Public Enemies

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Booyah!

Michael Mann has teamed up with Johnny Depp, Christian "Berko" Bale and Billy Crudup for the true story of Depression-Era bankrobber John Dillinger in Public Enemies. Depp is playing the dastardly Dillinger, Crudup is J.Edgar Hoover's and Bale one of his fledgling FBI agents, Melvin Purvis. Marion Collitard and Leelee Sobieski are Dillinger's sometime dames and if the trailer is anything to go by, this film is going to be awesome!



Now I was one of the few fans of Mann's Miami Vice, and between that and Collateral, I've been digging his digital style. With Public Enemies, however, Mann looks like he's returned to a higher-gloss aesthetic to depict 1930s America.

And speaking of the Depression Era, I find the timing of this film intriguing. Dillinger was a legendary and charismatic bankrobber, so given the current economic climate, and general antipathy towards bank bailouts, I think Mann may just find a sympathetic audience!

Less than sympathetic is the official FBI History of John Dillinger. Compare the FBI language about the "lurid desperado" and "nortorious and vicious thief" with the film's website: "the charismatic bankrobber," whose "charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone." That's just classic!

Oh yeah, definitely looking forward to this Hollywood history lesson!


Australian Release Date: 30th July 2009