TIFF 2015: ‘Black Mass’ stars Dakota Johnson, Joel Edgerton on why people love gangster movies

One of the most highly anticipated films of the year, Black Mass, just made its TIFF debut.

Based on the 2001 true crime novel Black Mass: The True Story of an Unholy Alliance Between the FBI and the Irish Mob, Johnny Depp disappears into the role of Whitey Bulger, one of Boston’s most notorious gangsters.

The film is visceral and violent, tracking Bulger’s rise and ultimate downfall, immersing viewers into the world of organized crime in the 1970s.

Speaking with ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey, Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson offered her thoughts on why people are so attracted to gangster movies.

Related: 2015 TIFF Red Carpets

“It’s an insight into the mischievous people who aren’t afraid of breaking the laws,” Johnson said.

“It’s kind of like a breath of fresh air; people think it’s fascinating and fun and it’s like, ‘Oh my god, how could you do that.’ It’s breaking the rules, it’s breaking the law. They’re outlaws. It’s why people are fascinated by people who have big personalities,” said the actress, who plays Lindsay Cyr, the mother of Bulger’s child.

Gallery: ET Canada 2015 Festival Central Lounge

The film, which many are speculating could result in Depp’s first Oscar win, also stars Joel Edgerton as the corrupt FBI Agent John Connolly. In a separate interview, the actor said that people love the unique kind of escapism that only gangster movies can provide.

“I have a theory, and my theory is that life is pretty safe and normal for most of us. But we know that there’s bad s*** going on in other places,” Edgerton said. “We know people are behaving badly and treating people badly and killing each other and so on, and the movies allow us to be a fly on the wall in that kind of world, and at the end of the day, go home safe again back to our normal lives, that’s what I suspect.”

As for his own research into the film, Edgerton was careful not to get too close to that world, himself.

“I didn’t want to meet (the real) John (Connolly),” Edgerton said. “He’s in prison. I know that his version of events don’t line up with the movie, so this is our version of the story and we’re saying that he did a lot of bad things that I think he says he was scape-goated by the FBI. So out of respect, I didn’t want to go see him.”

Edgerton said he did his best to honour the story.

“I do have a lot of respect for him and wanted to really do the right thing by the movie but also for him,” the actor said. “I looked at footage of him in daytime interviews and caught footage and talked to a lot of FBI agents. And everybody in Boston has an opinion about this story and the players.”