PUBLIC ENEMIES

Year: 2009
USA & UK: Universal Pictures
Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Leelee Sobieski, Emile de Ravin, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff, David Wenham, Rory Cochrane, Lili Taylor, Stephen Graham, Stephen Lang, Shawn Hatosy, James Russo, John Ortiz, Bill Camp, Branka Katic
Director: Michael Mann
Country: USA
USA & UK: 140 mins
USA Rated: R for gangster violence and some language
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong violence
USA Release Date: 1 July 2009
UK Release Date: 1 July 2009


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Synopsis

In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (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 (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) 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, 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 and sent in Purvis, the dashing "Clark Gable of the FBI.''

However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis' men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptised as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals—from the infamous "Lady in Red'' to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti—were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.