'Public Enemies' review
Too bad John Dillinger never stole any quality scripts
Posted June 30, 2009
Metromix
By 1933 the Depression was in full swing, and bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) was something of a celebrity. (Note: The previous sentence sounds more fun if you read it in an old-timey radio voice.) The film begins with Dillinger's escape from prison in Michigan City, Ind., depicts his romance with Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) and pursuit by FBI Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), and leads up to Dillinger being gunned down outside Chicago's Biograph Theater in 1934.
The buzz: Expectations are high, and "Public Enemies" could score the rare hat trick of becoming a summer blockbuster, critical favorite and Oscar contender. In the meantime, is director/co-writer Michael Mann's latest crime drama closer to his extraordinary "Heat" or dull "Miami Vice"?
The verdict: Were so many details used on the production design that none were left over for the story? Sure, "Public Enemies" looks great, with Chicago (and parts of Indiana and Wisconsin) gloriously turned back to the '30s with razor-sharp precision. The script just isn't there. From Dillinger's background and supposed popularity—little is said, less is shown—to Purvis having clean-cut officers replaced with more qualified southern lawmen, everything feels underwritten, strangely edited and poorly explained. And despite very good performances from Depp and Cotillard, Dillinger's interest in Billie never translates from innocuous pick-up to true love.
Did you know? Dillinger demonstrates that if a public service announcement advises you that a wanted criminal could be sitting to your left or right, the guy that doesn't look is probably guilty. Watch out!
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