When “Mortdecai” came out earlier this year, many began to question if Johnny Depp had lost both his talent and his mind.  The once-revered actor had seemed to become a running box office joke.  In “Black Mass,” Depp proves once again why he still is one of the best actors of his generation.

“Black Mass” is the true story of infamous Boston mobster Whitey Bulger.  Beginning in the 1970s and continuing to the present, the film chronicles how Bulger was shielded from the law because of his status as an FBI informant.  If the story was not true, it would be almost comedic in its absurdity.  But the fact that the story is real and the government complicit is what makes the film terrifying.

Depp is almost unrecognizable under the mask of makeup and prosthetics that he wears to resemble Bulger.  It seems Depp’s time in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” has paid off because he wears the makeup effortlessly. But more than in just appearance, Depp manages to embody Bulger.  Depp switches from charming to psychopathic in an instant, using only his facial expressions.  His intensity alone is enough to make him menacing, but his violent outbursts make him frightening to watch.

Depp’s performance is not the only memorable one in the film.  Joel Edgerton gives a career-defining performance as FBI agent John Connolly.  Connolly works as Bulger’s handler.  It is through Connolly that Bulger manages to remain a protected informant. Benedict Cumberbatch and Kevin Bacon also give fine performances as Bulger’s successful and politically connected brother and an FBI chief, respectively.

The thematic style of “Black Mass” is somewhat unexpected for a mobster film.  The pale white skin and emotionless face of Bulger come across as more of a ghoul than a gangster.  In fact, two scenes are shot in a way that is allusive to “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Dracula.”  But Bulger is truly at his most terrifying when he is the most personable.  Every time he cracks a joke, it is difficult not to cringe in anticipation of the inevitable violence that bursts forth from him unexpectedly.

The most notable flaw in the film comes from director Scott Cooper.  Some of the most powerful scenes in the film are obliterated by overly heavy music and the repeated pan-out shot that Cooper seems to think is necessary to inform the audience that they are supposed to be shocked.

Despite some minor shortcomings, “Black Mass” is a welcome return to the mobster genre of films.  Moreover, it is also a return to Johnny Depp in his most memorable form.  This is the prime example of Depp at his best.