Public Enemies

I’m not entirely sure if it was possible for me to hate Public Enemies no matter what the final product looked like. It’s a bank heist movie directed by Michael Mann and starring Johnny Depp. Those odds are actually off the board. In the end, Public Enemies paid off even though I felt it could have reached a higher level.

It is always a pleasure to be treated to a Michael Mann directed shootout every few years. This time around we got a handful of smaller skirmishes which all lead to the phenomenal gunfight at the inn in the middle of the woods. He always takes such care to portray these battles as insanely violent as they would be in real life. Mann’s attention to detail can be seen throughout the movie; this feels like the 1930’s and with my experiences in that decade obviously I would recognize it when I see it. The only real issue I have with the director is that this is another film that is closer to two and a half hours than to two hours. I am growing tired of every other movie just cruising past the two-hour mark.

This was another credit for Johnny Depp’s resume as arguably the greatest actor working today. He was absolutely magnetic as John Dillinger. Depp pulled off the invincible aura that Dillinger needed in order to pull off some of the ridiculous shit he was famous for. The scene where he strolls through the Chicago Police Department is amazing. It was nice to see Christian Bale not break out the Batman voice this time around. That would not make sense in a 1930s G-Man. It still was sad not to hear the growl because I really feel like Batman would sent him to Arkham without too much of a problem. Dillinger nothing on the Mad Hatter, which makes even more sense since that is Depp's next role.

Is dumbshit girlfriend a role that always has to be found in these stories? I only ask because Marion Cotillard's character just kept staying with Dillinger no matter what nonsense he was up to. I don't care what bad things happen at the end of the movie; there is no sympathy for me to give her by that point. Any weakness in her character was offset by the awesomeness Stephen Graham's Baby Face Nelson. Classic over-the-top Depression era gangster. Lots of other fun faces popping up here, David Wenham, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, and John Ortiz. Michael Mann knows how to cast a movie.

Public Enemies was a fun movie that could have been great. Bank robbing in the 30s will always be fun to watch, but the long running time slowed this down at too many points. Still, it was worth the price just to watch Depp work.

8 out of 10