Review: ‘Public Enemies’

What is it about the rebellious figures that we find so endearing? Why are we so much more fascinated by those who break the laws, bend the rules and live dangerously? It has to have something to do with living vicariously through them. These people who have done things most of us would never dream of doing, but still a part of us is intrigued by the thought of what that life would be like. When movies are made about these people, we’re drawn to them and we embrace them with open arms despite the things they’ve done. Why is that?

‘Public Enemies’ is the newest film from director Michael Mann and it illustrates this very point. The story is that of legendary bank robber John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp. Dillinger’s infamous career as a bank robber took place during the height of the Great Depression. This would seem odd on the surface, but what resulted was an overwhelming public reaction to his celebrity as one of the most successful and difficult to catch criminals of his time. Many people hated him for what he did, but many more seemed intrigued by his adventures. It also didn’t hurt that he only stole from banks and refused to take what little hard-earned money the common people had during these hard times.

During Dillinger’s reign in the film, he saw friends and colleagues die throughout the story, but he prevailed. Aside from his drive to live and succeed, Dillinger met a young woman of low status named Billie Frechette, played by Marion Cotillard. Bille captures Dillinger’s heart and becomes his reason for living and the muse to his craft. Dillinger, a man of his word, vowed to take care of Billie and to never let anything happen to her. Dillinger manages to break his own rule by letting a woman into his life.

Johnny Depp is excellent as Dillinger, but what is even more pleasing about the film’s cast is that no one performance in particular stands out over any other. Michael Mann has managed to garner excellent performances across the board, maintaining a level and consistent cinematic experience that doesn’t overly favor it’s stars. Christian Bale plays FBI Special Agent Melvin Purvis, a man determined to track down Dillinger and prove that he cannot be outsmarted by a criminal. Purvis becomes conflicted however, as he is truly a good man forced to the brink of evil in his pursuit by the new FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, played with an icy, uncomfortable stature by Billy Crudup.

In the past, I haven’t been the biggest fan of Marion Cotillard, but she managed to surprise me in ‘Public Enemies’ as Dillinger’s love interest. She has an adorably cute and pathetic aura to her performance and yet maintains our belief that this innocent, once insignificant woman could develop the courage and resilience that she finds is her price for loving Dillinger. Even the supporting roles are great. Rounding out the cast are quality actors including Stephen Dorff, Channing Tatum as Pretty Boy Floyd and Giovanni Ribisi, to name a few. I personally found that Stephen Graham was especially convincing and entertaining as the reckless and violent Baby Face Nelson.

Director of Photography Dante Spinotti delivers a pleasing feast for the eyes that astonishes without stealing the screen from the story. Spinotti has done some incredible work including ‘L.A. Confidential’ but his best work has always been in collaboration with Michael Mann. ‘Public Enemies’ is now the fifth feature film that Spinotti and Mann have teamed on including Last of the Mohicans, Heat and The Insider. While there is a slight awkwardness at first in getting used to the film being shot in digital high definition while intentionally conveying a visual tone based in the 1930’s this feeling quickly passes and the effect transports the viewer back 75 years.

The 140-minute film is one that starts off slow and easy and gradually pulls the viewer into it’s excitement. The film isn’t an action laden hail of bullets, but it does deliver when the violence is necessary. There is one scene in particular when Purvis and his men shoot it out at Dillinger’s Wisconsin hideout that is especially brilliant for it’s action and intensity. Some interesting similarities can be made to ‘Public Enemies’ in relation to ‘Heat’ such as in both films the two main characters, the opposing forces in this case being Dillinger and Purvis, actually only have two major scenes together, one of which being at the end. This was the case for Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in ‘Heat’ as well.

Music in the movies isn’t always easy, so when I feel it works it usually really works well. This is the case with ‘Public Enemies’ and is why I’ve addressed this last, as it has become one of my favorite ingredients to this delectable recipe I have greatly enjoyed. Elliot Goldenthal (Across the Universe, Titus) has provided a marvelous score, but the soundtrack also features many great samples of music from the era as well, including songs from Billie Holiday, Otis Taylor, Willie Johnson and even contemporary jazz singer/pianist Diana Krall, who also appears in a cameo as a jazz singer.

Finally, ‘Public Enemies’ just has one Hell of a script. There’s so much great dialogue in the film that works flawlessly, blended into the time and place without sticking out like a sore thumb. The film has several great lines, most of them naturally uttered by Dillinger, but the most poignant lines of dialogue come from Clark Gable who starred in the old gangster flick ‘Manhattan Melodrama’ which is the movie Dillinger is seeing near the end of ‘Public Enemies’. This is also one of the best scenes delivered by Depp and he has no lines at all. It’s the connection Dillinger makes to what Gable’s character on screen is talking about that puts everything in it’s place. Depp’s acting is this scene all in his face, without words, and it’s a wonderful sight.

For those out there that still have figured out that ‘Heat’ is a modern masterpiece, I beg you to reconsider re-watching the film and then try your luck with ‘Public Enemies’ because the rest of us are falling madly in love with Michael Mann. ‘Public Enemies’ is movie that will make a huge splash come Oscar season and is going to garner a ton of nominations, hopefully leading to some wins.