Mann Act

Rating: 5/10 (3 July 2009)

Apparently director Mann has a rep as a pretty fair director, especially in the case of Heat. In that case he must have been having an off day when he helmed this. The period detail is fine and though I'm no expert I'd guess it would be hard to fault but there's little or no chemistry between any two of the players including Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard playing Dillinger and his girl friend. Cotillard is the classiest thing in it - and she only IS in it for about half an hour; after her the next classiest thing is Billy Holliday singing The Man I Love on the soundtrack. There's a fair bit of gunplay but it's neither thrilling nor excitement - I've had more excitement in a tight game of Scrabble and more thrills at a Sinatra concert. That is, of course, only one person's opinion but I'm not holding my breath waiting for raves when this Sunday's newspapers hit the stands.