Public Enemies Review

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 Hoovers fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger. 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) 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. Hoover 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) who were real gunfighters and orchestrating epic betrayals from the infamous “Lady in Red” to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti were Purvis and the FBI able to close in on Dillinger.

Allow me to begin by saying that I went into this film with a completely open mind. Having never read past stories, seen past movies about the life and crimes of John Dillinger my mind was a completely clean slate (although I’m told it often empty up there anyway).

That said, having now seen the film I completely understand director Michael Mann’s fascination with the character, and I applaud him for the finite attention to detail demonstrated throughout the course of the movie.

Public Enemies is for heist movies what Goodfellas is for regular mafia films. The glamorous, art-deco style of Depression-era America has been perfectly captured in this cinematic masterpiece, oh and don’t let other reviews fool you – visually this film is without a doubt a masterpiece, and I fully expect it to receive at least a couple of nods at the next Academy Awards!

The film begins with what appears to be a captive John Dillinger (Depp) being taken back to prison just eight short weeks after serving nine year stretch. This charade is soon revealed to be a clever ruse in order for Dillinger to break out his buddies, treating the audience to an adrenaline filled, bone crunching opening sequence which I have to say took me by complete surprise and set the pace for the rest of the film.

That in itself is part of this film’s charm, while we all think we know what we’re seeing, and while we certainly feel fully immersed in this period piece, it doesn’t fail to shock just as the audience is being lulled into a false sense of security. Having watched three or four bank raids performed by Dillinger’s gang with precision timing, I didn’t expect the next one to go so horribly wrong. I didn’t expect Dillinger to be busted in a posh hotel suite when he’s right in the middle of romancing his true love, Billie Frechette (Cotillard). And I didn’t expect Melvin Purvis (Bale) to fall so far into violence and corruption in order to capture Chicago’s “Public Enemy Number One”. For uninitiated viewers like me this film is a rare and thrilling glimpse into the life of Mister John Dillinger, serving up a healthy dose of gun fights, romance and good old fashioned violence, all served up by the dangerous yet charming Dillinger who to this day is still a folk hero to many people in Chicago.

While the film itself is almost note-perfect, it would be unfair of me not to point out the few minor flaws that are evident in Michael Mann’s latest masterpiece. Here is a film that stars to of the biggest names in Hollywood today, Christian Bale and Johnny Depp. Instantly this conjures images of wonderful on screen clashes between the two acting heavyweights, but unfortunately Bale and Depp’s time on screen together is limited to ten minutes at best!

Their first scene together is when Dillinger is holed up in the Crown Point Jail jail, awaiting trial. Melvin Puvis naturally comes down to the jail to see his high profile prisoner in the flesh. This would be the perfect opportunity for a potentially iconic scene of back-and-forth between the two actors, but unfortunately Depp does most of the talking while Bale very smugly smirks and nods his way through a scene that definitely under delivers.

Still, if screen time is the only problem in a movie that runs for 140 minutes then I’m certain you won’t be disappointed by this stylish alternate look back at 1940’s America, and an armed robber who’s become less like the bogeyman and far more like Robin Hood in this excellent example of a period thriller.

Public Enemies hits UK theatres everywhere TOMORROW (1st July 2009)

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Tags: christian bale, johnny depp, public enemies, review