A Movie This Big Has to be Better Than Dillinger (1945) & Dillinger (1972)

Rating: 7/10 (15 October 2015)

A Film with a Pedigree Like This One Must Be Judged on its Own Merits. With an Artistic Director Whirling Around in His Wheelhouse, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and a Host of Other Familiar and Talented Character Actors, a Huge Budget, and of Course the Story is One That has been Told and Told Again.
There are Two Great Films from the Past, Dillinger (1945) Brilliantly Casting Lawrence Tierney in a Low-Budget but Hard Hitting Bio., and Dillinger (1972) with Again an Uncanny Performance from Warren Oates in a Stylish, Violent and Under Appreciated Movie.
Michael Mann's Film Basically Tells the Same Story. It is One that is Known Among Crime Historians and Crime Film Historians. Dillinger Doing 9 Years for Robbing a Grocery Store of $50, His Breakout from Jail with a Fake Gun He Made in His Cell, the Bloody Shootout at the Grove, Dillinger's Love and Dedication for the Half-Indian Billie Frechette, and Of Course, the Lady in Red and the Biograph Theatre.
All of This is Pretty Much Public Knowledge. So Going All In for Another Retelling is Tricky if Not Risky, Considering the Mythology and the Mainstream Audience Love for the Gangster Movie.
Director Michael Mann's Movie and Depp's Portrayal Doesn't Do Anything to Present the Reality or the Myth in Any New Way or in a New Light. It's Filmmaking Modernisms are Evident and it All Moves Along, Attractive Without Being Beautifully Stunning, Exciting Without Being Explosive, and Engaging Without Being Mesmerizing.
So it is Without Doubt, a Semi-Failure or a Somewhat Lackluster New Take on the Same ol' Thing and Coming from the Caliber of Director, Cast, and Crew, the Movie is a Disappointment.
Note...Considering all of the Star power and behind the camera talent, it is Marion Cotillard as Dillinger's Girlfriend that makes the most lasting impression.