Johnny Depp IS John Dillinger!

Rating: 9/10 (3 July 2009)

After riding on the gravy train that was the Pirates of the Caribbean, Johnny Depp delivers his best performance yet as 1930s bank robber John Dillinger.
Here's the skinny: After robbing many banks during the Depression, John Dillinger(Depp) is now Public Enemy #1. FBI director J. Edgar Hoover(Billy Crudup) sets up a task force to catch Dillinger and his gang, making FBI agent Melvin Purvis(Christian Bale) its leader. Meanwhile Dillinger, aside from robbing banks and repeatedly busting out of jail, is in a relationship with Billie Frechette(Marion Cotillard). What follows are Dillinger's last days until his death.
What shines best is of course the lead performance by Depp. He easily makes Dillinger look like an anti-hero rather than a heartless villain. Dillinger was a hero to most of the public in the Depression, and Depp easily creates Dillinger that way as well for the audience. The film is also well scored by Elliot Goldenthal, who also did the score for director Michael Mann's 1995 crime classic Heat. The film is mostly accurate history wise, save for a few mistakes. Aside from Dillinger, there are appearances of more big-time criminals like Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, played by Stephen Graham and Channing Tatum. The film also drags a little bit, but it is still an excellent crime film.
Overall: 9 out of 10