'Black Mass': This actor is the unsung hero of the film
Actor Johnny Depp may be getting the headlines for his turn as James 'Whitey' Bulger, but another actor is getting equally positive reviews for his work in the film. 'Black Mass' is now in theaters.
'Black Mass' stars Johnny Depp (r.) and Joel Edgerton (l.).
Claire Folger/Warner Bros. Entertainment/AP
The film 鈥淏lack Mass,鈥� which stars Johnny Depp as criminal James 鈥淲hitey鈥� Bulger, is in theaters now and has received some positive reviews, with many critics praising Mr. Depp鈥檚 performance.聽
But the actor who may be the unsung star of the film is Joel Edgerton, who portrays John Connolly, an FBI agent who knew Mr. Bulger since they both were children.聽
Depp鈥檚 getting the headlines but 聽are also singling out Mr. Edgerton鈥檚 performance, calling him 鈥渆specially good,鈥� 鈥渆qually impressive [as Depp],鈥� and 鈥渃ould be in for an award-worthy breakout.鈥澛�
Edgerton has had supporting roles in such films as the 2010 movie 鈥淎nimal Kingdom,鈥� 2012鈥檚 鈥淶ero Dark Thirty,鈥� and the 2013 Baz Luhrmann version of 鈥淭he Great Gatsby,鈥� for which he received particularly positive reviews for his role as Tom Buchanan, the husband of Gatsby's love interest Daisy.聽
Edgerton is now having a particularly good year. He directed, wrote, and starred in the thriller film 鈥淭he Gift,鈥� which opened last month and received good reviews. Critics the movie to Alfred Hitchcock鈥檚 work and it 鈥渕asterful.鈥澛�
What鈥檚 next for the actor? He鈥檒l appear in the film 鈥淛ane鈥檚 Got a Gun,鈥� which reunites him with his 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� co-stars Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor. The movie will be released this February.聽
Actors also writing and directing projects is nothing new 鈥� just ask Orson Welles 鈥� but Edgerton could model his career after another actor currently succeeding in all those endeavors: Ben Affleck. After a string of box-office and critical misfires like 鈥淛ersey Girl鈥� and 鈥淪urviving Christmas,鈥� Affleck began releasing critically well received work that he directed, like 鈥淕one Baby Gone,鈥� and directed and starred in, like 鈥淭he Town鈥� and 鈥淎rgo.鈥� The last won the Oscar for Best Picture and his lack of a nomination for Best Director for the film was widely viewed as a snub. He鈥檚 delivering well received acting work like that in the 2014 movie 鈥淕one Girl鈥� and is currently headlining what could be a valuable franchise, starring as Batman in the newest Warner Bros. comic-book adaptation.