The film black massreleased september 18, 2015 in the usstars johnny depp as bulger and was directed by scott cooper. He was acquitted of seven the jury was unable to reach a conclusion on an eighth. The story is like many others of notorious american gangsters, with violence, corruption and justice in the end. The trial of gangster james whitey bulger is center stage in this reallife documentary that explores the trial and accusations of corruption with the u. Bulger, now 86, refused to meet or even correspond with depp, and has no plans to watch the film, even if it ever becomes one of the films piped into. The trial of gangster james bulger and allegations of corruption at the highest levels.
James bulger s mother, denise, was able to locate robert thompson in 2004 but was paralyzed with hatred and could not confront him. Oct 31, 2018 james whitey bulger, who was killed in prison, caused so much harm to many through his brutal crimes, says a former us attorney who oversaw the former boston mob boss prosecution. The impressive performance of johnny depp is maybe the greatest attraction of this movie. Bulger, argues that he was shielded from prosecution by john j. Tulsan roger wheelers murder depicted in johnny depps. One of the most overtly symbolic scenes in mob movie making comes at the end of martin scorseses oscarwinning film the departed, when a rat scurries into view on a balcony railing, tarnishing the image of the historic golddomed massachusetts state house. Bulger details the capture and conviction of the notorious boston gangster. Bulger who inspired jack nicholsons character in the oscarwinning movie the departed went on the run in 1995 after getting tipped that he was about to be arrested. Bulger was released in 2014 on friday, june 27, 2014 in limited movie theaters. Black mass is another crime film based on the biography of a notorious gangster, this time the criminal james whitey bulger in south boston. Cinema schrieb, johnny depp schaffe es, bis zur unkenntlichkeit mit seiner rolle zu. William bulger was born in dorchester, massachusetts, and is the third of six children in the family, and younger brother of former mob boss james joseph whitey bulger jr. James whitey bulger, the onetime leader of the south boston mob who became a controversial fbi informant and was played by johnny depp in scott coopers.
Bulger is a sweeping and revelatory documentary film that follows the trial of the infamous gangster james whitey bulger, using the courtroom action as a springboard to examine. Local folklore depicted bulger as a robin hoodstyle social bandit dedicated to protecting the neighborhood and its residents. Based on grand jury testimony from kevin weeks former associates, u. Bulger also focused on family members of bulger s many victims, an assorted group of bostonians galvanized by their tragic connections to the man who, at his peak, ruled the citys. Bulger 2014 joe berlingers documentary captured the trial of whitey bulger to use as a springboard to make a broader point about corruption. The movie has been shooting in boston with scott cooper directing a cast that includes. Whitey bulger met a violent end after a lifetime of. Whitey, a documentary about the gangster whitey bulger. James whitey bulger was born on september 3, 1929 in dorchester, massachusetts, usa as james joseph bulger jr. Bulger, however, theres no doubt that boston crime lord james whitey bulger was a very bad guy with tons of criminal misdeeds including murders to his discredit, and those who followed his 20 trial will know he was convicted of a. For more than a decade, until his capture in june 2011.
Bulger is a sweeping and revelatory documentary film that follows the trial of the infamous gangster james whitey bulger, using the courtroom action. Cooper recruited johnny depp to give a vampiric performance. Bulger is a sweeping and revelatory documentary film that follows the. With stephen rakes, james whitey bulger, tommy donahue, david boeri. Most films focusing on criminal trials aim at revealing the accuseds guilt or innocence. Penitentiary hazelton, bruceton mills, west virginia, 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. Jun 27, 2014 most films focusing on criminal trials aim at revealing the accuseds guilt or innocence. There were 6 other movies released on the same date, including transformers 4. With johnny depp, benedict cumberbatch, dakota johnson, joel edgerton. September 3, 1929 october 30, 2018 was an american 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. Bulger captures the sensational trial of infamous gangster james whitey bulger, using the legal proceedings as a springboard to explore allegations of corruption within the highest levels of law en. Apr 18, 2018 james bulgers mother, denise, was able to locate robert thompson in 2004 but was paralyzed with hatred and could not confront him.
