Public Enemies
Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger's charm and audacity endear him to much of America's downtrodden public, but he's also a thorn in the side of J. Edgar Hoover and the fledgling FBI. Desperate to capture the elusive outlaw, Hoover makes Dillinger his first Public Enemy Number One and assigns his top agent, Melvin Purvis, the task of bringing him in dead or alive.
Critics Sentiment
Dillinger escapes jail using fake wooden gun
Frank Nitti's associates refuse to help Dillinger
The film peaks with Dillinger's famous Crown Point jailbreak using a fake gun, then drops significantly as his criminal empire begins to crumble when the Chicago Outfit abandons him.
Public Enemies maintains solid reviewer sentiment throughout, with particular praise for action sequences and Depp's charismatic performance. However, critics consistently noted issues with character development and pacing that prevented it from reaching greatness. The film succeeds as a stylish period crime drama but falls short of the depth and emotional investment found in Mann's best work.
Full cast
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Johnny Depp
John Dillinger
Christian Bale
Melvin Purvis
Marion Cotillard
Billie Frechette
Jason Clarke
'Red' Hamilton
Rory Cochrane
Agent Carter Baum
Billy Crudup
J. Edgar Hoover
Stephen Dorff
Homer Van Meter
Stephen Lang
Charles Winstead
John Ortiz
Phil D'Andrea
Giovanni Ribisi
Alvin Karpis
David Wenham
Harry 'Pete' Pierpont
John Michael Bolger
Martin Zarkovich
Bill Camp
Frank Nitti
Matt Craven
Gerry Campbell
Don Frye
Clarence Hurt
Christian Stolte
Charles Makley
Spencer Garrett
Tommy Carroll
Peter Gerety
Louis Piquett
Shawn Hatosy
Agent John Madala
Stephen Graham
Baby Face Nelson
Crew
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