Black Mass (4K Ultra HD review)

Black Mass (2015) [4K Ultra HD]

Director: Scott Cooper

Cast: Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch

Release date: August 13, 2024

A review by: Kevin Lovell

Disc Rating: 8/10

Summary:

In 1970s South Boston, FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) convinces Irish gangster James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) to work with the FBI to take down their common enemy: the Italian Mafia. Black Mass tells the story of this unholy alliance that spiraled out of control, allowing Bulger to evade law enforcement and expand his power to become one of the most notorious gangsters in US history.

Black Mass tells the story of South Boston FBI agent John Connolly who recruits his old neighborhood colleague, gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, to join forces with the agency and provide intelligence to take down forces that pose a threat to both sides. By covering Whitey's back and twisting information to make themselves look better than they are, the alliance soon proves to be a threat in countless ways, only allowing Whitey to better evade law enforcement and become one of the most notorious gangsters and, eventually, one of the most wanted fugitives in American history.

Directed by Scott Cooper from a screenplay by Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth, based on the book by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill, Cooper does a superb job directing Black Mass, continuing the true story with heart, grit and style. The film's impressive star-studded cast includes Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rory Cochrane, Jesse Plemons, Kevin Bacon, Dakota Johnson, Peter Sarsgaard, David Harbour, Adam Scott, Corey Stoll, Julianne Nicholson and more.

Black Mass takes viewers into the dark underbelly of Boston's crime world and examines the efforts of FBI agent John Connolly, who initiated a dangerous collaboration between the FBI and dangerous gangster James Whitey Bulger. It's a gripping look at the clash of two worlds that takes its time to introduce us to the players on both sides, giving the viewer an idea of ​​the different ways of doing things the two sides used and the questionable concessions made to such a violent man, as Connolly soon finds himself torn between the sides, often misleading his office in favor of Bulger, or at least recognizing the danger he could face should he betray him. It's a fascinating story and it's sometimes hard to believe that it's actually based on fact and that much of it happened in one form or another.

Overall, Black Mass may not be one of the greatest crime epics ever to hit the screen, nor is it anything monumental, but it's a consistently entertaining and well-crafted take on the true story that benefits from the competent guidance of director Scott Cooper, and his work behind the camera is further enhanced by an all-star cast led by Johnny Deep and Joel Edgerton, each of whom delivers unforgettable performances. If you've never seen Black Mass but enjoy a brutal crime saga based on true events, or happen to be a fan of some or all of the film's notable cast, it's definitely worth taking the time to watch the film whenever it suits you. Fans of the film who would like to own it physically in 4K Ultra HD should also be very pleased with the solid UHD video presentation and accompanying DTS-HD MA soundtrack, which works well alongside some previously released extras. For anyone already thinking about buying one, the release should not be disappointing and is recommended, especially if you find it at the right price for your budget.

VIDEO:

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Black Mass offers a full 2160p Ultra High Definition presentation with Dolby Vision and HDR-10 in the film's original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The video presentation looks great for the most part, offering a clean, sharp, and detailed presentation from start to finish that never suffers from any unexpected or unwanted issues. The detail is very nice throughout, from the characters' faces and clothing to the gritty interiors and various streets and other locations looking great, while Dolby Vision HDR complements much of this well, delivering richer and more realistic colors at times paired with deep, clean, and rewarding black levels. Overall, this is a solid Ultra High Definition presentation that does its job well and should satisfy fans.

AUDIO:

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release features a 5.1-channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. This multi-channel soundtrack is quite decent in its own right, delivering a clean, crisp and clear audio presentation throughout that never hesitates to get aggressive when necessary. It uses all five available channels fairly regularly to send action, vehicle and weather effects, as well as crowd chatter and plenty of other bits and pieces through the various speakers when it suits, while always making sure that any dialogue or other audio elements that might occur simultaneously remain clean and fully audible at all times. Overall, this is a full-fledged 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack that may not be overly amazing, but it always holds up well and shouldn't disappoint.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of Black Mass includes some notable extras that fans of the film will appreciate. These include the documentary The Manhunt for Whitey Bulger (approx. 61 minutes long) and the featurettes Johnny Depp: Becoming White Bulger (approx. 12 minutes long) andBlack mass: Deepest cover, darkest crime' (23 minutes).

*Please note: The images above are from the trailer for the film and do not reflect the actual 4K Ultra HD release or its quality. The release did not come with a standard Blu-ray copy of the film to use for screenshots, so the images above were used. All content and images from the film are the property of their respective owners.

–

Disc Rating: 8/10

–

“Black Mass” is now available from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment in 4K Ultra HD

–

You can buy “Black Mass” on 4K UHD on Amazon HERE!

*Screen-Connections.com is an Amazon Associate that earns from qualifying purchases