Public Enemies: Review By Solar XI

Obviously the film is based on actual events. The film is based on the career of real life bank roberrer John Dillinger and FBI Agent Melvin Purvis. The film is directed by Michael Mann and stars Johnny Depp as Dillinger and Christian Bale as Purvis.

The film is long but pretty simple. The film starts in 1933 with Dillinger in prison. It begins to escalate with his escape from prison with the death of his mentor. It also shows Purvis running down criminal Pretty Boy Floyd.

I found the film entertaining in the sense that Michael Mann remade "Heat". One of the things about watching this was seeing Johnny Depp as this big time gangster during the 1930's Great Depression. As a fan of Johnny Depp, I found this role very different from roles he usually takes on. Christian Bale is still making his way through Hollywood although he seems to land these major roles. I thought that both Bale and Depp on screen together was pretty amazing.

Not that I despise females (which I love a lot) but I found Marion Cotillard's role very annoying. For some reason, the role that women play in film and television aggravate me (not in real life). I noticed how well directed Dillinger's death scene was.

I don't know if anyone else found this scene to be one of the best. The film is pretty much entirely slow motion. It depicts Dillinger with two women walking down a street after a movie with FBI following him. Dillinger is aware he is being followed by Purvis and his men. Purvis and the others rush past and push civilians out the way. Agent Winstead follows anxiously and before Dillinger can pull out his weapon, Winstead fires his gun. The bullet is shown entering the back of Dillinger's head and exits below his right eye.

*If you know youre history, this shouldn't be surprising.

In addition to Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard; the film also stars Billy Crudup, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, Shawn Hatosy, and Stephen Dorff.

PUBLIC ENEMIES is a film worth watching, if not in theaters but on DVD. You'll will enjoy it, the excitement, the action and more.