UPDATED Sunday, July 5, 2009 --- 1:40 p.m.

NOTE: According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Public Enemies" finished the three-day Fourth of July session in third place, with $26.2 million in weekend box office, capping a five-day debut of $41 million.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prehistoric creatures and robots are in a photo finish for the Fourth of July box-office crown.

The studios behind "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" are reporting their movies in a tie for the No. 1 spot with $42.5 million in ticket sales each.

Numbers reported over the weekend are estimates based on the studio's projections for how much business the movies will do on Sunday. Final numbers Monday will sort out which movie actually came in first, Paramount's "Transformers" or 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age."

Johnny Depp and Christian Bale's gangster epic "Public Enemies" debuted a solid No. 3 with $26.2 million.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

______________________________________________________

UPDATED Wednesday, July 1, 2009 -- 5:00 am
Posted By: Barclay Pollak

The long wait is over. The movie "Public Enemies" opens nationwide Wednesday. But some lucky movie goers in Madison got a special advanced screening Tuesday night.

"It should be a great movie." No one knew what to think about the film "Public Enemies" before it premiered Tuesday night. But expectations were already high.

At the Hilton downtown old cars lined the streets as people counted down to the big show. "It's exciting. I get to see the premiere of new Johnny Depp film."

But that was before the movie even started. Now that people have had a chance to get their first look, here are their reviews.

"Oh I thought the movie was great."

Earlier in the day, NBC15 News spoke to Hillary Vaccerello at the premier party downtown. She was an extra in the film, but she didn't know if she'd make the final cut. Tuesday night she found out she was in it but only for a split second. "Well, I have a picture that I studied. I know the dress well. I know what my hair looked like. So I knew it was me."

And she wasn't the only one in the audience that made the film. "It was great it was awesome."Jerry Muller of Poynette was also in the movie.
He played a member of congress and got a lot more than a second of face time. " I was actually a featured extra. I was in close ups."

But not everyone at Point Cinema Tuesday night was in the movie and they still gave it two thumbs up. "Oh it was really good," says one fan.
Another says, " We loved it. I loved it." And a third says, " I thought it was very good. I loved the gangster excitement."

At least the reviews in Madison are good. We'll have to wait to see how much the movie takes in at the box office to find out if others like it as well.

The movie runs about two and half hours.

______________________________________________________

UPDATED Tuesday, June 30, 2009 -- 9:00 pm
Posted By: Barclay Pollak

After months of waiting the big night is finally here. Tuesday night, parties were held all over the area celebrating the release of "Public Enemies."

From the cars, to the clothes, to the red carpet. It was Hollywood glam 1930's style in Madison.

And everyone was there for one reason -- to celebrate the debut of "Public Enemies."

"More than words can say. I am really excited about this movie."

Ben Sachs was sporting a tux complete with spats.

"Spats are these little cuffs you put around your ankles that drape onto the top of your shoe just to add color I guess."

Sachs is hoping he'll see a good friend on the silver screen. "We're hoping to catch a glimpse of him tonight at the movie."

Sachs wasn't the only one dressed up for movie night. Gwen Frank of Spring Green sported a dress she made herself. She's hoping to see some familiar faces from her hometown. "And so I am hoping to see lots of people I know."

Hillary Vaccarello isn't hoping to see anyone she knows. She's hoping to see herself! But right now she doesn't know if she made the final cut. "No Idea. Fingers crossed, toes crossed, everything."

Vaccarello is a professional dancer and she got to be on set with Johnny Depp for her scene. Now she's just hoping she made it into the movie. Even if she didn't, Vaccarello, just like everyone at the pre-party, is sure the movie is going to be good. "I think it's going to be a great movie. I mean it's based on a true story so I am really excited to see it, " says Sachs.

"It just has to be. Made in Wisconsin," says Frank.

"It should be a great movie, " says Vaccarello.

The movie started at about 8:30. It runs for close to two and half hours.

______________________________________________________

UPDATED Tuesday, June 30, 2009 -- 1:15 pm

Party preps are underway at downtown Madison's Hilton Hotel, where a reception is scheduled for Tuesday evening ahead of an advanced screening of "Public Enemies" at Point Cinemas on the city's West Side.

The benefit for Film Wisconsin and Arts Wisconsin at the hotel will feature antique cars, specialty drinks and memorabilia from the film shot on location throughout Wisconsin. The memorabilia items will be up for silent auction.

The event and the screening are both sold out.

Others like Cameron Traeger plan to see the film by UW Madison allum Michael Mann after it opens nationwide Wednesday.

Traeger went to a casting call and was hired to be Christian Bale's stand-in while the movie was being shot in Columbus. He spent two days on location. He says Johnny Depp was very serious. He says Christian Bale, while more energetic and talkative on set, became very serious when it came to doing a scene. We'll hear more from Traeger on NBC15 News at 6.

______________________________________________________

Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2009 --- 7:45 a.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- No doubt it will be all "Public Enemies" in much of Wisconsin Tuesday.

Early screenings of the Johnny Depp film will be held in Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Madison to help raise money for Film Wisconsin and several local organizations.

The movie about John Dillinger opens nationwide Wednesday, but the group that promotes filming in Wisconsin, Film Wisconsin, has helped organized receptions and screenings.

Receptions will feature classic cars and vintage costumes, among other things.

In the film, Depp stars as Dillinger, and Christian Bale co-stars as FBI agent Melvin Purvis.

Film Wisconsin executive director Scott Robbe says John Michael Bolger will make a guest appearance at the Milwaukee event. He plays corrupt officer Martin Zarkovich in the movie.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

______________________________________________________

From yahoo.com:
No one could stop John Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone -- from his girlfriend Billie Frechette to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression. But while the adventures of Dillinger' gang -- later including Baby Face Nelson and Alvin Karpis -- thrilled many, J. Edgar Hoover made Dillinger America's first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Melvin Purvis, the dashing "Clark Gable of the FBI." However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis' men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals -- from the infamous "Lady in Red" to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti -- were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.

Click HERE: Official Movie Trailer for Public Enemies

Click HERE: Official Website

Click HERE: Official Facebook Page

Click HERE: Cast and Credits

Click HERE: Wisconsin's Gangster Tour

The reviews are starting to come in!
Click HERE: Review that appears in the Chicago Tribune

Click HERE: Review that appears in the New York Post

Click HERE: Review that appears in the Seattle Times

Click HERE: Review by critic from the Associated Press

Click HERE: Review that appears in the Huffington Post

Click HERE: Review by Orlando Sentinel Movie Critic

After you see the movie, tell us what you think! Post your comments/review below.

Previous Coverage:
Click HERE: Celebrations planned when film debuts

Click HERE: Oshkosh Museum pays tribute to Public Enemies

Click HERE: Familiar face in Madison part of film

Click HERE: MATC students serve as Extras

Click HERE: Coverage as crews shot in Columbus, Darlington, Madison and other communities

Click HERE: Johnny Depp in Darlington

Click HERE: Fire on Public Enemies set

Click HERE: Dillinger in Belleville in 1934