Capone (2020)

Directed by: Josh Trank | 103 minutes | crime, biography | Actors: Tom Hardy, Linda Cardellini, Matt Dillon, Al Sapienza, Kathrine Narducci, Noel Fisher, Gino Cafarelli, Mason Guccione, Jack Lowden, Kyle MacLachlan, Rose Bianco, Manny Fajardo, Christopher Bianculli, Edgar Arreola, Jhemma Ziegler, Tilda Del Toro Wayne Pere, Josh Trank, Neal Brennan

Al Capone is one of the most famous and infamous mobsters in American history. During Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s, Capone was the de facto ruler of the Chicago underworld. He became very rich through the illegal trade in alcohol and built up an illustrious empire. He was able to keep going through bribery for a long time, but he was eventually arrested and convicted of tax evasion. He had to serve his sentence on the prison island of Alcatraz, but was released early after several years due to various health ailments. Sick and frail, Capone spent the rest of his life in a Florida mansion, where he died of cardiac arrest in 1947.

In ‘Capone’, director Josh Trank sheds light on the final stage of the titular criminal’s life. A strange choice, since the earlier films and series about Al Capone always chose to cover his heyday. However, Trank quickly makes it clear that he is not interested in a traditional biopic, but rather wants to offer a glimpse into the nasty, bilious end days of the Mafioso. He debunks the legend surrounding the man and shows him as a wreck with dementia. It’s admirable that Trank went for this choice, but this decision didn’t benefit his film in the end.

Trank thinks he has a lot to say with his third feature, but in reality he says very little with ‘Capone’. Viewers unfamiliar with Al Capone will be confused, as the film reveals very little about his background and mindset. Viewers already familiar with Al Capone will also be confused, as the paltry context the film provides is almost always historically inaccurate. The real focus is therefore not on informing the viewer, but on saddling the viewer with the constantly growling, drooling main character. Actually, ‘Capone’ is a movie about dying. Nothing more, nothing less. However, this agony is never gripping. You rarely find out about Al Capone, and what you do know, his ill health and clouded mind, is negated by lead actor Tom Hardy’s acting.

There have been several actors over the years who have played Al Capone. The most famous portrayal is that of Robert De Niro in ‘The Untouchables’ (1987) and the most underrated is that of the brilliant Stephen Graham in ‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010-2014). Tom Hardy is the latest actor to take over the mantle of the infamous outlaw. As one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation, Hardy could do a good job in the role of the notorious mobster, were it not for the fact that in this case he has been given way too much freedom over his acting. Hardy is memorable in the role, but for all the wrong reasons.

Tom Hardy, who usually impresses with his colorful characters, here gives the worst role of his career. It’s an acting performance that’s almost impossible to take seriously. He’s overacting for the full runtime, and he knows it all too well. Anyone who had trouble understanding their lyrics in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012) or ‘The Revenant’ (2015) will probably lose their entire mind during ‘Capone’. Hardy is constantly roaring in a strange voice here, which is not helped by the fact that he constantly has a cigar hanging in the corner of his mouth (or later a carrot prescribed for his health).

Then there are the quirky action sequences where Hardy goes completely off the rails as Capone, such as when he starts wandering around his yard in a dressing gown and diaper, while he starts shooting people like crazy. Why exactly did Hardy get permission for this? Only Josh Trank will know. But what Trank should have realized is that Hardy’s growls and antic