A slickly recreated documentary with little substance

Rating: 5/10 (21 December 2009)

I agree that Mann succeeded in showing a great "visual story" but this movie offered me little else.
As noted, Bale's portrayal of Purvis is perfunctory and Depp had few moments in which to dazzle us with character development through words and voice - other than when he was in jail speaking to his captors. Others might disagree claiming that less is more.
I think the writers should have taken more creative licence to create dialogue that would have allowed his principles to shine. I see this film as a slickly recreated documentary of Dillinger's life: a marginal movie that draws interest from branded stars, great set design, costume and historical accuracy.
Mann does illustrate the pop status of Dillinger - a 1930s Robin Hood, so to speak - but I'll be curious to see if the movie wins any Oscar's other than best sound or cinematography, or some other 'craft' award.