ReelGuy's Reel Review: "Public Enemies" pops with Depp and co's quality performances
Maine Connections: A contemporary of John Dillinger's, Al Brady and his gang met their ultimate fate in a police shootout in Bangor, Maine. After Dillinger was shot and killed in Chicago in 1934, Al Brady claimed the title of America's most wanted man until he was killed on Central Street three years later, in September 1937. Bangor has held a commemorative reenactment ceremony of the event in the city's downtown for the last few years.
Star powered films have not been bringing in the cash this summer like the high concept movies. "Star Trek," "Up," "The Hangover," and "Transformers 2" have proven to be the most popular films this summer, with "Harry Potter 6" soon to join that number. Could two of the most well-known and respected thespians of the current generation turn that around with this period piece? According to this weekend's respectable box office numbers and reviews, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale have bucked the trend with "Public Enemies." The film is well-grounded, immersed in the culture of the 1930s, and character-driven. It is also a raucous good time with gun fights, a tragic love story, and a charismatic turn by Depp as bad boy John Dillinger. It is worth seeing this summer if you would like an equal serving of substance with your thrills.
Depp's bank robber, Dillinger, has just escaped capture and is on the run. He is embraced by organized crime and a celebrity among the common man. Stealing money from institutions and not from bank customers, in an attempt to minimize civilian casualties, Dillinger has become a folk hero. J. Edgar Hoover's fledgling federal investigation bureau names him public enemy number one; eagerly seeking political funding and positive press by bringing in the most notorious bank robber of his day. Hoover names lawman Melvin Pervis (Bale) to head the Dillinger task force in Chicago. Pervis's methods become increasingly more brutal as Dillinger proves almost impossible to capture and keep. Dillinger's weakness may be for the willful girl he meets in his travels, Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard; Oscar winner for "La vie en rose"); for whom he falls madly and deeply in love.
Director Michael Mann ("Collateral") expertly creates a deep-rooted conflict between the main characters of Pervis and Dillinger; Bale and Depp performing a movie-long game of cat and mouse. But Mann also allows time to explore Dillinger's personality, which proves just as fascinating. Depp loses himself in another lively character, becoming the charismatic but dangerous bank robber. Depp's scenes with Cotillard explore an unhealthy but tragically romantic love which both know will be their eventual undoing. The relationship holds the emotional core of the story and the film makes it easy to sympathize with both characters' plights. "Public Enemies" does not try to make the audience hate Dillinger but instead understand and appreciate who he was.
The police are not treated as kindly in the film. Pervis learns early on that standard procedure and lilly-white lawmen can not hope to bring in the wily Dillinger. The deal made with Hoover's authority, brings in hardened, no-nonsense men who have little qualms with torturing informants and shooting first. While Pervis generally stays above the fray, his character is sullied by these methods. Bale's lawman does not get the character exploration needed to balance the cops and robbers motif created. Bale puts forth another understated performance, not trying to outshine Depp's antagonist. The supporting characters are a list of Hollywood's who's who, including Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, and Lee Lee Sobieski. Crudup's Hoover is an imposing scene-stealing presence in the film, as is the out-of-control Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham). Comparing Dillinger to Nelson, the audience blatantly sees how different these notorious men's methods were.
"Public Enemies" is a visually splendid film, with carefully orchestrated scenes, and memorable performances. It is not a perfectly crafted masterpiece, which is a lofty standard, but it is likely to be a contender come awards time. It is not your standard gangster film and is worth seeing at the theaters or catching on DVD.
Rated R for gangster violence and some language.
