While Dillinger’s gang continues to hit headlines, especially when the sociopath Baby Face Nelson (Graham) joins its ranks, Dillinger makes the fatal mistake of falling in love with Billie Frechette (Cotillard). “Sooner or later, she will go to him or he’s gonna come for her,” grins Purvis, preparing to use Billie as bait to flush Dillinger out of hiding.

Public Enemies masterfully evokes the era with impeccable production design and costumes, captured in their glory by cinematographer Dante Spinotti. Mann’s loose shooting style, predominantly on handheld cameras, invests the film with a nervous energy that builds in the breathless action sequences.

Violence is brutal but used sparingly to devastating effect, including one particularly horrific interrogation room sequence. Depp brings a roguish charm to his role, kindling smouldering screen-chemistry with the luminous Cotillard.

We experience a palpable tinge of sadness as Dillinger walks to his doom with a fateful visit to the Biograph movie theatre to watch the Clark Gable gangster flick, Manhattan Melodrama.

“If I can’t live the way I want, then at least let me die when I want,” says Gable’s character, Blackie.

Dillinger lived exactly the way he wanted, and died among the citizens to whom he became a folk hero.

PUBLIC ENEMIES (Cert. 15, 139 mins)
Stars: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Stephen Graham, Billy Crudup, Jason Clarke, David Wenham, Stephen Dorff, Adam Mucci
Directed by: Michael Mann