John Dillinger: an American anti-hero and the most wanted man in the world between the years of 1933 and 1934. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have learned that last date from actually seeing the movie; instead I’m left to assume it took place over a 1 year span, but I definitely couldn’t tell you for sure. That’s not all that sets this strenuous crime drama apart from Mann’s other thrillers, but besides some of the flaws, Public Enemies works, filled with sharp tommy gun face-off’s and appealing performances from Depp, and surprisingly Bale.
The movie kicks off immediately with Dillinger and his cartel escaping from prison, done in explosive fashion. They escape off to a farm and lay low for a little while, and to also restock on the fastest cars they can get ahold of. Something about Public Enemies that bothered me was the story felt very separated and scattered; you never really are with these characters or get close to caring about them, but become solely interested in whether or not Dillinger was going to be killed. Which, if you weren’t born in, let’s say, the past three days, you know he is dead, so you need to make it about the character. Don’t get me wrong, you get to know the characters, but they just lack any strong charisma.
Mann mostly redeems himself with the loads of bloody gun battles that are spread across Public Enemies. Along with the many bank heists shown in the film, Mann still captures the tense moments as well as he did in 1995. Bale plays Melvin Purvis, which to my understanding was pretty much the first FBI agent. Even though Mann includes the rejection of Mr. Hoover’s idea for a Federal Bureau, eventually it makes its way into the story with Purvis. He is assigned to capture John Dillinger, dead or alive, and let me tell you, Mr. Hoover could care less. Purvis, from then on, is on a constant chase to catch Dillinger, so unlike HEAT there will be no time for coffee with one another.
To my surprise I didn’t think Christian Bale was bad, even though I was sure I wasn’t going to like him. It’s like Tom Cruise; I watch the guy and I just know he’s acting. Unlike Cruise, though, Bale often switches between the most outrageous accents, but besides that he is only in the movie about half the amount of time Depp is in it so it works out. Marion Cotillard’s character as Dillinger’s love interest is somewhat boring honestly, by the end I did feel a little sad for her but I really didn’t see any chemistry between the characters. Once again, redeemed by another showdown, and they sure are long.
Overall, unlike many other Michael Mann films this one falls short. It may be one to see once, or even twice, but surely not up to par with Mann’s other tense thrillers. Depp’s performance is strong, complimented by good side performances from Bale and Cotillard. The movie also never catches up and explains itself; instead it just kind of continues. I was sure I had just seen a three hour film, and wasn’t surprised to find out it was damn close. However, you are rewarded with intense gun battles and sometimes intriguing dialogue, along with getting to know Johhny Depp’s John Dillinger, which ultimately comes out badass.
