Black mass, scott coopers new film, puts some of that luster back. It stars johnny depp as whitey bulger and joel edgerton as connolly. Now a new book has revealed the full extent of the police protection he got. Whitey bulger was a prominent figure in bostons organized crime scene from the 1970s until the mid90s, when he fled the area. 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. As the criminal james whitey bulger in black mass, johnny depps portrayal as a bloodless vampire of crime is the essence of the film.
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. Bulger lives with his commonlaw wife lindsey cyr and their young son douglas. 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. Black mass johnny depp does careerbest work as notorious boston gangster james whitey bulger in scott coopers taut, elegantly understated crime drama.
According to the black mass book, the winter hill gang laundered money. Donahues wife pat, told wcvb, the filmmakers were disrespectful for not. This article is excerpted from the book, black mass. Johnny depp and benedict cumberbatch as the bulger brothers and joel edgerton as john connolly, former fbi. In 1975, james whitey bulger, leader of the winter hill gang, controls most organized crime within south boston, along with his righthand man stephen flemmi, newcomer kevin weeks, and callous hitman johnny martorano. Yes, as conveyed in the black mass movie, bulger s righthand man, stephen flemmi portrayed by rory cochrane, had sex with deborah hussey, the daughter of flemmis commonlaw wife, marion. Whitey bulgers brother william may see black mass movie. John connoly and james whitey bulger grew up together on the streets. Oct 30, 2018 johnny depp portrayed the notorious gangster bulger in 2015s black mass. The irish mob, the fbi and a devils deal, published by publicaffairs.
In recent weeks, netflix series narcos, which depicts the life of cocaine kingpin of all kingpins pablo escobar, has risen in popularity. 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. Black mass whitey bulger, fbi, and dysfunctional informant. Whitey bulger, the fbi and a devils deal doesnt mention any incident. 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. Even with all his cunning and guile there is only one reason and excon from south boston became the infamous whitey bulger. Infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger has been found dead in a us federal prison in west virginia. 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. Patrick radden keefe on the movie black mass, with johnny depp, and the book where the bodies were buried.
Sep 18, 2015 to help answer these questions, we consulted dick lehr and gerard oneills book black mass, and also spoke to kevin cullen, the coauthor of whitey bulger. Former umass president william bulger, the brother of boston gangster james whitey bulger, says hell probably go see the black mass movie. 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. The finished version of black mass was scripted by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, and has been billed as the true story of whitey bulger, fbi agent john connolly and the fbis witness protection program that was created by j. 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.
A2a the film does not address bulgers sex life beyond an oddly creepy scene for which btw, the only witness was marianne connolly, john connolly, bulgers fbi stooges ex wife where bulger attempts to both seduce and intimidate marianne. Later in january 2014, scott cooper was attached to rewrite and direct the film. Sep 18, 2015 bulger, a notorious gangster turned fbi informant, is the subject of new johnny depp film black mass. Black mass, directed by scott cooper and starring mr. Oct 30, 2018 infamous boston gangster james whitey bulger has been found dead in a us federal prison in west virginia. Black mass is a new york times and boston globe bestseller, written by two former reporters who were on the case from the beginning. As the actor filmed a bar scene, a pal of bulgers sidled up to. Although at times boring, it does provide a fascinating potrait of whitey. Black mass is another crime film based on the biography of a notorious gangster, this time the criminal james whitey bulger in south boston.
Boston gangster whitey bulger is killed behind bars. Silence earns mobster whitey bulgers girlfriend 21 more months in prison. The story is like many others of notorious american gangsters, with violence, corruption and justice in the end. Black mass 2015 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses. Whitey bulger, the boston crime boss who is the subject of black mass, scott coopers new movie starring johnny depp and opening on sept. With the advent of the capture of whitey bulger by the fbi in june of 2011, dick lehr and gerard oneills book, black mass. Black mass an unholy alliance featurette hd youtube. Bulger was also portrayed by johnny depp black mass, 2015 biopic based on the eponymous book written by dick lehr which chronicled bulgers life. The films screenplay, by mark mallouk and jez butterworth, is based on the 2001 nonfiction book black mass. Whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal kindle edition by lehr, dick, oneill, gerard. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading black mass.
Kevin weeks book brutal was written very much from his point of view as bulgers muscle. But his solution whenever confronted with a problem was always murder at least 19 of them. 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. Sep 15, 2015 former umass president william bulger, the brother of boston gangster james whitey bulger, says hell probably go see the black mass movie featuring hollywoodized versions of himself and his. Keep in mind that black mass was first published in 2001, which means that the original edition of the book ended with bulger still living free.
The film black mass released september 18, 2015 in the usstars johnny depp as bulger and was directed by scott cooper. Oct 30, 2018 read how the movie black mass resurrected memories of whitey bulger for. Aug 28, 2015 black mass an unholy alliance featurette hd warner bros. Whitey bulger immortalized by johnny depp in black mass.
Silence earns mobster whitey bulgers girlfriend 21 more. Flemmi had moved in with deborahs mother when deborah was a toddler. Brutal is about whiteys righthand man, kevin weeks. For more than a decade, until his capture in june 2011, he was listed by the fbi as one of its 10 mostwanted fugitives. Scenes of greig, who was played by actress sienna miller. It is an epic story of violence, doublecross, and corruption at the center of which are the black.
