestseller, written by two former reporters who were on the case from the beginning. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob, by dick lehr and gerard oneill. The 25 best movies based on true stories on netflix april 2020. It is an epic story of violence, doublecross, and corruption at the center of which are the black hearts of two old friends whose lives unfolded in the darkness of permanent midnight. Black mass, directed by scott cooper, is a biographical movie about the american mobster james whitey bulger. In 1970s south boston, fbi agent john connolly joel edgerton persuades irish mobster james whitey bulger johnny depp to collaborate with the fbi and eliminate a common enemy. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard oneill. Parents need to know that black mass is based on the true story of james whitey bulger johnny depp the most notorious gangster in south boston history and his relationship with fbi agent john connolly joel edgerton. Black mass story the film depicts the true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of south boston.
Johnny depp is terrifying in black mass moviewatch. True story movies gained popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s with. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in. Pictures presents, in association with cross creek pictures and ratpacdune entertainment, a cross creek pictures production in association with le grisbi productions, free state pictures and head gear films, a scott cooper film, black mass. With johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch, dakota johnson, joel edgerton. The true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of south boston, who became an fbi informant to take down a. The blind side 2009 based on the life of nfl player michael oher, the blind side tracks the story of a homeless teenager taken in by a persistent, nononsense woman named leigh anne tuohy sandra bullock, bullock took home the best actress oscar for her outstanding. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob. In cold blood tells the true story of the 1959 murder of the clutter. This book is a completely true story about bostons major criminals back in mid 1900s. Black mass is a 2015 film directed by scott cooper, starring johnny depp, joel edgerton, and benedict cumberbatch. The true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most. Michelle obama has been hosting virtual story time on mondays.
Some people are born into a life of crime, while others choose it and make a name for themselves. Based on the true story of the marshall university football team. The true story of whitey bulger, the brother of a state senator and the most infamous violent criminal in the history of south boston, who became an fbi informant to take down a mafia family invading his turf. Sep 25, 2015 the real story of boston gangster james whitey bulger is filled with drugs, violence, and murder. The movie is pure fiction based on a true story from 19781994, kevin weeks served as a member of the winter hill gang, and a close friend. Merry ex mas full movie based on a true story lifetime movies. The unholy alliance between the fbi and whitey bulger, one of the most notorious gangster in u. The true story behind boston gangster whitey bulger. The best sports movies based on true stories fandango. Black mass is the real life story of infamous boston crime kingpin whitey bulger. Johnny depp was nominated for a satellite, saturn and screen actors guild award for his portrayal of the infamous mobster. Everything you need to know about black mass movie 2015.
Based on dick lehr and gerard oneills book black mass. The black mass true story reveals that while in prison for bank robbery in the late 1950s, whitey bulger volunteered to participate in a cia program named mkultra in exchange for reduced time on his sentence. Sep 23, 2015 black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger and the winter hill gang, hit theaters on friday sept. Lets dive into the crimeriddled streets of boston as we compare history with hollywoods version of black mass. Black mass was one of the most interesting book that i have read. Lehr and gerard oneills book black mass on which the movie was based. Reallife gangsters pour scorn on johnny depp mob biopic black. The real whitey, an irishamerican who was born james bulger, ran the winter hill crime gang in south boston. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob, by former globe reporters dick lehr and. It tells the story of how bulger became an fbi informant and how he begins to use the status to his advantage in his criminal activities. Black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film produced and directed by scott cooper and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, based on dick lehr and gerard oneills 2001 book black mass.
Director scott cooper has kept the story as close as possible to the book on which it is based. Yet despite those few gems the movie is coated with a deep layer of mundanity that does nothing but leave you with a sense of emptiness after the movie is done. All true story mob movies some people are born into a life of crime, while others choose it and make a name for themselves. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to factbased news and analysis.
Black mass movie vs true story of whitey bulger, john connolly. Sep 24, 2015 director scott cooper has kept the story as close as possible to the book on which it is based. Not all movies have remained true to the genuine history of the event or the characters they are portraying, often adding action and drama to increase the substance and popularity of the movie. It gave me more details that i never knew about boston massachusetts. Black mass 2015 movies based on true stories popsugar. The true story behind boston gangster whitey bulger, played by. Bulger is the subject of toronto international film festival stunner black mass starring johnny depp. Black mass, the new johnny depp film based on the life of boston mobster whitey bulger, who stood just behind osama bin laden on the fbis. Not bulger, who was 86 and in a florida prison when black mass hit theaters nationwide. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal, by boston globe reporters.
Jimmy whitey bulger and almost everyone around him is a very bad man who did inexcusable things. Black mass, the new johnny depp film based on the life of boston mobster whitey bulger, who stood just behind osama bin laden on. Based on a true story of james whitey bulger, an irish mob godfather and a fbi informant who had a secret trading deal with his brother, william billy bulger. Jack nicholsons crime boss frank costello was based on bulger in. Black mass is a 2015 american biographical crime drama film. Sep 16, 2015 the film is based on the 2001 book black mass.
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