Film of the Day: 57

Public Enemies (2009)

In the streets of Chicago in the 1920s and the 1930s, the Golden Age of crime, America was up to it's necks in gangsters, thanks to the great depression  From Gangsters to bank robbers from Bonnie & Clyde to Pretty Boy Floyd to Baby Face Nelson (all of who were gunned down). But the most notorious of them all, was the one and only John Herbert Dillinger, Jr.

John Dillinger was so notorious that the government wanted federal action taken, and J. Edgar Hoover created a far more developed FBI. Dillinger had became the first Public Enemy and the case was led by Melvin Purvis.

In Dillinger's time on the streets, he and his gang robbed over 2 dozen banks and 4 police stations, one murder of a Chicago cop by Dillinger's hand and has even escaped from prison twice. It was also rumoured that he would walk into the police stations disguised from time to time to see how their search was going.

One day however when wounded he returned to his father's house. The FBI had then received information that Dillinger was at the Biograph Theater (Dillinger loved movies). Once Dillinger walked out, he was surrounded by the FBI, he drew his gun and tried to escape but was shot three times and killed on the spot by Purvis and his men today in 1934.

John Dillinger

Michael Mann's film Public Enemies is a great look at the notorious gangster and Depp does a terrific job (as usual) as Dillinger. Not only does he look a little like him in the film, but the parts fits him like a glove. This may not be the masterpiece Mann intended it to be, nor is it as great as Mann's other street films such as Heat, Collateral or Thief, however it is one gritty piece of work and probably the best film about Dillinger.

It also features one of Bale's best work (Purvis) and he is terrific with Depp, they are a perfect match. I think people were expecting too much with this film, it was not the Oscar winner we were expecting true, as we all had high hopes for the film. However it is one awesome thrill ride and one of the best of modern films about the golden age of crime.

Click here for the trailer