Public Enemies

Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann (Collateral, Ali, The Insider, Heat) returns with the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Johnny Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie (Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. But while the adventures of Dillinger's gang—later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi)—thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw's capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America's first Public Enemy Number One.

Director:

Michael Mann    

Cast:

Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum, Emilie de Ravin, Leelee Sobieski, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, David Wenham, Stephen Dorff, Rory Cochrane, Lili Taylor, Stephen Lang, Shawn Hatosy, Stephen Graham, John Ortiz, Carey Mulligan, Matt Craven, James Russo

Reviews:

Star Tribune, Colin Covert

The New York Times, Manohla Dargis

Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan

Baltimore Sun, Michael Sragow

Denver Post, Lisa Kennedy

Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert