Public Enemies is filmmaking at its best. Besides a few slow moments, this film has everything you would want. It has a great story, great actors with great performances, a dedicated director, and a true story that is thrilling and entertaining. Even if you know how it all goes down.
This film covers the last year or so of John Dillinger‘s life. He became the first Public Enemy Number One. He stole from the banks that plunged the country into the Great Depression. He was never there for the people’s money – just the banks. The people loved him because he was stealing money from a place that they had no sympathy for. Dillinger was a gangster. A rock star in many ways.
While Johnny Depp plays Dillinger, the man who wants to bring down Dillinger is played by Christian Bale. His name is Melvin Purvis and he is put in charge of the newly established FBI by J. Edgar Hoover. Purvis takes down Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson, but Dillinger is different. He is a challenge.
How this film becomes less about bank robbery, and more about Dillinger and Purvis is interesting. They both love the spotlight and their roles are actually reversed. Dillinger appears as the hero and Purvis as the villain. Dillinger has killed people before and no jail could keep him locked up. He wants everything and he wants it all right now. But he is not seen as a murderer or as a thief.
On the other hand, Purvis is shown as a person who will stop at nothing to get his man, which there is truth to that. He is willing to shoot a man in the back if it is the only way. He appears ruthless and numb to people’s feelings. However, there is one scene that shows a different side to Bale’s character. A softer, gentler side of Purvis.
Not only is there gun-shooting, violence, and chase sequences, Public Enemies offers romance as well. Marion Cotillard plays Billie Frechette, Dillinger’s girlfriend. He sweeps her off her feet and she falls in love with a man who is always risking his life. She is a strong woman who knows she shouldn’t be with him, but she just can’t help herself. And even towards the end, she will never tell on her man.
The acting from Depp, Bale, and Cotillard is top notch. Depp plays Dillinger cool, calm, and collective. Oh – I forgot to mention cocky as well. He is a gangster that has feelings, but a big ego. He is sitting on top of the world and never thinks about the next day. He just lives in the present, and I kind of believe Depp does as well.
Bale plays Purvis with fearlessness and confidence. I thought he would really be overshadowed by Depp, but he is not. When Bale is on screen, he makes his presence known. And it’s great when the two are face to face in one scene and one scene only.
Cotillard really does a lot with Billie. She is a confident and smart woman who falls in love. And I think she enjoys each moment with Dillinger because it could be their last. That is a tough relationship to be a part of. And Cotillard shows vulnerability when necessary, but shows toughness when it’s called for.
Michael Mann wrote, produced, and directed this film. He did such a wonderful job with it. There are a few problems with the camera and lighting at times, but don’t let that distract you from his vision. He pays attention to detail and some of the locations are the real locations where everything went down. He really was able to capture that era of our history, and it makes the film that more appealing to watch.
Public Enemies has the right performances, right actors, and the right director. How can you go wrong? It’s entertaining, romantic, and thrilling all at the same time. Some people know what happens to Dillinger, but others do not. Knowing the ending is not as important as how we get there. It’s the journey of Dillinger that captures our attention. This film will capture and keep your attention.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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