Director: Michael Mann

Producer: G. Mac Brown, Robert De Niro

Screenwriters: Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann, Ann Biderman

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, James Russo, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi

Running Time: 140 minutes

It’s the 1930’s. The Great Depression has descended on the nation and the banks are to blame. This sentiment gives rise to the hero worship of the gangsters of the day. And none was more idealized than John Dillinger. He and his gang were seen as Robin Hood and his merry men by the average citizen. Not so with law enforcement.  J. Edgar Hoover had established what would be become the Federal Bureau of Investigations and he was obsessed with getting Dillinger.

Depp brings the necessary charm and charisma to Dillinger. Not too much so that he becomes a sympathetic figure. Just enough that we can understand how Billie Frechette, the coat check girl played by Marion Cotillard, could fall for the most notorious gangster of the times.

Through daring escapes and shoot outs, Dillinger creates a frenzied atmosphere within Hoover’s bureau. Enter Melvin Purvis. He is the agent who has just killed Pretty Boy Floyd and earned himself the assignment of getting Dillinger. Christian Bale is quiet, restrained and purposeful. His Purvis is dedicated and will go to great lengths to catch his man but draws the line at extracting information through unpleasant techniques from women.

The film does an adequate job of presenting historical events accurately though some points are glossed over or Hollywoodized. The sets, locations and costumes are period perfect. Director Mann, who worked as the producer on such recent films as Hancock, The Kingdom and The Aviator, shows his ability as director. He captures the feel of the time, the language and the desperation of a nation.  The hold ups and shoot outs are well staged and he doesn’t go overboard with the gore.

The action scenes are good but since the movie is based on history, there’s not much surprise there. The ending is as famous as Dillinger himself. What is interesting to watch are the scenes between Depp & Cotillard. Dillinger’s ability to convince the skeptical Billie that he loves her and has life all figured out is amazing to watch. She distrusts him, even walks out on him at first. His persistence and charm win her over though. Few other than Depp could pull it off as well.