Excellent Movie

Rating: 9/10 (9 July 2009)

OK, so some of the people who have posted comments on here have serious mental disorders. You can't say the film is bad because it's historically inaccurate, because it's about making a good movie - not a documentary. You can't say the film is bad because you have gripes with John Dillinger's ethics, dig him up and argue that with him you fool! You also can't moan about awesome camera work which made the film so unique, bitching that the film looked like a "B-side" movie (when it's B Movie idiot!). Finally, you can't moan about the excellent sound, spouting about how the guns were too loud because guess what... GUNS ARE LOUD!!!
It seems that people have become too used to the Hollywood sheen of fixed cameras, steady-cam, and unrealistic sound effects. You know... filmmakers intentionally make things sound and look more extreme than they are to wow you as the gullible, popcorn shovelling, brainless audience. Then when someone like Mann chooses to make a realistic recreation of the Public Enemy era of the 1930s, you get on your high horse because it didn't live up to your deluded high standards of small pistols sounding like APC-mounted .50 cal machine guns, and every second not being filmed on hyperHD laser-cameras from the future.
It's about film making, not impressing pointless you with feats of technological prowess.
The cinematography was beyond reproach. The amateur non-steady-cam work coupled with the lack of any musical score in all of the main action scenes really made it realistic. It became so convincing and exhilarating, as though the camera man was back in the 30s getting shot at too. The acting by all was excellent, with Depp and Bale giving great character performances. Michael Mann really knows how to play with your emotions and perceptions of good and evil (with the aid of Depp and Bale), and he made me switch sides in my mind on many occasion throughout the film. One of the best aspects of this film for me though, was how Mann captured both the danger and the romance of the era.
If you are interested in the Public Enemy era of the 1930s, and/or are interested in John Dillinger, you should definitely see this film.