Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger with his hands in front of his face in Black Mass

A real-life former mobster reacts to Johnny Depp’s performance in Black Mass. Set during the 1970s, Black Mass is a biographical drama about Boston-based Irish mafia boss James “Whitey” Bulger. Depp takes on the lead role of Whitey in the film, while Black Mass‘s supporting cast includes Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Sarsgaad, Jesse Plemons, and Dakota Johnson. It was directed by Scott Cooper with an adapted screenplay by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth, based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O’Neill.

In an interview with Insider, former mobster John Shea discusses Depp’s role in Black Mass. In the opening of the video, Shea explains that he was an associate of Whitey Bulger. Reflecting on Black Mass itself, Shea noted that he thought “the book was better than the movie.” This fact did not stop Shea from being stunned the first time he saw Depp in his hair and makeup to play Whitey, however. Shea said that the Black Mass team “did such a great job” that Shea himself felt like Whitey was in the room, leaving him “sick to [his] stomach.” Check out the full quote from Shea below:

I thought the book was better than the movie, that’s for sure. Johnny Depp invited me on set. When he was being made up to look like Whitey. And I hadn’t seen Whitey in so long. And the disdain that I had for Whitey for becoming a rat. And I’ll tell you, they did such a great job, I thought it was Whitey.

And I started getting sick to my stomach because I wanted to react, I wanted to hurt him, I wanted to just annihilate him. I had to get up, and walk outside, and get some air. And I walk back in and I said ‘Johnny, I apologize but.’ He goes ‘John, I am so sorry, but I didn’t even realize that would affect you like that, and I know it’s been so long.’


​​​​​​

What This Says About Black Mass’ Accuracy

Black Mass Got Some Things Right

Benedict Cumberbatch looking conflicted in Black Mass Dakota Johnson smiling in Black Mass
Joel Edgerton in a car in Black Mass Johnny Depp with a gun in Black Mass

It is important to note that Shea said this quote about Black Mass in a segment of the video wherein he was discussing how mob movies are “not always accurate.” The former mobster does not delve too far into these inaccuracies, but by saying the book was better than the movie, he certainly implies that Black Mass may not have been entirely true to form. At the time of its release, Black Mass was criticized for over-dramatizing its main events, which could be part of what is leading Shea to deem it not as accurate.

That said, what can be gleaned from Shea’s reaction is that Black Mass was highly accurate in terms of its hair and makeup. Going beyond just Depp’s performance, if Shea had such a knee-jerk response of disgust upon seeing someone playing Whitey Bulger, it is a testament to how good the hair and makeup for the movie was. Shea knew Bulger himself, so the fact that seeing Depp in appearance made him want to “just annihilate him” shows how much care was put into researching Whitey’s physical look for Black Mass.

Why Black Mass Is An Underrated Johnny Depp Performance

Black Mass’s Negative Reviews Overshadow An Otherwise Strong Performance From Depp

Stephen Flemmi and James Bulger in a car in Black Mass

When I saw Black Mass back in 2015, I had the same reaction as many critics in that it leaned too heavily on the melodrama at some points. I do think, however, that Black Mass is a largely forgotten Depp performance that is one of his best. Not only does the makeup radically change the actor’s look; so too does Depp transform into the role, becoming a chilling and believable version of the mob boss. With Black Mass‘s mixed reviews, it’s easy to forget this key performance from Depp, but it deserves recognition.