A Glimpse of the Gritty Side Of Gangsterism

Alphonse Gabriel Capone, most commonly known as Al, or ‘Scarface’, one of the most notorious gangsters in US history, has been the focus of various works across film, with ‘Capone’ being the most recent. 

Starring Tom Hardy as the lead character, the film – written, directed and edited by Josh Trank – focuses on the last year of the ailing American gangster and businessman’s life. 

Capone gained notoriety during the prohibition era as the co-founder and boss of the underground Chicago Outfit. His seven-year reign as a crime boss ended when he went to prison at the age of 33. This film focuses at Capone at the age of 48, living in Florida with dementia under government observation.

While various films have showcased his time at the helm of the underworld, none have ever focused on the broken down season of one of the world’s most feared men.

Hardy, who has crafted himself as a versatile actor with tremendous range, depicted the gangster with surreal authenticity, which brings you to feel a certain type of remorse for him, regardless of his history. 

The film details the toll gangsterism takes on family, mental health, wealth and legacy.

Cinematically, the film was shot and edited to perfection with the visuals displaying Capone living with dementia, haunted by past demons in his final days. 

Dramatically, ‘Capone’ could have dived deeper into the unseen life of the mobster by including his stint in prison, which saw his health deteriorate. 

Director Trank had all the ingredients to capture an iconic film which could be held in esteem with the likes of ‘The Godfather’, ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘Scarface’ to cement itself as a cinema great. 

However, ‘Capone’, while compelling, left me wanting more – from the story, as well as the capable acting of the cast. The film was officially released on 12 May. With its first few days it was the number-two rented film on iTunes and over its first 10 days the film made US$2,5 million from digital sales, a record for Vertical Entertainment.

It, however, didn’t sit too well with critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, ‘Capone’ holds an approval rating of 41% based on 126 reviews, with the website’s consensus reading: “Tom Hardy makes the most of his opportunity to tackle a challenging role, but ‘Capone’ is too haphazardly constructed to support his fascinating performance.”

To truly enjoy the film, you need to be an American crime aficionado with extensive knowledge of the prohibition era from 1920 to 1933. 

With Linda Cardellini, Jack Lowden, Noel Fisher, Kyle MacLachlan and Matt Dillon starring in supporting roles, the film is not short of talent and is definitely worth the watch. 

‘Capone’ is currently available to rent on Box Office. 

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