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WHITEY: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. JAMES J. BULGER serves as a sweeping and revelatory adventure following the trial of the infamous gangster James “Whitey” Bulger, using the courtroom action as a springboard to examine accusations of multi-faceted corruption within America’s law enforcement and legal systems.
Director: Joe Berlinger
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Invest in today’s youth by encouraging them to not get involved in gangs, a form of the mafia and mob in today’s world. The National Gang Center provides more information.
Read one of the many books written about James “Whitey” Bulger over the years. Many of the authors were featured in the film, including Kevin Cullen, Shelley Murphy, David Boeri, Dick Lehr, and T. J. English.
Watch Black Mass, the filmic story of the life and times of James J. Bulger that was released in 2015, featuring Johnny Depp in the role of Whitey. Give consideration to the pros-and-cons of Hollywood retelling vs. documentary.
Watch The System with Joe Berlinger, a 5-part TV series produced by Al-Jazeera America, where director Berlinger explores controversial cases within the U.S. criminal justice system.
“It took a lot of coordination in a short amount of time, but director Joe Berlinger was able to expedite the creation of his latest documentary—an in-depth look at the infamous trial of convicted mob boss and murderer James “Whitey” Bulger—in just six months, and have it ready in time for its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.”
Read the full interview on Boston Magazine.
“The Winter Hill Gang is a Boston, Massachusetts based organized crime group, also known as Boston’s ‘Irish Mob’. The Winter Hill Gang’ core membership is predominantly Irish-American and Italian-American. It derives its name from the Winter Hill neighborhood of Somerville, Massachusetts north of Boston.”
Find out more about the infamous gang here.
Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit takes you inside the shadowy world of FBI informants.
“A true crime-saga”. Find out more about Cooper’s film on The New York Times
“From an early age, Catherine Elizabeth Greig knew the life of a moll. ”
Read the full story on The New York Times.
“‘My life was wasted and spent foolishly, brought shame + suffering on my parents and siblings and will end soon,’ Bulger wrote in a Feb. 24 letter sent from a federal penitentiary in Sumterville, Fla.’”
Find out more here.
“The history of Boston is an important part of the history of the United States as a country. Boston is considered the birthplace of the American Revolution because so many groundbreaking historic events took place there.”
Read the full article here.
“Idolized and villainized, the American gangster is a character as iconic as the cowboy. Though organized crime tends to be a boys’ club, there have been a slate of deadly women who have broken into its ranks. You know John Dillinger, Al Capone, and Bugsy Siegel. But do you know Stephanie St. Clair or The Pretty Pants Bandit?”
Read the full article here.
"A MUST-SEE"
TIME
"A GRIPPING and troubling new documentary"
The New York TIme
"[A] FASCINATING, EXPERTLY CRAFTED film"
Roger Ebert.com
