Few suspected that whitey bulger and his partner, crime boss stevie flemmi, were both fbi informants. Black mass should prompt a reevaluation of the uses and misuses of informers by law enforcement officials throughout the country. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal indiebound. As the actor filmed a bar scene, a pal of bulgers sidled up to. Johnny depp looks unrecognizable as james whitey bulger in. Whiteys deal with connollys fbi spiraled out of control to become the biggest informant scandal in fbi history. September 3, 1929 october 30, 2018 was an irishamerican organized crime boss and fbi informant who led the winter hill gang in the winter hill neighborhood of somerville, massachusetts, a city directly northwest of boston. For more than a decade, until his capture in june 2011, he was listed by the fbi as one of its 10 mostwanted fugitives. Black mass, based on the book by dick lehr and gerard oneill, tells the story of bulger s rise from south boston thug to crime lord a move he completed with the help of the fbi in the. Black mass best quotes if nobody sees it, it didnt happen.
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. May 01, 2000 black mass has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while, i was looking for a third book about jimmy whitey bulger written by dick lehr, i have whitey and have been trying to find underboss. Whitey bulgerwho, we want to remind you, is a real personis a onceinageneration gangster. Cooper recruited johnny depp to give a vampiric performance. The film black mass released september 18, 2015 in the usstars johnny depp as bulger and was directed by scott cooper. Whitey bulger, the fbi and a devils deal tiein film tiein by lehr, dick, oneil, gerard isbn. Oct 30, 2018 black mass 2015 director scott cooper finally brought the true story of whitey bulger to the screen in the 2015 drama black mass.
I suppose like many people, i became interested in the story of james whitey bulger around the time of his capture and more so after watching black mass the movie. If you watch black mass, the 2015 whitey bulger biopic, youll be terrified by the blueeyed sociopath that actor johnny depp has turned himself into. 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. He provides a calm yet sinister presence as whitey bulger, demanding your attention in every scene he is in.
Hes also facing assertions that he was an fbi informant before he skipped town and spent 16 years living on the lam. Family of debra davis killed by whitey bulger slam johnny. Howie carr, reporter who blew the case on whitey bulger. Sep, 2015 whitey bulger, the boston crime boss who is the subject of black mass, scott coopers new movie starring johnny depp and opening on sept. Its their second book about bulger as in 2000 they were the first to detail the gangsters crooked relationship with the fbi and the deadly mayhem it caused in their book black mass. Jul 12, 2017 whitey bulgers enforcer slams black mass. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice by kevin cullen, black mass by. Morriss pentup worries finally gave way to a confession. Black mass resurrects bostons long memories of whitey. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal by dick lehr. Johnny depp turned into infamous former mob boss whitey bulger while filming black mass in boston this week. Whitey bulger, the boston crime boss who is the subject of black mass, scott coopers new movie starring johnny depp and opening on sept. Apr 25, 2015 black mass is already causing upset before its september release, with the families of bulger s victims saying it glorifies the violence the gangster was known for and profits from their tragedy.
In 1975, a lowlevel boston gangster named whitey bulger makes the deal of a lifetime. Sep 08, 2015 johnny depp stars as irish mob boss and fugitive james whitey bulger, the notorious former member of bostons winter hill gang, in the upcoming biopic black mass. Kevin bacon will join johnny depp in the adaptation of the whitey bulger book black mass, according to deadline. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in black mass. Black mass has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while, i was looking for a third book about jimmy whitey bulger written by dick lehr, i have whitey. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal kindle edition by lehr, dick, oneill, gerard.
At this point, the authors of black mass were working with their colleagues at the boston globe on a series of articles about the bulger brothers. Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in. Johnny depp stars as irish mob boss and fugitive james whitey bulger, the notorious former member of bostons winter hill gang, in the upcoming biopic black mass. Shouldnt have raised a fist to whitey, or called him that. 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. Kevin bacon joins johnny depp in black mass the boston. Jun 26, 20 10 books about james whitey bulger hes been charged with 19 counts of murder. He admitted, nearly unprompted, that whitey bulger was an informant. Starring johnny depp as the notorious whitey bulger.
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. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in. 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. The films screenplay, by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, is based on the 2001 nonfiction book black mass. Gerard oneill asked morris to meet for lunch to be interviewed. John connoly and james whitey bulger grew up together on the streets. Jun 02, 20 its their second book about bulger as in 2000 they were the first to detail the gangsters crooked relationship with the fbi and the deadly mayhem it caused in their book black mass.
The kind of g they write hiphop street ballads about. 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. Black mass grasps only on the superficial layer as it focuses solely on documented events of the. The making of mob boss whitey bulger gangsters inc. The kind of g whose life is so insane it inspires a series of epic crime movies. Whitey s deal with connollys fbi spiraled out of control to become the biggest informant scandal in fbi history. His younger brother, billy bulger, was the ironfisted president of the state senate and later president of the university of massachusetts. Sep 18, 2015 b lack mass, directed by scott cooper, and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, tells the rise and fall of james whitey bulger, who along with his notorious crew, the winter hill.
Depp stars in the biopic, which is based on the 2012 nonfiction book of the same name. Black mass, scott coopers new film, puts some of that luster back. Johnny depp looks unrecognizable as james whitey bulger. The source material for the film was a book written by boston globe reporters gerard oneill and. Black mass by dick lehr publicaffairs public affairs books. Sep 18, 2015 black mass attempts to cover the core of mobster james whitey bulgers criminal life in just two hours, and as such, it leaves a number of smaller questions unanswered. Family of debra davis killed by whitey bulger slam.
