Public Enemies

"Public Enemies" has a lot of things in common with some of the bigger summer movie blockbusters of recent years.

That includes actors Johnny Depp (the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) and Christian Bale ("The Dark Knight," "Terminator Salvation"), who star in this bloody but fact-based gangster drama/thriller.

But this movie has one thing some of those others did not — an actual story and some flesh-and-blood characters.

As a result, the engrossing film is a cut above those other films, and it certainly holds its own with better, recent summer releases such as "Star Trek" and "Up."

Co-screenwriter/director Michael Mann looks at the numerous attempts by the FBI and its G-Men, including Melvin Purvis, to capture Public Enemy No. 1 — bank robber John Dillinger.

Depp plays Dillinger, who's shown to be very smart. For example, he and his men use the best equipment and planning to pull off their crimes.

Purvis (Bale) and his fellow G-Men are using the latest crime-fighting techniques and new methodology to track Dillinger. But they still might need a lucky break or two to catch the crafty criminals.

Interestingly, Mann ("Collateral") and three other credited screenwriters also examine the public perception of both men.

Depp's Dillinger is seen as a bit of a folk hero despite his crimes. Purvis and the G-Men are shown as being embattled and controversial. (A subplot shows J. Edgar Hoover, as played by Billy Crudup, struggling to get funding for his "War on Crime.")

It is a shame that the film is so gory — it features a lot of what film scholars might refer to as "Sam Peckinpah moments" (director Peckinpah was infamous for his depiction of bloody action).

This film deserves to be seen by as wide an audience as possible, though. It certainly features terrific performances by the cast, especially the leads.

The always charismatic Depp is a good choice to play Dillinger. And he's well-matched with French actress Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose"), who co-stars as his lady love, Billie Frechette.

"Public Enemies" is rated R and features strong violent action and imagery (shootings and gunplay, beatings, fiery and vehicular mayhem, and violence against women), graphic gore and blood, occasional strong profanity (including at least one sexual profanity), scenes depicting violent interrogation, a brief sex scene, brief drug content and references, some suggestive language and crude slang terms, and brief partial female nudity. Running time: 143 minutes.

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com