Leah lewis, star of new netflix movie the half of it, shares which legendary musical. Its world premiere was at the 2014 sundance film festival on january 18, 2014. Bulger dvd and bluray release date, trailer, movie poster and movie stats. Bulger is a 2014 american biographical documentary film produced and directed by joe berlinger. Johnny depp played james whitey bulger in the 2015 movie black mass. Bulger captures the sensational trial of infamous gangster james whitey bulger, using the legal proceedings as a springboard to explore allegations of corruption within the highest levels of law enforcement. James whitey bulger, notorious boston gangster, found dead in prison director cooper and depp both tried to delve into bulgers life to understand the mobboss who used his leverage as an. James whitey bulger, who was killed in prison, caused so much harm to many through his brutal crimes, says a former us attorney who oversaw the former boston mob boss prosecution. Mt july 10, 2014 mugshot of james whitey bulger from alcatraz federal penitentiary.
As stated in the movie, he was found guilty for 11 of those murders. It was ultimately found that hitman john martorano fired the shot that killed wheeler, on the orders of his boss with bostons winter hill gang james j. Whitey bulger hated how johnny depp portrayed him in. Black mass movie vs true story of whitey bulger, john connolly. Denise bulger now fergus james patrick bulger 16 march 1990 12 february 1993 was a 2yearold boy from kirkby, merseyside, england, who was abducted, tortured. How james bulger was murdered by robert thompson and jon. His father, a laborer, lost an arm in an industrial accident. United states of america v james j bulger, by joe berlinger, donahue stated that. Murder of james bulger on 12 february 1993 in england. Reputed mob boss james whitey bulger died tuesday in a west virginia prison. Captured in 2011, he was later found guilty of federal racketeering. But joe berlingers densely detailed new documentary about the legendary boston mobster is. He died on october 30, 2018 in bruceton mills, west virginia, usa.
Bulger, better known as whitey, was a notorious and widely feared criminal in boston in the 1970s and 80s. Bulger, however, theres no doubt that boston crime lord james whitey bulger was a very bad guy with tons of criminal misdeeds. See more ideas about black mass, mafia gangster and mass movie. Whitey bulger, notorious boston mobsterturnedfugitive. Whitey, a documentary about the gangster whitey bulger the. Bulger, this documentary doesnt intend to debate whether or not bulger is guilty of the various crimes hes been accused of throughout the last few decades. Bulgers father worked as a union laborer and occasional longshoreman. Just log on to your verizon account and watch the latest shows online.
Bulger is a sweeping and revelatory documentary film that follows the trial of the infamous gangster james whitey bulger, using the courtroom action as a springboard to examine accusations of multifaceted corruption within our nations law enforcement and legal systems. Bulger also focused on family members of bulgers many victims, an assorted group of bostonians galvanized by their tragic connections to the man who, at his peak, ruled the citys. Oct 30, 2018 new england organized crime figure james j. In the 2014 documentary about bulger s trial, whitey.
Whitey pulled the trigger, but i blame the fbi too. The 89yearold was serving two life sentences and five years after being convicted of 31 counts including. How james bulger was murdered by robert thompson and jon venables. A look at james whitey bulger, one of the most infamous criminals in american history. Black mass 2015 director scott cooper finally brought the true story of whitey bulger to the screen in the 2015 drama black mass. In films from black mass to the departed, whitey bulger. Of the various movies and documentaries that were made about or inspired by bulger, martin scorseses character frank costello, played by jack nicholson, in the departed 2006 was loosely based on bulgers life of crime. James whitey bulger, notorious boston gangster, found dead in prison director cooper and depp both tried to delve into bulger s life to understand the. Anonymous fbi via ap file greig, now 67, pleaded guilty in 2012 to identity fraud and harboring bulger. Bulger, made by joe berlinger, is based on bulgers trials.
Mar 18, 2020 whitey bulger, byname of james joseph bulger, jr. Bulger ruled the criminal class of south boston for over 30. In the stunning documentary bluefin, director john hopkins crafts a tale of epic stakes set in the tuna capital of the world. Whitey bulger met a violent end after a lifetime of brutality. The documentary whitey, about the boston gangster whitey bulger, tells. Whitey bulger was a prominent figure in bostons organized crime scene from the 1970s until the mid90s, when he fled the area. Age of extinction, snow piercer and they came together. Bulger three years after bulger was captured in 2011, and a few months following his sentencing of two consecutive life terms in prison, cnn films coproduced this documentary about the. He disappeared after being tipped off about an impending arrest in 1994, and.
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