'Black Mass' has premiered both in festivals and in cinemas. Generally gaining critical approval, the movie is not a block buster hit yet, but Warner Bros. hope that the lauded performance of its stellar cast led by Johnny Depp, will make many flock to the theatres in the coming weeks.

In a review by The Guardian, while conceived on familiar generic lines, Scott Cooper's 'Black Mass' was acted and directed excellently. Dubbed as a "secular, pessimistic tale," 'Black Mass' does not disappoint on its take on these set of gangsters that were "nurtured like microbes in a petri dish by corruption." 'Black Mass' thrives on its cast performance, which garnered positive reviews.

Its male cast, especially Depp, Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch gave splendidly riveting performances of "preening macho self-regard and self-delusion." Their performances pushed the irony of their characters to the limelight. Depp's Whitey Bulger as a kingpin criminal hates rats and informants - but he cooperates as an informant-rat with Edgerton's Connolly. Connolly is an FBI agent who hates drug-dealers, but has been progressing on his career and finances through aiding a gangster who gives minors drugs.

While Edgerton and Cumberbatch were outstanding, it has shined a monumental light on Depp's acting career. Entertainment Weekly reported that Johnny Depp's transformation for this role compounds the chilling and menacing effect the he commands. One of his best performances, Depp is one of the frontrunners for awards season best actor.

Dakota Johnson, who plays Lindsey (Bulger's wife) and Julianne Nicholson's Marianne (Connolly's wife) have limited screentime, but both did not disappoint in delivering the intensity of narrative. Screenwriters Mark Mallouk and Jez Butterworth have something made a substantial addition to the gangster narrative: they don't just pop out of nowhere but are "symptoms of political corruption, parasites created by agencies of the state."

This strong and realistic statement has set the 'Black Mass' even more "weak, credulous law enforcement officials" are comfortable to "sub-contract policing" to terrible people. 'Black Mass' is acted and directed with "tremendous confidence and verve" and is worth seeing. According to Forbes, Johnny Depp's 'Black Mass' experienced a drop  of 60% on its second Friday showing in cinemas, earning $3.5 million on that day. While that may be a big drop, it is note concern for Warner Bros., since the movie had such a big domestic opening. The film is expected to go steady in the box office.

'Black Mass' is currently showing in theatres. While not in the frontlines for an Oscar best picture, it ensemble cast, especially Johnny Depp, is looking up for some acting awards. 'Black Mass' is based on the life of Whitey Bulger, a violent, malicious ex-con in Boston and is brother to the Massachusetts State Senator Billy Bulger. He connives with FBI agent and childhood friend John Connolly to remove the Italian Cosa Nostra gang and reign the city himself.