History YMMV / BlackMass

* HarsherInHindsight: The real Whitey Bulger, who was known for his feud with the Italian Mafia, was beaten to death inside prison by a Mafioso and his associates in 2018. And Bulger's death wasn't quick either - his eye and tongue had been severed.

* UncannyValley: The makeup Johnny Depp wears to look more like Whitey Bulger can come off as this. Special mention goes to the blue eye contacts, which make him look rather creepy on close-up shots.

* AwardSnub: Many felt that Creator/JohnnyDepp would get an Oscar nomination and were surprised when his name was left off the list of nominees. Some believe it was because Depp commented that he didn't want to win an Oscar if nominated for one. He was nominated for the SAG Award for Best Actor and won the Desert Palm Achievement Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

* WinBackTheCrowd: After his [[BrokenBase contentious performances]] in ''Film/DarkShadows'' and ''Film/TheLoneRanger'', many people were sick of Creator/JohnnyDepp's typecasting as eccentric loners. It didn't help that some have accused him of [[ItsPopularNowItSucks selling out]] by taking roles in tentpole films that have underperformed and [[StarDerailingRole tarnished his reputation]]. However, even his harshest critics have praised Depp for his performance as the most consistently great part of the film and his willingness to take on a role that diverted from his usual acting. In fact, many fans are now hopeful that Johnny Depp's portrayal could help him win back respect and [[CareerResurrection help regain his career]].

* WinBackTheCrowd: After his [[BrokenBase contentious performances]] in ''Film/DarkShadows'' and ''Film/TheLoneRanger'', many people were sick of Johnny Depp's typecasting as eccentric loners. It didn't help that some have accused him of [[ItsPopularNowItSucks selling out]] by taking roles in tentpole films that have underperformed and [[StarDerailingRole tarnished his reputation]]. However, even his harshest critics have praised Depp for his performance as the most consistently great part of the film and his willingness to take on a role that diverted from his usual acting. In fact, many fans are now hopeful that Johnny Depp's portrayal could help him win back respect and [[CareerResurrection help regain his career]].

* MoralEventHorizon: Bulger does many disgusting things in the film, but at least it was confined to Boston's underworld. [[spoiler:However, when he goes out of his way to threaten Connolly's wife for merely politely declining to participate in a dinner, he sails over the line become truly a danger to everyone around him. As for her, divorcing and locking out her DirtyCop husband is the only logical thing to do after that.]]
** Earlier than that, [[spoiler:he personally strangles a young prostitute to death (who was his right-hand man's girlfriend/stepdaughter) even though he doesn't even know if she snitched on him, [[HeKnowsTooMuch he just decided she knew too much]]. He shows zero remorse for his crime and just refers to her as "[[DisposableSexWorker the whore]]" when bringing her up later in the movie.]]

* MoralEventHorizon: Bulger does many disgusting things in the film, but at least it was confined to Boston's underworld. However, when he goes out of his way to threaten Connolly's wife for merely politely declining to participate in a dinner, he sails over the line become truly a danger to everyone around him. As for her, divorcing and locking out her DirtyCop husband is the only logical thing to do after that.
** Earlier than that he personally strangles a young prostitute to death (who was his right-hand man's girlfriend/stepdaughter) even though he doesn't even know if she snitched on him, [[HeKnowsTooMuch he just decided she knew too much]]. He shows zero remorse for his crime and just refers to her as "[[DisposableSexWorker the whore]]" when bringing her up later in the movie.

* WinBackTheCrowd: After his [[BrokenBase contentious performances]] in Film/DarkShadows, and Film/TheLoneRanger, many people were sick of Johnny Depp's typecasting as eccentric loners. It didn't help that some have accused him of [[ItsPopularNowItSucks selling out]] by taking roles in tentpole films that have underperformed and [[StarDerailingRole tarnished his reputation]]. However, even his harshest critics have praised Depp for his performance as the most consistently great part of the film and his willingness to take on a role that diverted from his usual acting. In fact, many fans are now hopeful that Johnny Depp's portrayal could help him win back respect and [[CareerResurrection help regain his career]].

* HeReallyCanAct: Depp's performance was one of the most consistently praised parts of the film.

* WinBackTheCrowd: After his [[BrokenBase contentious performances]] in Film/DarkShadows, and Film/TheLoneRanger, many people were sick of Johnny Depp's typecasting as eccentric loners. It didn't help that some have accused him of [[ItsPopularNowItSucks selling out]] by taking roles in tentpole films that have underperformed and [[StarDerailingRole tarnished his reputation]]. However, as noted above, even his harshest critics have praised Depp for his performance and willingness to take on a role that diverted from his usual acting. In fact, many fans are now hopeful that Johnny Depp's portrayal could help him win back respect and [[CareerResurrection help regain his career]].

* MoralEventHorizon: Bulger does many disgusting things in the film, but at least it was confined to Boston's underworld. However, when he goes out of his way to threaten Connolly's wife for merely politely declining to participate in a dinner, he sails over the line become truly a danger to everyone around him. As for her, divorcing and locking out her DirtyCop husband is the only logical thing to do after that.

* MoralEventHorizon: Bulger does many disgusting things in the film, but at least it was confined to Boston's underworld. However, when he goes out of his way to threaten Connolly's wife for merely politely declining to participate in a dinner, he sails over the line. As for her, divorcing and locking out her DirtyCop husband is the only logical thing to do after that.

* MoralEventHorizon: Bulger does many disgusting things in the film, but when he goes out of his way to threaten Connolly's wife for merely politely declining to participate in a dinner, he sails over the line.