Public Enemies

Posted on July 1, 2009 at 8:26 am by rbaglin | Permalink

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Released 1st July 2009

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Tommy guns blast out as Michael Mann takes you right back to the 1930s with a bang! This is an ode to the original gangster films and something we don’t see enough of anymore in today’s cinema. But the undeniable truth is the real draw of this film is the ensemble cast. Depp deserves an Oscar nomination for his humble portrayal of John Dillinger - he is simply brilliant.

Public Enemies tells the story of the infamous bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), a man who could escape from anything. No cop could restrain him and no prison was unbreakable. But while the adventures of Dillinger‘s gang thrilled many, J Edgar Hoover 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 was to become the FBI. He made Dillinger America‘s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis (Christian Bale), the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.” And so the story goes…

Even those who have seen previous adaptations may be intrigued to see how the Robin Hood of 1930s America would be brought to life by today’s modern film-makers. Nor can I compare or pass views on how they contrast to Michael Mann’s mammoth version - but here within lies the problem; this film is nearly two-and-a-half hours long. Whilst it starts out with a bang, in typical Mann style (he loves a long old film), it looses momentum as it is dragged out to the bitter end. This may work if the ending was unknown and the pace was continued, but when you are doing a biography then the ending is a given, so you can’t help but think ‘just get on with it’! Saying that, this film does ooze class and one thing Mann does know is how to stage a shootout. You won’t be able to resist the charm of this film - it is old school. There are no special effects, this is just good old-fashioned storytelling with real people acting on real sets, and that is simply magical.

Mann chooses to idolise Dillinger, in-part by choosing Depp for the lead, so you won’t be able to resist falling for the all-American anti-hero. Christian Bale is good cop Agent Pervis, whilst his accent is questionable, his performance is not. Stephen Dorff takes more of a backseat role, but proves his acting capabilities alongside the big hitters, Depp and Bale. Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is the perfect choice for the beautiful gangster’s moll. Other worthy shout-outs go to Billy Crudup as J Egder Hoover and Britain’s own Stephen Graham who makes a fine Baby Face Nelson.

Sadly Public Enemies does not quite live up to expectations. It’s not bad per say, just not as good as one would hope - it is safe to say ‘The Untouchables’ has nothing to worry about. If you are interested in this gangster era, love a true story, and are fans of the cast, then get yourself along to see it. But just like any biography, take it with a pinch of salt… then get yourself on Wikipedia book for the ‘real facts’!!

By Rachel Baglin

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Synopsis

In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)-the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public. No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. 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, 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 and 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 baptised as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals-from the infamous “Lady in Red” to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti-were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger..

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Film Facts

Official site: http://www.publicenemies.net/

UK Release Date: 1^st July 2009

Director: Michael Mann

Writers: Ronan Bennett (screenplay) and Michael Mann (screenplay) & Ann Biderman (screenplay)

Cast: Johnny Depp (‘John Dillinger‘), Stephen Dorff (‘Homer Van Meter ‘), Christian Bale (‘Melvin Purvis‘), Billy Crudup (‘J. Edgar Hoover ‘), Marion Cotillard (‘Billie Frechette‘), Stephen Graham (‘Baby Face Nelson‘), Channing Tatum (‘Pretty Boy Floyd‘).