Not worth the time of anyone who wants to be entertained.

Rating: 2/10 (13 July 2009)

Personally, I believed this movie had huge potential but fell really flat. Firstly, and probably most importantly--characters! Where were they? Why should I choose one side over the other? Was the corrupt Bureau actually worth its weight, or was John Dillenger a 30's almost- Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to his cronies. I went into this movie totally excited--Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in a gun-slinging', bank robbing', shoot-em-up movie? Sign me up! But by the time the movie had started it's second hour, I was completely horrified. Where were the qualities I was supposed to relate to? Who was the person I was actually supposed the care about? In the end, the only person I could care about was Billie, and her minimal role as the short and sudden lover of John Dillenger was hardly a necessity to the movie. Hers was the only character who had any sort of depth--that is, if a rain puddle has depth. Depp and Bale left me feeling confused and very, very bored as I struggled to understand what exactly the dynamic of this movie was. Not everyone knows the story of John Dillenger. I certainly didn't. (And, sadly, still don't.) I understand Dillenger's role as an icon lasted a relatively short time, but that does NOT mean that his character had to be completely and totally flat. And as for Purvis, I didn't understand who he was at all. He hunts Dillenger like a madman, shoots a young man down in an orchard, and then carries poor Billie to the bathroom after his own men interrogate her too roughly? WHO ARE YOU? None of the characters helped me understand who they were or why they were loved/hated. Next, the camera angles and use made me feel like I was watching a badly made home movie starring Cousin Johnny and Uncle Christian. Motion sickness anyone? Try and make the movie feel like a professional, please. If I wanted to watch the camera swing and shake like it was doing the Hand Jive I'd have filmed the movie myself and posted it on YouTube. No thanks. My vote? Don't waste your time. I felt that Depp and Bale were unfortunate to have been cast in this movie. However, two stars for effort, since I do feel that they did the best they could with what they were given.