A huge cinematic letdown

Rating: 3/10 (6 August 2010)

I was foaming at the mouth when I learned that two of my favorite actors - Johnny Depp and Christian Bale - would be sharing the big screen, but when I finally got the chance to catch it recently, I was really disappointed. I mean, REALLY. The first time I tried watching it, I made it through about an hour before I realized there wasn't going to be a plot, and switched over to watch the far more compelling Law Abiding Citizen instead. But I was determined to watch this movie I'd been longing to see for so long, and I finally managed to choke it down in its entirety via episodic viewing after a couple of weeks, and I really think it was a clunker.
Johnny Depp brought NOTHING to his portrayal of John Dillinger. Booooring. Bale was worse than boring as Melvin Purvis, and this movie left me questioning their golden child reputations, as well as that of Marion Cotillard. She brought less than nothing to her role. None of the other acting was even worthy of mention. Not even the blazing gun battles were engaging.
Trying to maintain a little of my faith in Depp and Bale as actors, I'll tell myself they did the best they could with the script and direction they were given, but this movie is passable, and forgettable. Don't waste your time.
Thanks for reading.