Black mass is already causing upset before its september release, with the families of bulgers victims saying it glorifies the violence the gangster was known for and profits from their tragedy. Patrick radden keefe on the movie black mass, with johnny depp, and the book where the bodies were buried. Bulger s supremacy is challenged by the north end angiulo brothers, a rival gang that is part of the new england mafia family. While black mass lacks an emotional core, and the pacing is poor, the intrigue of the story and depps performance make it work. 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. Last week, we determined that whitey bulger, the notorious bostonarea gangster johnny depp portrays in the new drama black mass, is probably the only person in the free world who has refused a.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Depp has never been more menacing as real life gangster whitey bulger, he plays it with the right amount of menace and coldness. With the advent of the capture of whitey bulger by the fbi in june of 2011, dick lehr and gerard oneills book, black mass. In 1975, james whitey bulger, leader of the winter hill gang, controls most organized crime. The movie is based on the life of the boston mobster including his often debated relationship with the fbi. From the bestselling authors of black mass comes the definitive biography of whitey bulger, the most brutal and sadistic crime boss since al capone. Johnny depp and benedict cumberbatch as the bulger brothers and joel edgerton as john connolly, former fbi. The nook book ebook of the summary and analysis of black mass. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading black mass. Globe reporters dick lehr and gerard oneill chatted with readers about whitey bulger and the new england mob on june 7, 2000. Black mass, the selfproclaimed true story of infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger and the winter hill gang, hit theaters on friday sept. Gangster james whitey bulger ruled bostons irish mob, and his wary collaboration with the italian mafia, which he detested, was the cornerstone of the citys. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob. Black mass attempts to cover the core of mobster james whitey bulgers criminal life in just two hours, and as such, it leaves a number of smaller questions unanswered.
With johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch, dakota johnson, joel edgerton. 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, a state senator and a boston public figure, and john connolly, an fbi agent. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. B lack mass, directed by scott cooper, and written by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, tells the rise and fall of james whitey bulger, who along with his notorious crew, the winter hill. One mystery surrounding whitey bulger is the lady of the dunesthe. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal introduction.
Bacon inset, whos no stranger to boston he was here for the filming of. Black mass 2015 director scott cooper finally brought the true story of whitey bulger to the screen in the 2015 drama black mass. Black mass whitey bulger, the fbi and a devils deal by dick lehr. Whitey bulger did indeed participate in an lsd testing program in the 1950s in prison in exchange for a reduced sentence, according to the black mass book. Black mass is a new york times and boston globe bestseller, written by two former reporters who were on the case from the beginning. Kevin weeks book brutal was written very much from his point of view as bulgers muscle. Pictures presents, in association with cross creek pictures and ratpacdune entertainment, a cross creek pictures production in association with le grisbi productions, free state. Drawing on a trove of sealed files and previously classified material, whitey digs deep into the mind. Flemmi had moved in with deborahs mother when deborah was a toddler. The irish mob, the boston fbi, and a devils deal will be read by many. Black mass has been sitting on my bookshelf for quite a while, i was looking for a third book about jimmy whitey bulger written by dick lehr, i have whitey and have been trying to find underboss. Mar 18, 2020 whitey bulger, american crime boss who, as head of the bostonarea winter hill gang, was a leading figure in organized crime from the late 1960s to the mid1990s. This is a first hand account of how whitey bulger, and steve flemmi became part of the fbi as informants, and in turn the fbi became informants for. Bulgers criminal enterprises and escape have grabbed headlines for more than four decades, and nobody understands his story better than boston herald columnist and breitbart news contributor howie carr.
Black mass johnny depp does careerbest work as notorious boston gangster james whitey bulger in scott coopers taut, elegantly understated crime drama. Black mass best quotes if nobody sees it, it didnt. Whitey bulger, american crime boss who, as head of the bostonarea winter hill gang, was a leading figure in organized crime from the late 1960s to the mid1990s. It is an epic story of violence, doublecross, and corruption at the center of which are the black. I reread it after james whitey bulger was arrested and it was still excellent. Fbi agent john connolly returns to the area he grew up in south boston as a friend of whitey and his brother william billy bulger, the massachusetts senate president. The book for anyone who wants to understand this chapter in boston history. Oct 31, 2018 if you watch black mass, the 2015 whitey bulger biopic, youll be terrified by the blueeyed sociopath that actor johnny depp has turned himself into.
Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal james whitey bulger whitey bulgerwho, we want to remind you, is a real person is a onceinageneration gangster. Yes, as conveyed in the black mass movie, bulgers righthand man, stephen flemmi portrayed by rory cochrane, had sex with deborah hussey, the daughter of flemmis commonlaw wife, marion. Told in compelling narrative style by the boston globe reporters who covered the case from the beginning, black mass is a riveting epic crime story that is also a book about boston and irish america. What ultimately makes black masss engine run are the performances, headlined by legendary work from depp. Authors dick lehr and gerard oneill channel their skills as journalists into the book, condensing an insane amount of real information into a tasty, easyto. Sep 21, 2015 whitey bulger did indeed participate in an lsd testing program in the 1950s in prison in exchange for a reduced sentence, according to the black mass book. Bulger as a charismatic antihero whose actions are both. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal, by dick lehr and gerard oneill. Hes also facing assertions that he was an fbi informant before. Black mass movie vs true story of whitey bulger, john connolly.
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