IMDb > Public Enemies (2009)
Public Enemies
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Public Enemies (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 100 | slideshow) Videos (see all 50)
Public Enemies (2009) -- FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Bale) sets his sights on American gangster John Dillinger (Depp) and others in an attempt to curb a rampant Chicago crime spree during the 1930s.
Public Enemies (2009) -- Clip: The assault on the Little Bohemia Lodge
Public Enemies (2009) -- Cast and crew discuss Dillinger's use of the latest technology in cars and guns
Public Enemies (2009) -- 29th June 2009, London, Leicester Square: Red carpet interviews and clips
Public Enemies (2009) -- Johnny Depp and Michael Mann press conference, with clips

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   49,106 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 278% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Ronan Bennett (screenplay) and
Michael Mann (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Public Enemies on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 July 2009 (USA) more
Tagline:
America's Most Wanted
Plot:
The Feds try to take down notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
7 nominations more
User Comments:
Good, but not without flaws more (429 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for gangster violence and some language.
Runtime:
140 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dillinger's quote "we're here for the bank's money, not yours" is based on a real statement he made during the course of a bank robbery in Greencastle, Indiana. Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde would later use a similar quote in one of his gang's robberies, as he reportedly idolized Dillinger. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: The bar at Little Bohemia where Baby Face Nelson does his James Cagney impression didn't exist in April of 1934. It was added on to the lodge in 1936. more
Quotes:
[last lines]
Billie Frechette: They say you're the man who shot him.
Charles Winstead: That's right. One of 'em.
Billie Frechette: So why are you coming to see me? To see the damage you done?
Charles Winstead: No. I came here because he asked me to. When he went down, he said somethin'. I put my ear next to his mouth, and what I think he said was this. He said, 'Tell Billie for me: Bye bye, Blackbird.'
[Billie starts to cry as Winstead gets up to leave]
more
Movie Connections:
References Little Miss Marker (1934) more
Soundtrack:
The Man I Love more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Who was the guy that was always with J. Edgar Hoover?
Is "Public Enemies" based on a book?
more
68 out of 102 people found the following comment useful.
Good, but not without flaws, 6 July 2009
7/10
Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois

Public Enemies, this film has been built up for quite a while, why not? It stars Johnny Depp as one of history's most famous bank robbers. Also the city of Chicago has been excited to see this, in some strange way we considered Dillinger to be a Robin Hood as he never took money from the common man, just from the banks. He also was clever enough to escape jail by making a fake gun out of a soap bar, I lived in Indiana for a year and people are incredibly proud that Crown Point was where Dillinger had fooled everyone, lol. So naturally I was really looking forward to seeing this movie, especially with Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, it's a can't miss. Unfortunately for me, the film fell short of our expectations as the way it was made and how there is lack of material for Depp and Bale to work with to give these characters any depth. Mann makes a film that is using a digital camera for a film set in the 1930's and doesn't really bring his A game to the film as it's more like "Here's Dillinger's story… enjoy".

Set in 1933 John Dillinger is brought to a penitentiary, but is there to break out the rest of his gang. After loosing a few of his friends, he's headed to Chicago to make his mark on the banks. Melvin Purvis is upgraded by J. Edgar Hoover, who is protecting the FBI from scrutiny by politicians, to lead the hunt for John. John later meets Billie Frechette, whom he takes to dinner. He states plainly what he will do for her and how he will treat her if they are to have a relationship. After a shoot out gone horribly wrong and making the police look more incompetent, Purvis demands that Hoover bring in professional lawmen who know how to catch criminals dead or alive. Though Hoover had hoped for more pristine agents, he agrees. While John and Billie are enjoying the luxuries across the States, the police finally find Dillinger and arrest him and his gang in Miami. However, Dillinger and a few inmates escape from prison using a fake gun. He is goaded into a bank robbery job by an acquaintance, Dillinger agrees. The robbery goes fine until Nelson impulsively kills a nearby police officer, alerting more of the robbery, making Dillinger Public Enemy Number 1.

Now Public Enemies is by no means a bad film, some of the actors were terrific and the sets were perfect as well as the whole feel of the film. But it just won't stop with the "Run! Chase! Run! Chase! Shoot! Shoot!" scenes that seem to dull down after a while. The love story between Dillinger and his gal, Billie didn't seem too necessary, it added to the story but for me felt a little out of place at times. I have to tell you that I'm feeling so incredibly bad for Christian Bale this year as it seems like he's been given characters who are not well written, but I'm starting to wonder if the Batman voice is his new trademark because he was starting to use that voice again in a few sentences. Depp does the best he can, but once again with the lack of material; he's made out completely as the hero of the film, instead of maybe having more of a documentary feel to it and being biased on how cool Dillinger was. Maybe he's Mann's personal hero, who knows. But over all the film is decent enough for the watch, I'd just say if you want to see it, go for a matinée or a rental, it wasn't worth the full price.

7/10

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Public Enemies (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Billy Crudup jennj_80
DVD Question - it says on the bacnk of the DVD cover jhog107
Hated It aswearengen
Any news about a director's cut? thric3
Baby Face Nelson and 'The Battle of Barrington' toric21
Why do people exactly like this movie? schellekens-1
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