Gangster whitey bulger, found dead tuesday, wasnt a fan of johnny depps portrayal of him in black mass. The roles of connolly who was whitey bulgers fbi handler and his first wife marianne, were filled by joel edgerton and julianne nicholson, respectively. In 1975, a lowlevel boston gangster named whitey bulger makes the deal of a lifetime. James joseph whitey bulger, jr 19292018 find a grave. Greig becomes the latest girlfriend of the mob boss to suffer for her. Dick lehr and gerard oneills book black mass on which the movie was based. Black mass an unholy alliance featurette hd warner bros. Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in black mass. The true story of an unholy alliance between the fbi and the irish mob by dick lehr and gerard oneill.
Sep 18, 2015 black mass, scott coopers new film, puts some of that luster back. Johnny depp goes to dark places for whitey bulger in. Black mass movie vs true story of whitey bulger, john connolly. 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. Ive read several books on whitey bulger and this book is the most definitive. Black mass, whitey bulger, the fbi, and a devils deal was originally published in 2001 when bulger was still on the run. Black mass by dick lehr publicaffairs public affairs books. Unlike the book black mass, where the journalists are the heroes, the film is. The former leader of south bostons winter hill gang inspired the film black mass. Americas most wanted gangster and the manhunt that brought him to justice by kevin cullen, black mass by. Gangster james whitey bulger killed in prison bbc news. Today, another work inspired by a reallife gangster hit theaters in the form of black mass. Catherine greig was sentenced to eight years in prison for helping fugitive whitey bulger on his 16year run from the fbi.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Whitey bulger bio profiles bostons most notorious gangster reporters kevin cullen and shelley murphy, who covered bulger for years for the boston globe, have a book. To help answer these questions, we consulted dick lehr and gerard oneills book black mass, and also spoke to kevin cullen, the coauthor of whitey bulger. Black mass resurrects bostons long memories of whitey. The book black mass 2000, which detailed connolly and whiteys interactions, resulted in a 2015 film of the same name. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in. Kevin weeks book brutal was written very much from his point of view as bulger s muscle. The most indepth book s on the matter is black mass and the recently released whitey by the same authors. The film has an ensemble cast including johnny depp, joel edgerton, benedict cumberbatch, kevin bacon, jesse plemons, peter. Sep 04, 2015 johnny depp opens up about transforming into whitey bulger in black mass by jim armstrong, wbztv september 4, 2015 at 11. Captured in 2011, he was later found guilty of federal racketeering. One mystery surrounding whitey bulger is the lady of the dunesthe. Jul 12, 2017 whitey bulgers enforcer slams black mass.
The irish mob, the boston fbi, and a devils deal will be read by many. Starring johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch, dakota johnson, joel edgerton based on the book black mass. Bulger as a charismatic antihero whose actions are both. 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. Johnny depps performance as boston mobster whitey bulger has. 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. Though it might come a decade late, however, the important thing is that whitey bulger will finally be forced to answer for his crimes. The impressive performance of johnny depp is maybe the greatest attraction of this movie. Oct 30, 2018 gangster whitey bulger, found dead tuesday, wasnt a fan of johnny depps portrayal of him in black mass. Apr 28, 2016 silence earns mobster whitey bulger s girlfriend 21 more months in prison. 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. Johnny depp portrayed the notorious gangster bulger in 2015s black mass.
Black mass whitey bulger, fbi, and dysfunctional informant relationships description black mass read more. Boston gangster whitey bulger is killed behind bars daily. Oct 30, 2018 bulger was also portrayed by johnny depp black mass, 2015 biopic based on the eponymous book written by dick lehr which chronicled bulgers life. It gives another point of view of whitey and his organization. Whiteys deal with connollys fbi spiraled out of control to become the biggest informant scandal in fbi history.
Johnny depp opens up about transforming into whitey bulger. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in 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. I liked the brothers bulger, but im not sure how seriously you can take howie carr. The making of mob boss whitey bulger gangsters inc. Pictures presents, in association with cross creek pictures and ratpacdune entertainment, a cross creek pictures production in association with le grisbi productions, free state. In this film, johnny depp portrays reputed boss of bostons irish mob, whitey bulger. Whitey bulger was a horrible man, and the fbi was even worse, but this is an exciting, wellwritten book that has the pace of a thriller. In black mass, was there any hint that whitey bulger was. Whitey bulger scott cooper, who captured the boston. Bulger, a notorious gangster turned fbi informant, is the subject of new johnny depp film black mass. We were motivated to write this book, lehr tells ron chepesiuk and will hryb of crime beat radio. Whitey bulger scott cooper, who captured the boston mobster. Johnny depp opens up about transforming into whitey bulger in black mass by jim armstrong, wbztv september 4, 2015 at 11.
Johnny depp opens up about transforming into whitey bulger in. 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. Buried by the mob one familys brush with whitey bulger by dick lehr and gerard oneill, globe staff. From the bestselling authors of black mass comes the definitive biography of whitey bulger, the most brutal and sadistic crime boss since al capone. Drawing on a trove of sealed files and previously classified material, whitey digs deep into the mind. Id recommend black mass a little dated but excellent and most wanted by tom foley, the state trooper in charge of bringing whitey down. 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.