Public Enemies Review

Published by Jeff Leins on: July 3rd, 2009

Michael Mann, best known for directing Heat, returns to crime dramas with Public Enemies.  He doesn’t disappoint those summer crowds looking for bank heists, thrilling car chases, and the rattle and spark of Tommy Guns, but lowered expectations are in order when searching for any loftier purpose.

Mann has an eye for action, that much is clear, but at times the digital lens is distractingly crisp and the prevalent, close shots are uncomfortably so.  When the smoke dissipates between bursts of gunfire, the characters are plainly seen as flat and without progression, sliding into a stylish 140-minute cat and mouse game instead of humans chasing humans.

Johnny Depp embodies the charm and intensity of notorious gangster John Dillinger, qualities that made women like Billie Frechette (played by a stellar Marion Cotillard) fall in love with him.  A narcissist as much as he is a thief, Dillinger smirks at his celebrated status and prides himself on his persona.  He’s sly in front of the press, nonchalantly leaning on one of his captors and boasting about his accomplishments.  When a henchman suggests kidnapping as another means to make money, the bank robber worries about what the public will think instead of the pay day.  Depp is smooth and casual, injecting plenty of his own image into the gun-toting legend.

His air of confidence and sharp appearance are supplemented by the upper class establishments of the Chicago crime syndicate.  Jobs are whispered in his ear at swanky night clubs underneath swinging tunes.  These aren’t low life wise guys or street level dealers, they are wealthy gangsters walking amongst the bribed public officials and funding the activities of citizens and criminals alike.  It’s difficult to remember this is the bottomed-out era of the Great Depression.  Which is why Dillinger’s countrywide heists are seen as “bad for business” by bosses like Frank Nitti (Bill Camp), who sees the government tightening its grip on expanding operations.

Running the Chicago office for the FBI is Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), whose compulsive pursuit of Dillinger resorts to questionable behavior and sometimes brutal lengths for justice.  Under the pressure of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup), an entire squadron of agents is dedicated to capturing and then re-capturing Dillinger.

Mann lays out all the players neatly, but he hesitates to choose a side or develop a relationship outside of the Frechette romance.  With little more than an anti-hero to follow around like a henchman, the story isn’t as engaging as it could be.  The film is content with substituting style or another shootout over substance or broader thematic material.  He did, however, renew my interest in slick, brimmed hats.

In short, Public Enemies is good but not great.

3.5 out of 5.