"Black Mass" by Dick Lehr & Gerard O'Neill

About the Book/Movie:

This is a true story of violence, double-cross, and brutal murders involving Irish mobsters and corrupt FBI agents in South Boston. Two boys - John Connolly, and James Whitey Bulger - grew up together on the streets of South Boston. Decades later, in the late 1970s, they would meet again. By then, Connolly was a major figure in the FBI's Boston office and Whitey had become godfather of the Irish Mob. What happened between them - a dirty deal to trade secrets and take down Boston's Italian Mafia in the process - would spiral out of control, leading to murders, and drug dealing, and racketeering indictments. And, ultimately, to Bulger making the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Told in narrative style by the Boston Globe reporters who covered the case from the beginning, Black Mass is an epic crime story that is also a book about Boston and Irish America; about the pull of place; and about the ties between people - ties that bind, and ties that blind.

Book vs. Movie:

"First of all, the movie was very true to the book on Bulger, Black Mass, written by former Boston Globe reporters Dick Lehr and Gerry O'Neill. Johnny Depp as Bulger certainly looks the part and his and the others' Boston accents are, for the most part, spot on. Even the accent of Bulger's brother, former State Senate President Billy Bulger, with that hint of Brahmin mixed with his Southie dialect, is great, delivered by actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Having seen FBI agent John Connolly in court many times over the years, I thought Joel Edgerton really captured his swagger" (CBS News).

Discussion Questions:

1. How accurately does the movie represent the events and characters depicted in the book?
2. Were there any major deviations or omissions in the movie, and how did they impact the overall narrative?
3. How do the actors in the movie compare to your mental images of the characters from the book?
4. Were there any notable differences in the portrayal of certain characters that stood out to you?
5. Did the movie emphasize certain events or aspects of Whitey Bulger's life and criminal activities more or less than the book did?
6. Were there aspects of the story that you felt were given more or less attention in the movie adaptation?
7. How does the pacing and structure of the movie compare to that of the book?
8. Were there any significant changes in the chronological order or narrative structure between the two versions?
9. How did the visual elements of the movie contribute to your understanding and experience of the story?
10. Were there any scenes in the movie that stood out to you as particularly well-done or poorly executed?
11. Were there any subplots or additional information in the book that were excluded from the movie?
12. Did the exclusion of certain elements impact your understanding or enjoyment of the story?
13. How did the tone and atmosphere of the movie compare to that of the book?
14. Were there aspects of the book's atmosphere that you felt were captured or lost in the adaptation?
15. How did the movie handle the depiction of violence and criminal activities compared to the book?
16. Were there differences in the level of detail or intensity in the portrayal of these elements?
17. How did critics and audiences respond to the movie adaptation, and do you agree with their assessments?
18. Do you think the adaptation was successful in capturing the essence of the book and its impact?
19. Did you prefer the book or the movie, and why?
20. In what ways did the book and the movie complement each other, or do you see them as standalone experiences?