Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger starts very strong, and initially I admired the film’s approach of focusing on the story from the victims’ perspectives, particularly the mystery surrounding Stephen Rakes (RIP). That admiration did not last long. It is a structurally problematic film that would benefit from telling the story chronologically rather than thematically. Perhaps the title is the problem-it should be called Whitey v. USA since the majority of the movie is focused on the government’s role in facilitating his evil deeds. While there is truth to that focus, and it should be addressed, the documentary gave the convict too much time to rehabilitate his image-it is just as concerned as he is that he is portrayed as an informant or a killer of women, and honestly that approach turned me off. When they played audio of Bulger expressing shock or concern at someone else’s dastardly deed, it was a bit much. The definitive documentary on this topic has yet to be made. Skip Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger.