Yes, its true! Johnny Depp has acted in movies relating to more than just pirates or dark characters inspired by Tim Burton’s creativity.
It is the era of the Great Depression and John Dillinger(Johnny Depp) along with his crew is a menace to society. On top of robbing even the most secure banks, Dillinger is slowly but steadily paving his way into entering organised crime. FBI agent, Melvin Purvis(Christian Bale) is hot behind the crimemaster’s heels, but unlike others in his force he is highly honourable and cannot be bribed or coaxed into doing anything wrong. Dillinger discreetly wages war against Purvis’s team and two get entwined in a cat-and-mouse chase that doesn’t end till one kills the other. The film also focuses on Dillinger’s romantic relationship with Billie Frechette(Marion Cotillard), who is different from any other woman in that she’s extremely strong-headed and doesn’t succumb herself to a man’s whims and wishes. Dillinger falls in love with her almost instantaneously and the duo accept to fight against the system to take what is rightfully theirs. One thing leads to another and soon Purvis and Dillinger are made to confront each other.
The plot manages to capture your attention, but certain scenes are stretched a bit too long and make the audience lose interest in between. Infact, the beginning is so lousy and slow paced that one’s afternoon nap comes back to take its place. Its only after about a few fifteen minutes that the film gathers pace and moves ahead with full force. Some editing would’ve certainly helped. Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard deliver beautiful performances. The likeliness between the characters of Dillinger are Purvis are nicely shown. They are both determined, ambitious and would’ve been best friends if they had met outside their worklines. The characterisation makes it difficult to determine who the anatgonist and protagonist is-both the ideas seem to overlap within Dillinger and Purvis. This movie is non-fictional, but as expected each and every aspect is exaggerated and glamourised.
Final grade- B-, good........but not ’awesome’ enough. Watch only to see Depp, Bale and Cotillard in action.