See Ma, Americans Have Always Had an Obsession With Guns and Violence
Written: Jul 05 '09 (Updated Jul 05 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Outstanding performances by principles; great supporting cast.
Cons: Lacked real substance; shot in snippets.
The Bottom Line: Intellect is in short supply throughout Public Enemies, but it is good entertainment nonetheless.
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| vemartin's Full Review: Public Enemies |
The Great Depression was the period in American history when it seemed like Chicago was ground Zero for the crime wave that swept the nation. All of the major crime figures of the day seemed to have hung out in Chicago and its collar counties, and according to legend and lore bank robber John Dillinger was the worst of them. Public Enemies (2009) centers on him; the movie in turn is based on a non-fiction book—written by Bryan Burrough—entitled Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34.
Story-Line
Directed and produced by Michael Mann (Last of the Mohicans, Ali, Miami Vice) Public Enemies chronicles the newly minted Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (F.B.I.) battle to rein in the outlaws of the Great Depression period. Special Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale – Little Women, American Psycho, Batman Begins), is sent to head up the F.B.I.’s Chicago field office by then head of the agency, J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup – Almost Famous, Stage Beauty, The Good Shepherd).
Once ensconced in Chicago Purvis leads the manhunt for Indiana born John Dillinger (Johnny Depp – Cry-Baby, 21 Jump Street, Once Upon a Time in Mexico). Dillinger has already served eight years for armed robbery, been captured once, but then escapes, and is responsible for some two dozen robberies and at least 6 police slayings in three states.
Because the F.B.I. is a new agency, they commit many mistakes due to lack of training and outright ineptitude and mayhem ensues before they finally “get their man.”
My Thoughts
As the nexus of this tale of criminals, G-Men, bank robberies, and bullets, Jonny Depp as John Dillinger comes close to embodying the man who is part Robin Hood, part cold blooded killer, and quintessentially American. As it turns out John Dillinger was a complicated character, far too complex for a 2.5 hour style-based movie to capture. And Public Enemies doesn’t come close to telling us who John Dillinger really was, what motivated him, nor does it come close to telling the story of his brief and troubled life. Nor does it do Melvin Purvis any favors I might add.
What Public Enemies does deliver is violence, bullets, and bodies in ample measure. And through the bullets, blood-letting, and bravado, Johnny Depp as Dillinger and foil Christian Bale (Purvis) do an admirable job of bringing these to huge personalities to life.
Having never read the book upon which this movie is named and adapted from, I cannot vouch for how closely Public Enemies follows the tome, but if the rather scattered nature of the movie is any indication, I would say not too closely at all.
But, that is not to say that Public Enemies is not decent entertainment, it is, however, it isn’t great entertainment. The movie is an all too typical adrenalin-laden Michael Man film featuring frequent well-choreographed bank robberies, shootouts, and jail breaks. There are no clear-cut winners or losers in Public Enemies, both sides are equally flawed, so there is no emotional depth to the movie, no one to root for, and no one to spit at, so to speak.
Intellect is in short supply throughout Public Enemies. Indeed this movie engages the senses more than the mind; it is a classic period piece complete with fast black V12 powered cars and sharply dressed men in doubled breasted suits. Public Enemies flirts with the style over substance, but does quite tip the scales in that direction thanks in large part to the excellent performances by Depp, Bale, and the supporting cast including French actress Marion Cotillard who portrays Dillinger’s Chicago girlfriend, Billie Frechette.
And for those who are accepting of this sort of movie wherein outlaws are romanticized figures living a life of true freedom (living outside the law) by robbing the real boogiemen, the banks, while continually outsmarting bungling law enforcement hacks, living out for real Clark Gable's romanticized gangster role in Manhattan Melodrama (1934), well then Public Enemies has the novel look and cool appeal, that will win you over.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Studio Screening/Premiere
Film Completeness: A few glitches, but mostly complete.
Worst Part of this Film: Script
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Epinions.com ID:
vemartin
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Member: Vincent
Location: Aurora, IL
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