Good historical action

Rating: 7/10 (6 April 2010)

Recap: Already notable bank robber John Dillinger manages to free himself and his friends from a State Prison in a spectacular escape. Following this Dillinger and his gang go on a robbing spree, gaining notoriety as he goes. At the same time he is trying to build a relationship with Billie Frechette a young woman living in Chicago. But every steps he takes is closely followed by Melvin Purvis, the star agent of the emerging FBI. Dillinger and the law enforcement often end up in gun fights, and Dillinger's list of allies becomes shorter all the time. In the end he is forced to team up with violent but equally famous robber Baby Face Nelson, the first step to his demise.
Comments: A very good and high paced action thriller, based on the life of "public enemy number one" John Dillinger. The story is not so accurate historically, but the reason for these misrepresentations are mostly to make a more entertaining story, which succeeds.
Michael Mann is directing, which is a good thing, since Mann is talented of how to shoot and present gun fights on film. This was something he did in Heat fifteen years ago, and there are a few similarities between the gun fights in Heat and Public Enemies. The main thing is that they are plausible, with and effort made into detail.
The movie does not have much suspense though, as I was familiar with at least the main events in the life and death of Dillinger, and the movie is true enough not to alter that in a major way. Hence no surprises. But it doesn't really need to surprise, the pace and action does more than fill that void. In fact it makes an easier movie to enjoy, it is entertaining just to sit back and watch.
7/10