Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY SEPT 8

A30

PEOPLE & ARTSTuesday 8 September 2015

Boston awaits release of new Bulger movie ‘Black Mass’

DENISE LAVOIE hood, son,” the woman
says, reflecting an image
AP Legal Affairs Writer some had of Bulger as a
harmless crook who kept
BOSTON (AP) — On the drugs out of South Boston
— a notion debunked dur-
streets of South Boston, ing his 2013 trial.
Former Assistant U.S. At-
where the name Whitey torney Brian Kelly, who
prosecuted Bulger, said
Bulger once evoked fear, he hopes the film doesn’t
glamorize Bulger or down-
the locals have become play the FBI’s role in pro-
tecting him.
accustomed to books and “I hope it shows his evil na-
ture and shows the public
movies that try to capture corruption that permitted
his gang to flourish un-
the life of the notorious checked for many years,”
Kelly said. “It’s an essential
gangster. part of the story.”
Retired state police Maj.
With the release of a new Tom Duffy, one of the lead
investigators, said he was
biopic, “Black Mass,” set skeptical about how the
FBI will be portrayed.
for Sept. 18, anticipation “I think it would be a grave
injustice if they glorify this
is building in South Boston, whole episode in Boston
history just to satisfy the
where James “Whitey” movie-going public,” he
said.
Bulger rose from a child- O’Neill said the film is a re-
alistic portrayal of Bulger
hood in public housing to and his relationship with
the FBI, particularly Con-
the leader of a multimillion nolly, who is now serving
a 40-year prison term for
dollar criminal enterprise of second-degree murder
for leaking information to
drugs, extortion and mon- Bulger that prompted him
to order the killing of a Bos-
ey-laundering that was ton businessman.
“It’s faithful to the book,”
responsible for numerous O’Neill said “I thought
(Depp) nailed it. It was very
murders. In this image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Joel Edgerton portrays John Connolly, left, accurate.”
“I want to go see it,” said and Johnny Depp portrays Whitey Bulger in the Boston-set film, “Black Mass.” The movie had its world
Karen Gleason, 65, a life- premiere Friday in Venice.
long resident of the neigh- Associated Press Special screenings are also
planned in Toronto on Sept.
borhood often called borhood into an up-and- nate. Bulger, became one of the 14 and Boston on Sept. 15.
Some younger Southie resi-
Southie, where Bulger’s coming hip area for young Nicknamed “Whitey” for state’s most powerful politi- dents know little or nothing
about Bulger and won’t be
Irish-American Winter Hill professionals. the shock of white-blond cians, serving as president flocking to theaters.
“I’ve heard his name,
Gang held power. “Black Mass,” starring hair he had as a child, Bulg- of the Senate from 1978 to maybe once,” said Brittney
Mante, 24, a technology
“I think the original South Johnny Depp as Bulger, is er, now 86, became the 1996. consultant who’s lived in
the neighborhood for two
Boston people will go see the latest of more than a city’s most feared gang- Whitey Bulger fled Boston years. “I would probably
watch it if it comes out on
it, but I don’t know about dozen books and movies ster, ruling its underworld in 1994 after being tipped DVD or Netflix.”
Feelings are stronger
anyone else. There’s a to tell his story, including from the 1970s into the off by his FBI handler, John among some family mem-
bers of Bulger’s alleged
lot of diversity here now,” the 2006 film “The Depart- 1990s while simultaneously Connolly Jr., that he was victims, including Steve
Davis, whose 26-year-old
Gleason said, referring to ed,” in which Jack Nichol- working with the FBI as an about to be indicted. sister, Debra, was killed in
1981.q
changing demograph- son’s character was loosely informant on the New Eng- He was a fugitive for more

ics that have turned the based on Bulger. land Mafia, his gang’s main than 16 years before he

once working-class neigh- His story continues to fasci- rival. His brother, William was finally captured in

2011 in Santa Monica,

‘Mad Men’ star Hamm and California, with his long-
time girlfriend, living in a
rent-controlled apartment

Westfeldt split after 18 years with guns and more than
$800,000 in cash stuffed in-
side the walls.

NEW YORK (AP) — Months In this Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, file photo, actors Jon Hamm and After a sensational federal
after denying their relation- Jennifer Westfeldt attend the premiere of “Into The Woods,” at trial in 2013, Bulger was
ship was over, Jon Hamm the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York. Hamm and Westfeldt released convicted of participating
and Jennifer Westfeldt are a statement Monday, Sept. 7, 2015, through publicist Annett Wolf in 11 murders and a litany
splitting up. that “with great sadness” they were separating after 18 years. of other crimes. He is now
Hamm and Westfeldt re- serving a life sentence.
leased a statement Mon- Associated Press “Black Mass,” based on a
day through publicist An- book written by former Bos-
nett Wolf that “with great maker, for her support, Wolf they disputed reports they ton Globe reporters Dick
sadness” they were sepa- said at the time. In April, were breaking up.q Lehr and Gerard O’Neill,
rating after 18 years. The also stars Benedict Cum-
couple, who never mar- berbatch as William Bulger
ried, said they would “con- and Joel Edgerton as Con-
tinue to be supportive of nolly. In the film’s trailers,
each other in every way an intense Depp is shown
possible. beating, strangling and
” The statement first ap- shooting his victims. But
peared on the web site of one scene shows a gentler
People magazine. side of Bulger, as he talks
Earlier this year, the “Mad on a sidewalk with an old
Men” actor completed woman who asks him how
treatment for alcohol ad- long he’s been out of pris-
diction and praised West- on. “It’s wonderful to have
feldt, an actress and film- you back in the neighbor-