Every Michael Mann Movie Ranked Worst To Best
6. Public Enemies (2009)
A common thread in Michael Mann's films is the idea of a criminal being brought to some kind of justice by a troubled and even desperate lawman.
In Public Enemies, Mann uses this theme to tell the story of Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), who was ruthlessly pursued by FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) as he fell in love with future wife Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard).
Anchored by Depp's brutal, honest and sinisterly charming lead performance, Public Enemies gives crackling insight into the world of 1930s crime, and analyses the complexities of the characters on either side of the law.
Though it is a little on the long side and there are moments when the emotional weight doesn't hit as hard as maybe it should, as far as crime-dramas go, Public Enemies is a compelling thriller that makes the most of its top-tier cast and enrapturing action sequences.