| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
A+ |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A- |
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Vivid, realistic, tense, and incredibly true
by John (movies profile)
Jul 18, 2009
4
of
4 people found this review helpful
When I saw the trailer for this film, I was excited to see this film. Not only because the trailer was so good, but because Michael Mann chose a subject and a period that was unlike anything seen in a long time on the big screen.
I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was impressed at the lengths and depths the crew went to to re-create the period depicted.
The movie follows much of the life of John Dillinger. A man whose name I had heard often, but didn't really know anything about until now. It takes you through many of the key events in his criminal exploits and from a History Channel special I saw recently, most of what is depicted is in fact true. Mann took some artistic license I think, but not much. What really makes this movie fun is that Mann uses his filming style seen in Miami Vice and Collateral and applies it to a crime drama set in the 1930's. In some action scenes, the filming is so realistic you feel as if you are actually there.
All in all I liked this movie because it took you to a period in history that most people today never experienced and to a different culture in America. In one scene after a bank heist, you see the Dillinger gang not only fighting off cops, but teens and other citizens with rifles. Depp gives a great performance, and Bale continues to dominate the screen with his incredible presence. One of the better pictures I have seen this year. |