Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The Scott Cooper(“Out of the Furnace”/”Crazy Heart”) directed real-life story of the notorious South Boston crime kingpin James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) isbased on the book by Dick Lehr & Gerard O’Neill (They have cameos). They’re the Boston Globe reporters who researched the case and whose headline investigative story signaled the end was near for Whitey. Mark Mallou and Jez Butterworthturn in a fine Hollywood script, even if it lacks depth. The well-produced sprawling film, even though limited in scope, is assuredly directed by Cooper, has an amazing subdued performance in evil by Depp (almost unrecognizable in a latex face), entertains stylishly like a 1970s gangster film, and lucidly tells the nasty Bulger crime story. He’s Boston’s Irish psychopathic gang leader, murderer, extortionist, drug dealer, IRA arms dealer and racketeer.The pic also finely details the unlikable Whitey’s inappropriate connection with the FBI. Whitey is used as a snitch by the ambitious FBI agent Connolly (Joel Edgerton), who promises the mobster no interference from the feds if intel against Italian mobsters from the North Side of town is provided. Connolly’s a snake who advances his career while ignoring Whitey’s long string of violent criminal activity. He’s a childhood friend of Whitey’s, who under the guise of collecting evidence from Bulger enables him to become the kingpin of crime in Boston.

The unpleasant story accurately traces Whitey’s crime spree from 1975 to 1994, when Whitey went on the run and was not caught until 16 years later. We learn about Whitey’s rise as the leader of the Winter Hill Gang, his turf wars with the Italian mob, his various illegal enterprises, his assassinations and the double-crosses among the gangsters. In the end credits we learn that Whitey’s now behind bars as a lifetime prison guest

Edgerton should annoy the viewer as a slime-ball lawman. But his performance is right on as the ambitious FBI man who is seduced by his childhood hero gangster pal, as he sells his soul for promotions and material gain.It’s also commendable that Edgerton talks like a real Bostonian, with a perfect accent.

Bulger’s brother Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a powerful state senatorand later is the president of the University of Massachusetts, who served both offices without blemish even while pretending to be unaware of his brother’s criminal activity.Dakota Johnson has an undeveloped role as Whitey’s girlfriend and the mother of his son.Julianne Nicholson is the concerned wife of John Connolly, unable to reel him in from being a bad cop.