This is one of the best gangster movies of the 70's, if not all time. Great action sequences abound with guns blazing and blood-splattering detail.
Warren Oates is the titular villain, who won both public support and revulsion with his daring bank robberies as well as the lengths he took to escape justice. Ben Johnson also gives a stellar performance as Mel Purvis, the dedicated FBI agent determined to kill him and the rest of his murderous gang.
But one of the biggest surprises in the movie is the performance of a very young Richard Dreyfuss as notorious robber/killer Lester "Baby Face" Nelson. Dreyfuss's usually lovable charm only further compounds the nature of Nelson's seemingly innocent yet deadly as the plague persona.
Director John Milius, best known for directing the cult classics CONAN THE BARBARIAN and RED DAWN has excellent cinematography and crisp dialogue, which he himself wrote. His real-life conservative politics shine through from time to time, especially concerning G-Man Purvis, but he tries to show both sides of the story, and he does a fairly reasonable job.
This is definitely a movie to watch one night when nothing is on. Its got action, suspense, humor, and good use of scenery. A class act all the way.
Warren Oates is the titular villain, who won both public support and revulsion with his daring bank robberies as well as the lengths he took to escape justice. Ben Johnson also gives a stellar performance as Mel Purvis, the dedicated FBI agent determined to kill him and the rest of his murderous gang.
But one of the biggest surprises in the movie is the performance of a very young Richard Dreyfuss as notorious robber/killer Lester "Baby Face" Nelson. Dreyfuss's usually lovable charm only further compounds the nature of Nelson's seemingly innocent yet deadly as the plague persona.
Director John Milius, best known for directing the cult classics CONAN THE BARBARIAN and RED DAWN has excellent cinematography and crisp dialogue, which he himself wrote. His real-life conservative politics shine through from time to time, especially concerning G-Man Purvis, but he tries to show both sides of the story, and he does a fairly reasonable job.
This is definitely a movie to watch one night when nothing is on. Its got action, suspense, humor, and good use of scenery. A class act all the way.