CAPONE

🎬 Overview

• Title: Capone

• Release Year: 2020

• Director & Writer: Josh Trank

• Genre: Biographical, Psychological Drama, Crime

• Runtime: 103 minutes

• Main Cast:

  • Tom Hardy as Al Capone

  • Linda Cardellini as Mae Capone (his wife)

  • Matt Dillon, Kyle MacLachlan, Jack Lowden in supporting roles

🧠 Plot Summary

Capone follows the infamous gangster Alphonse “Al” Capone in the final year of his life, long after his days of power have ended. Released from prison due to illness, Capone lives under house arrest at his mansion in Florida, suffering from dementia caused by syphilis.

The film does not focus on Capone’s criminal empire, but instead explores his mental and physical decline. Haunted by hallucinations, paranoia, and disturbing memories, Capone becomes a shadow of his former self. The government suspects he still has a fortune hidden somewhere, and they hope to extract the truth before it’s too late. But Capone can no longer separate reality from delusion.

👤 Tom Hardy’s Performance

• Hardy transforms completely, using heavy prosthetics, a rasping voice, and erratic physical behavior to portray Capone as a frail, haunted man.

• His portrayal is intense and divisive — praised by some for its bravery and depth, criticized by others for being grotesque or exaggerated.

🎭 Style & Themes

• The film has a surreal, psychological tone, filled with dreamlike and disturbing sequences.

• Key themes include:

  • The fall of power

  • The fragility of the mind

  • The ghosts of guilt and violence

• It’s more of a character study than a traditional gangster film. Very few flashbacks, and almost no violent crime — the focus is entirely on Capone’s deterioration.

🗣️ Reception

• Mixed reviews from critics and audiences:

  • Some appreciated the unconventional approach and Hardy’s performance.

  • Others found the film confusing, plotless, and emotionally distant.

• While not a crowd-pleaser, it stands out as a bold and strange portrait of a legend’s final chapter.

✅ Final Verdict

Capone is a dark, unsettling, and slow-burning psychological drama. Don’t expect a typical gangster biopic — instead, it offers a raw and surreal look at a man crumbling from within. Hardy’s performance is the main reason to watch, as he fully commits to portraying a notorious icon at his most vulnerable.