A cinematic triumph; an historical bust.

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2009)

Minor spoiler alert. I don't mind that a movie based on fact deviates from the facts. What bothers me is that it does so pointlessly. Ebert says, "Mann is fearless with his research." No, he isn't. Early in the film Purvis guns down Charles Floyd, then later meets Dillinger, who has already heard of Purvis' reputation. Oh? Then how is it that Dillinger actually died three months before Floyd? Let's not even mention that Dillinger and Purvis never met. There are 20 other instances of this sort of sloppiness, none of which serve any purpose whatsoever. But this film sure does look good. It's worth seeing for no other reason than that.