Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2009

©2009 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Michael Mann’s beautifully made, factual demythologizing of John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) examines the waning days of the legendary bank robber/folk hero’s career. The Chicago mob respectfully views him as a loose cannon, and Hoover’s gentlemanly FBI is beginning to take the gloves off. This drama (not a thriller) is a good but not great gangster movie (like, say, Bonnie and Clyde) and an intriguing portrait as far as it goes, but it never really gels. That’s not to say there aren’t a few tense and exciting robberies, jailbreaks and shootouts, though, and some fine period detail.