Stephen Graham’s Death Scene in This Michael Mann Epic Earned Its Spot in the Gangster Hall of Fame

Although the legendary crime saga of John Dillinger and his high-profile bank robberies has been adapted to the big screen many times over the course of cinematic history, there wasn’t any filmmaker other than Michael Mannwho was better suited to telling it. Mann had built his career on making stylized, gritty crime thrillers focused on obsessive protagonists, and Public Enemiesgave him the opportunity to examine the unique Prohibition era through the perspective of both the gangsters and law enforcement. Although Johnny Deppdrew acclaim for his performance as Dillinger, Public Enemies became an ensemble drama that explored many of the other robbers who became minor celebrities during this volatile period. Stephen Graham gives a brilliant performance as the bank robber known as “Baby Face” Nelson, whose death scene is one of the most gripping within Mann’s entire filmography.