Public Enemies (2009)
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A notorious bank robber faces off against a determined FBI agent during the Great Depression.
The story
Set during the Great Depression, the film chronicles the final years of the notorious bank robber John Dillinger as he is pursued by FBI agent Melvin Purvis. The narrative follows Dillinger's life as a high-profile outlaw, his relationship with Billie Frechette, and the escalating hunt by Purvis for Dillinger's associates and fellow criminals. As the FBI adopts modern methods to battle crime, the tension builds between the law and the outlaws in a desperate game of cat and mouse across the American landscape.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1933, John Dillinger orchestrates a prison break at Indiana State Penitentiary, leading to a shootout where his mentor is killed. He and his gang flee to a safe house in Chicago. Meanwhile, FBI agent Melvin Purvis is promoted by J. Edgar Hoover to lead the hunt for Dillinger using modern tactics like fingerprinting and wiretapping. Amidst a series of bank robberies, Dillinger meets and falls for Billie Frechette. Purvis' attempts to ambush Dillinger fail, leading to the death of an agent and the escape of Baby Face Nelson. After being captured in Arizona and later escaping from a jail in Crown Point, Dillinger's ties to the Chicago Outfit are severed. He and Red Hamilton go on a desperate run, eventually fleeing to a lodge in Wisconsin where a shootout occurs, resulting in the deaths of several associates. Dillinger eventually reunites with Frechette, but she is captured and beaten. In a final desperate move, Dillinger organizes a train robbery. He is eventually cornered in Chicago and shot while attempting to flee. His final words are relayed to Frechette in prison. The film concludes with the fates of the survivors, including Purvis' suicide and Frechette's release.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 140
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Mann
- Cast and characters
- Johnny Depp · John Dillinger; Christian Bale · Melvin Purvis; Marion Cotillard · Billie Frechette; Billy Crudup · J. Edgar Hoover; Stephen Dorff · Homer Van Meter; Stephen Lang · not specified
- Genres
- biographical; crime; action; historical drama
- Themes
- law vs. outlaw; loyalty; romance
- Tone and mood
- tense; gritty
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; crime; historical; action
- Source material / true-story basis
- Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34 by Bryan Burrough
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was praised for its performances, particularly Johnny Depp's portrayal of Dillinger.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 70 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in HD format instead of traditional 35mm film.; Several scenes were filmed at actual historical sites like the Little Bohemia Lodge.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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