Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger

There's an allure to this kind of organized crime story that is interesting to say the least. There's definitely something there. The delightfully tacky Southies. The corruption of the FBI. The criminal code of conduct. The fact that we will probably never know the full truth. I could see why this all inspired Scorsese/Monahan to make The Departed.

Tackles the story from an interesting angle that gives it a unique feel in a genre that's full of this sort of subject matter. Only real criticism is that it wanted to present itself as being fair and even handed, but certainly felt more like the filmmakers had an agenda. Still, really interesting.

"The FBI declined to be interviewed for this film".

A fine documentary, though the structure could have been improved. It offers few answers but important questions about what the FBI is willing to do for the so-called greater good.

All I want to know is which one of these big headed Irish micks did Alec Baldwin portray in "The Departed"?

The continuous stream of information and speculation sometimes feels a bit muddled but that's part of the appeal. The "big picture" question the film examines is the nature of the relationship between Bulger and the authorities. Seeing how the various parties involved all have vested interests in portraying this relationship in one way or another is pretty interesting. Much of the story unfolds in front of the camera, giving a degree of vitality, although it still feels a bit cold & distant.

Leaves a bad taste in your mouth knowing that this is recent history and not some backwards third world dictatorship but the "land of the free".