Drama Movies 2009 List

With Johnny Depp • Christian Bale • Michael Mann • Giovanni Ribisi • Stephen Graham • Jason Clarke • Marion Cotillard • Stephen Dorff • Jane Rosenthal • Kevin Misher • David Wenham

In the action-thriller "Public Enemies," acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public.

No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) 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's gang—later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi)—thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw's capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America's first Public Enemy Number One and sent in 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.

With Anne Fontaine • Benoit Graffin • Stephane Audran • Roschdy Zem

A Parisian attorney who travels to Monaco to defend a woman accused of murder. On arriving he finds that he's been assigned a bodyguard who becomes a major part of the story.

With Adam Brody • Josh Lucas • Lukas Haas • Boaz Yakin • Jacquline Bisset

The indie drama follows a pair of story lines that revolve around two brothers (Lucas and Haas). While Haas' character must deal with his mother (Bisset), his brother is lost in life until he is befriended by a scam artist (Brody).

With Mischa Barton • Matt Long • Jessica Stroup • Frank Hannah • Morgan J. Freeman

The indie stalker thriller centers on a former small-town golden boy and his new girlfriend who visit his hometown and discover his high school sweetheart (Barton) has developed an unhealthy obsession with him.

With Rose Byrne • Hugh Dancy • Amy Irving • Peter Gallagher • Mark Linn-Baker • Frankie Faison • Leslie Urdang • Max Mayer • Miranda De Pencier • Dean Vanech • Dan Revers • Christina Weiss Lurie • Gary Guidice • Geoff Linville

The boy and the girl in "Adam" are no ordinary characters, and their romance is anything but familiar. Soon after moving in, Beth, a brainy, beautiful writer damaged from a past relationship encounters Adam, the handsome, but odd, fellow in the downstairs apartment whose awkwardness is perplexing. Beth and Adam's ultimate connection leads to a tricky relationship that exemplifies something universal: truly reaching another person means bravely stretching into uncomfortable territory and the resulting shake-up can be liberating.

With Adam Sandler • Eric Bana • Jonah Hill • Leslie Mann • Aubrey Plaza • Seth Rogen • Judd Apatow • Jason Schwartzman • Evan Goldberg • Barry Mendel • Andy Dick • Maude Apatow • Jack Giarraputo • RZA • Iris Apatow • Clayton Townsend

Over the past few years, writer/director Judd Apatow ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Knocked Up") has shown that nothing—not even losing your virginity or the miracle of childbirth—is sacred. About his third film behind the camera, he says, "I'm trying to make a very serious movie that is twice as funny as my other movies. Wish me luck!" Apatow directs Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in "Funny People," the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience.

With Denis Freyd • Arta Dobroshi • Jean-Pierre Dardenne • Luc Dardenne

Lorna wants to open a snack shop with her loving boyfriend but her marriage to a mobster puts her in the middle of a murder plot.