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Spoiler alert: This article includes plot spoilers for Black Mass (2015). When Johnny Depp took on the role of notorious gangster James Bulger in Black Mass, he likely didn’t anticipate the backlash from criminal figures in addition to the usual critiques from film reviewers. Director Scott Cooper was acutely aware of the potential dangers of offending a violent figure like Bulger, who not only topped the FBI’s Most Wanted List but also had a notorious past as a resident of Alcatraz. While it remains unclear if Depp received any threatening letters from behind bars, engaging with Bulger was a risky venture, given the mobster’s reputation.
Known for his intertwining paths with law enforcement and organized crime, James “Whitey” Bulger carved out his infamous reputation during the ’70s and ’80s in Boston, showing a striking lack of remorse for his actions. His capacity to evade justice was bolstered by a cunning ability to navigate dangerous situations, which allowed him to control various criminal activities in Massachusetts. Bulger’s story serves as an illustrative example of the perils of a life steeped in crime, as authorities have linked him to at least 11 murders as the leader of the “Winter Hill Gang.” However, these murders only scratch the surface of his extensive criminal record.
The age-old wisdom of keeping friends close and enemies closer loses its clarity with Bulger, whose relationships with law enforcement blurred the lines often drawn in the criminal underworld. This partnership certainly soured his standing with other gangsters, possibly explaining his fierce resistance to law enforcement. Despite this, he ultimately had to contend with issues far beyond an actor’s portrayal of him in a film.
Who *Was* “Whitey” Bulger?
Diverging from the typical mobster narrative, Bulger was not Italian but Irish, making him an outsider in the organized crime landscape. His main targets included competing gangs such as the Patriarca crime family, which sought dominion over illicit markets in New England. Raymond Patriarca, the gang’s leader, had been marked by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover as a primary enemy, but gaining access to him proved challenging for federal investigators.
Bulger’s rise began with minor hustles—fixing horse races and extortion—eventually escalating to serious crimes that included gunrunning. His alliance with FBI agent John Connolly, portrayed by Joel Edgerton in the film, became a cornerstone of his criminal empire. This relationship was not only lucrative but also deeply compromised, as Connolly allegedly received significant sums to aid Bulger in undermining competitors and thwarting law enforcement actions aimed at him. As it turned out, their collaboration had dire consequences; both Connolly and Bulger were later exposed for their roles, leading to Bulger’s fugitive status for 16 years.
Following a high-profile citizen tip-off in 2011, law enforcement located Bulger in California. His dual life as an informant eventually contributed to his demise: after receiving two life sentences, he was murdered in a West Virginia prison in 2018. This brutal end came as retribution from fellow inmates, many of whom bore grudges against him for his history of betrayal and violence.
James “Whitey” Bulger Was a Dangerous Man to Offend
Bulger openly criticized his representation in Black Mass, particularly targeting elements of Depp’s physical transformation for the role. Depp remarked on the potential pitfalls of stepping into a character so far removed from his own persona. The complexity inherent to Bulger’s narrative was far from a trivial gangster film; it required Depp to delve into the nuances of a deeply flawed individual. He aimed to transcend typical mob film tropes, knowing that the portrayal carried substantial risks.
Reaching out to Bulger for guidance on how to portray the character did not yield a response. Bulger, in his later years and wary of how the portrayal might impact his fate, chose not to contribute his perspective during pre-production. As Depp immersed himself in the character, he grappled with the pressures of playing a persona that could easily skew toward caricature. In interviews, he expressed his desire for audiences to see Bulger, not Depp dressed in costume:
“I want them (the audience) to forget me. That’s the great test. If I can get them within three to five minutes, we’re going to be okay. But if they immediately go, ‘I’m watching some guy in makeup,’ then I’m screwed.”
Ultimately, Bulger’s discontent with the film stemmed not just from the actor’s portrayal but also from the narrative’s assertion of his culpability in crimes. He vehemently argued that the FBI’s inaction and complicity exacerbated the situation, positioning them as instigators rather than passive observers. An intriguing subplot within his criminal history includes experimentation in the 1950s, where the CIA allegedly coerced prisoners into taking LSD under the pretense of scientific research, a tactic Bulger used to his advantage.
The Departed and Other Film Portrayals
Depp’s performance garnered notable acclaim, especially from critics, though Bulger’s team vocally dismissed the film’s authenticity, claiming it misrepresented his cooperation with law enforcement. Scott Cooper, the film’s director, acknowledged the risks of dramatizing such a contentious real-life figure, expressing awareness of the potential dangers that could arise from Bulger’s furious supporters:
“I will say, anytime you make a film about real life events… you never stop looking over your shoulder.”
In his effort to embody the character accurately, Depp’s transformative mannerisms, accent, and detailed makeup drew mixed reactions—some felt genuinely uneasy around him on set due to his convincing portrayal. Witnesses who had previously encountered Bulger noted an unsettling intensity in his eyes, a quality Depp sought to replicate to reflect Bulger’s menacing presence.
Bulger is no stranger to cinematic attention, evidenced by his inspiration for Jack Nicholson’s character in The Departed. While the latter film diverged from factual accounts in favor of creative liberties, it serves as yet another entry in Hollywood’s fascination with Bulger’s life. However, Bulger himself largely remained silent on the topic of Nicholson’s performance, perhaps due to an acknowledgement of the artistic liberties taken or a reluctance to publicly acknowledge competitors. Black Mass is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
Source
movieweb.com