PUBLIC ENEMIES

PUBLIC ENEMIES... 2 QUALITY HOURS OF JOHNNY DEPP

Melvin Purvis: What keeps you up nights, Mr. Dillinger?

John Dillinger: Coffee.

This is a story of a love affair between the law and public enemy number one, John Dillinger. Even though we know how the players in this story end up, it still is an interesting historical piece from Michael Mann's viewpoint. John Dillinger was a celebrity in his day. Women wanted him and men wanted to be like him, except for the men of the FBI.

In the trailer Johnny Depp says to one of the bank customers, "We're here for the bank's money, not your money." This line was in a previous Michael Mann film. It was said by Robert De Niro in Heat (1995). In the finished film, this line is reversed to "We're not here for your money, we're here for the bank's."

A beautiful game of cat and mouse, in period, looking authentic and sexy. Johnny Depp portrays Dillinger effortlessly, almost too much so. He is self-assured and cocky with a mischieves sparkle in his eye. (Can anyone tell me why Depp has an "x" shaved in the back of his head???) Marion Cottillard is Billie Frenchette, the love interest so beautiful and captivating. She acts as the mirror of Dillinger's violent lifestyle. Christian Bale is Melvin Purvis (a name that would make anyone want to act out) an FBI agent who ultimately takes Dillinger out. I'm not sure why, but there is something really miscast about Bale who really feels like he's acting. As simply as Depp performs is as difficult as is Bale's role.  He just wasn't very good. Then we have a handful of worthwhile actors in minor supporting roles, some of which are barely relevant to the story. The roles could have been filled by anyone. The one exception who deserves to be mentioned is Giovanni Ribisi, who is practically unrecogniseable in his serious role.  Mann makes a semi-stylish piece with little new information. No revelations, no special insight, just a pretty movie with some pretty actors. Even watching Johnny Depp, it was a long two hours and 20 minutes. It was an entertaining film, but still could have used some heavy editing. Mann knows how to make a pretty film, but this one could have used some ugly-izing in efforts to make it more edgy, something that Mann is usually good at. Not one of his better works.
Bite: Worth watching, but only barely.