Power Quotes in Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI, and a Devil's Deal

Does this seem like the right way for an FBI agent to deal with a known gangster? Does being a "friend" to a crime lord count as a justified use of federal power? If you answered "yes" to either one of these questions, then you might be John Connolly. Hiya John.

Whitey isn't the only bigwig Bulger bossing it up in Boston—there's also brother Billy, state senator and grouch extraordinaire. Despite being more "legit" than his big bro, Billy is just as willing to throw his weight around to get what he wants. They call that Bulger style.

The FBI's relationship with Bulger and Flemmi certainly has its benefits. It gives the FBI a leg up in the mob, and Flemmi's intel helps them break several major cases. But there's a downside: the longer they're together, the more Bulger dominates the relationship.

Bulger, Flemmi, Connolly, and Morris create their own little slapdash gang, distinct from both the FBI and the criminal underworld. Their goal? Make sure that each of them becomes as powerful as possible. Where do we sign up?

As the decades chug along, the Bulger boys only gain more power for themselves: Billy in the state senate, and Whitey in the mean streets of Southie. In fact, both men become so powerful that they become inescapably linked to South Boston itself.

The irony of all ironies is that Whitey isn't only getting help from the FBI: he's also getting help from the Mafia, which he's also helping the FBI destroy. He's not just playing both sides like a fiddle—he's conducting a legit orchestra.

The assassination of Roger Wheeler is Bulger's boldest move ever. He's killed plenty of people already, but none were as prominent or as well-connected as Wheeler. It just goes to show how powerful this project-born ex-con has become.

Whitey isn't the only one gaining steam: Connolly's making major moves himself, emerging as a minor celebrity. Okay, okay, so he might not break C-tier, but that's pretty impressive for an FBI agent. And you can believe that Connolly is going to milk his 15 minutes for everything they're worth.

And then, just like that, it's all gone. All that bravado, all that swagger, all that bullying and macho posturing—gone in an instant. A lifetime sentence in federal prison will do that to a guy.

The Bulger brothers were more than willing to use Whitey to their own benefit, so it's only fair that they're knocked down a peg when his corruption is revealed. Given the Bulgers' prominence in South Boston, this is a massive scandal in the community.