Based on the brilliant book of the same name by Brian Burroughs in which he describes the crime spree in America in the early 1930s,this film concentrates on the last two years of "gentleman bank robber" John Dillinger (who was named "Public Enemy Number One" by the nascent FBI).
The title role is wonderfully played by Johnny Depp in yet another of his chameleon roles,looking totally at home in the sharp suits and fedora hats so popular at the time.In real life Dillinger was an avid cinema fan and was compared by some to Clark Gable,and Johnny does impeccably play him as a suave,handsome,debonair,witty,bon viveur. Rather like me actually.Only without the suaveness,good looks,wit or style.
Most impressively the film uses some of the genuine historical locations - a bank robbery is recreated at the actual bank,still in use all these decades later,as is the prison from which Dillinger staged a breakout.The famous forest shootout at the Little Bohemia Hunting Lodge again uses the actual building.The acting is first-rate all around with British actors Christian Bale and Stephen Graham excelling as FBI agent Melvin Purvis and sociopathic killer "Baby-Face" Nelson respectively.The era is beautifully recreated,depicting the cars,nightclubs,clothing,as well as the poverty of the underclasses.
This is a superb addition to the pantheon of brilliant gangster films of the past such as White Heat, The St Valentine's Day Massacre,Dillinger,and of course the greatest gangster film of them all The Godfather.No crime film set in this era would be complete without that famous,or should it be infamous,staple,the Thompson submachine gun,in my humble opinion right up there with the lightsabre from Star Wars as the most iconic movie weapon.And director Michael Mann uses it superbly,as characters on both sides of the law utilise it freely.
The action scene shot in the dark with Thompsons blazing flame and hails of bullets are beautifully shot.Obviously not so beautiful if one was being pointed at you! Great acting by all and a brilliant and almost flawless interpretation of real historical events - I only spotted one minor alteration of history.Excellent.8/10
The title role is wonderfully played by Johnny Depp in yet another of his chameleon roles,looking totally at home in the sharp suits and fedora hats so popular at the time.In real life Dillinger was an avid cinema fan and was compared by some to Clark Gable,and Johnny does impeccably play him as a suave,handsome,debonair,witty,bon viveur. Rather like me actually.Only without the suaveness,good looks,wit or style.
Most impressively the film uses some of the genuine historical locations - a bank robbery is recreated at the actual bank,still in use all these decades later,as is the prison from which Dillinger staged a breakout.The famous forest shootout at the Little Bohemia Hunting Lodge again uses the actual building.The acting is first-rate all around with British actors Christian Bale and Stephen Graham excelling as FBI agent Melvin Purvis and sociopathic killer "Baby-Face" Nelson respectively.The era is beautifully recreated,depicting the cars,nightclubs,clothing,as well as the poverty of the underclasses.
This is a superb addition to the pantheon of brilliant gangster films of the past such as White Heat, The St Valentine's Day Massacre,Dillinger,and of course the greatest gangster film of them all The Godfather.No crime film set in this era would be complete without that famous,or should it be infamous,staple,the Thompson submachine gun,in my humble opinion right up there with the lightsabre from Star Wars as the most iconic movie weapon.And director Michael Mann uses it superbly,as characters on both sides of the law utilise it freely.
The action scene shot in the dark with Thompsons blazing flame and hails of bullets are beautifully shot.Obviously not so beautiful if one was being pointed at you! Great acting by all and a brilliant and almost flawless interpretation of real historical events - I only spotted one minor alteration of history.Excellent.8/10
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