In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the incredible and true story of legendary Depression-era bank robber 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.
This could have been one of the greatest movies ever told. He had all the right ingredients for a classic cinematic movie that would stand the test of time. Michael Mann who did great work directing Heat, Collateral among just a few. It also stars Christian Bale and Johnny Depp. The former being the dark moody character actor who likes to get under the skin of the person he is portraying, and the former being the worlds most likable star with his kooky and sometimes quite bizarre roles.
Sadly this movie misses the mark so many times that it leans more towards being a turkey then an actual classic.
While epic sweeping movies such as The Godfather, Raging Bull, and the Goodfellas (to name just a few) can be told over the course of many hours, you can forgive them for being so long because they have a gripping and intriguing story to tell. They are also, most of the time, based on books or real life stories. This is based on a book which is based on real life events.
While some directors and writers like to spread the fiction in to true stories to add more tension to the plot or maybe add a few more action events, Mann keeps this pretty close to
the real story.
This is his main flaw.
The story is really interesting. A 1930’s setting for a Robin Hood like character to steal from the banks and give to the poor. He was hailed as a great hero among the public. Dillinger was maverick who was liked by everyone, even the bank workers he stole from. Even the police and law firms liked him for his slick and quick ways of robbing a bank and giving the money back to the people. But, in this film we never get to see any of this. Depp plays him with all the cockiness and cool manner you want and expect, but the film never gets under his skin and sees what makes him tick. All we see is the few glimpses of humor and a blood thirsty gangster. He doesn’t mind, or at least shows no remorse when innocent people are killed during his crime wave. Considering this is the guy who the public adore and he respects back doesn’t make to much sense. And, while this is no Sparrow, Wonka, Wood, or even Brasco Johnny Depp still plays him well.
Well, he comes across better then the boring Bale. Christian Bale is in his third movie in a row where he is the good guy getting out acted by the bad guys. First in The Dark Knight, then Terminator and now this. Sure, he plays the role Purvis well, the FBI agent trying to track him down. He just doesn’t get to do to much except look bored and look motionless.
The great fiction stories of agent after suspect are often played better when they have interaction between the two, be in The Fugitive or the second season of Prison Break. Two people from different sides of the law trying to get their job done.
Here they don’t get much screen time, it lets the whole film down. I know it’s a true story but I needed more.
Though more of this film and I would have fallen asleep. It moves along at such a slow pace you just want Depp to drink some rum and swagger around making this an enjoyable romp.
The supporting cast are good, but we never really get to know them. It’s also a little confusing in places due to Depp’s gang losing and gaining more men throughout the movie, and vice versa with Bale’s gang.
The Road to Perdition with Tom Hank’s had a similar and much more exiting pace and style to it. I’d recommend that.
The film is very weak and let down by the pace.
I guess sometimes sticking to the real life events isn’t always a good thing. Maybe someone should consider that next time they watch an Oliver Stone movie.
Not even Depp can save this yawm through film
3/10