Captivating criminals.

Rating: 9/10 (18 July 2009)

Michael Mann directs this exceptional crime drama. The setting is America in the early 1930s and the nation is suffering. Bread lines, soup kitchens and the cheapest entertainment is refrigerated theaters where you can watch a movie and news reels of Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Alvin Karpis and John Dillinger. It seemed that no one could stop Dillinger(Johnny Depp), a modern-day Robin Hood, who had little sympathy for the banks that sunk the country into the Great Depression. Charming and cocky with a cold humor, Dillinger was the first Public Enemy Number One. J. Edgar Hoover(Billy Crudup)chomping at the bit to capture Dillinger and make a name for himself and his fledgling FBI. Sure other named criminals were hunted, but the dashing Dillinger was Hoover's obsession and put a dandy lawman Melvin Purvis(Christian Bale)in charge of bringing him in.
Chases, jailbreaks and shootouts kept the nation in awe and rooting for their endeared criminal. Dillinger loved baseball, movies, sharp clothes, fast cars and 'his girl', Billie Frenchette(Marion Cotillard). And if it weren't for greedy betrayal by the infamous "Lady in Red", Purvis and a gang of haphazard FBI gunmen, Public Enemy Number One would have been able to torment Hoover longer and give his followers something to feel good about.
Director Mann uses a lot of extreme facial closeups. Not a lot, but a whole lot. The shootouts, bank robberies and action sequences are the movie's highlights; but there is some collateral...historical accuracy. Scenery looks fantastic; cinematography as a whole is top quality. The cast is not slouchy either featuring: Rory Cochrane, Branka Katic, Ed Bruce, LeeLee Sobieski, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Lang and Channing Tatum. A super movie and you can't go too wrong with Mr. Depp.