Black Mass - 3 smiles

Occasionally (although not recently) Johnny Depp is challenged to do more than play Johnny Depp playing a part. In "Black Mass," the actor's portrayal of Whitely Bulger reminds us that Depp can do impressive work. By inhabiting the character, Depp deepens an otherwise generic gangster story. As a cohesive dramatic thriller, the movie has trouble. There are some effective scenes, but as a whole, it feels more like a fast chronology of criminal dealings than the epic tale of a master criminal's rise and fall. There's no real character development that would have made "Black Mass" a richer, more disturbing experience. We catch glimpses of complex, conflicted relationships, but they are never allowed to grow beyond the basic story. Director Scott Cooper's goal seems to be a straight bio-pic of Whitey Bulger's life between 1975 and 1995. In 1975, Bulger,  a small-time leader of a South Boston Irish criminal gang,  has angered the larger, far more dangerous Italian mob and is targeted for elimination. Enter John Connolly (Joel Egerton), a South Boston native who has come home to spearhead a task force assigned with cleaning up the city. A childhood friend of Whitely's younger brother (a state senator), Bill (Benedict Cumberbatch), John reaches a deal with Whitey: if he will provide the FBI with actionable intelligence that leads to the decimation of the Mafia, the FBI will allow Whitely to act unmolested. This results in a mutually beneficial relationship that sours when Whitey becomes the biggest boss in all of Boston and openly defies law enforcement with brazen criminal acts.

Central to "Black Mass" is the relationship between Bulger and Connolly although Connolly's character is not developed enough. We're never sure what Connolly's motivations are - is he out for personal gain? Is he is awe of Bulger? Why does he allow himself to be manipulated? He seems to be okay with walking a fine line between being the good guy and joining the bad. Although Depp will get a lot of attention for this role, Joel Edgerton also deserves recognition for his cocky, self-assured Connelly, which is opposite of the damaged, twisted character he played in the recent The Gift (which Egerton also wrote and directed.) What makes "Black Mass" worth seeing is two outstanding performances, performances that transcend the film's weaknesses.

Transporter Refueled - 2 1/2 smiles

"Transporter Refueled" is the perfect way to reboot the series. It's mindless entertainment with enough thrills and story to make the time pass painlessly, especially if you're an action flick junkie. British actor Ed Skrein takes over the role of Frank Martin, a tough guy whose job consists of transporting packages in his teched-out Audi. Jason Statham created the role, which was tailor-made to his particular brand of acting: monosyllabic, suave and threatening. Skrein gets the first part, but is lacking in the other two areas. Luckily the filmmakers give Frank a dad to help him out. Frank Senior is a roguish charmer who says he's an Evian sales rep but is actually some kind of retired spy. Ray Stevenson seems to be enjoying himself, playing the dad with a jaunty twinkle in his eye and enough personality to make up for Skrein's lack of one.

The plot involves four young women who target their pimp (a Russian mobster), who forced them into prostitution fifteen years earlier. However convoluted the plot may be (and it is), it allows Frank to engage in hands-on combat and high-speed car chases. Director Camille Delamarre is successful most of the time, with a couple of great sequences: an escape in an airport with Frank's Audi flying through the air and wending its way through a crowded terminal. Even better is a battle in which Frank knocks around the bad guys by opening and closing file cabinets. This is the kind of inventive choreography that you see in Jackie Chan's earlier movies. "Transporter Refueled" leaves a door open for a sequel, but I'll see it only if Frank Senior has a major role.

A Walk in the Woods - 2 smiles

I was expecting more from "A Walk in the Woods," starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte, based on a book written by Bill Bryson chronicling his attempt to hike the full length of the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine, accompanied by an overweight, recovering alcoholic pal. Bryson was in his mid-forties when he set off on his mini-adventure. And while Redford, who plays him, is exceedingly fit for his 79 years, an undertaking like this means something very different for a man some thirty years older. And his co-star, Nolte, playing his wheezing ne'er-do-well friend, Stephen Katz, is 74 (although he looks older). You can't help but wonder how these two are going to walk any distance let alone carry their heavy packs.

Yet age is barely an issue in this movie. In Wild, we watch as Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) first become a victim of her backpack and then finally its master. After all, a backpack contains a miniature household and it is awkward and heavy, yet Bryson and Katz hoist their with little problem. And no blisters though they do fall into a stream. The numerous betrayals of an aging body don't matter so much to these characters, even though they should. The appearance doesn't match the reality. And their conversations do not allow for introspection or self-knowledge, instead, a series of jokes about all the things older men can't do that younger men take for granted or reminiscing about their sexual antics when they were much younger. Director Ken Kwapis keeps the tone light although Redford isn't loose enough to be funny. The cinematography is beautiful, but I can't recommend this 'Grumpy Old Men Go Camping.'