intriguing story that doesn't realize its full potential

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 2009)

How do you survive in the bleak Depression era of the 1930s? You make a name for yourself by becoming a full-time bank robber; at least that's the philosophy of John Dillinger, a charismatic thief and outlaw whose chosen occupation makes him a hero in the eyes of the public but a wanted man in the eyes of agency director J. Edgar Hoover. The film also traces the career of Melvin Purvis, a dedicated agent who makes it his mission to doggedly pursue Dillinger and other notorious figures like Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson during an unprecedented crime wave. Slow going at first, but it's vividly brought to life and the tension only grows as it nears the conclusion. Cast is solid, story holds your interest, but it goes on longer than it needs to and for a biographical film it doesn't seem particularly insightful. **½