July52009
Public Enemies Review For all the top-tier talent involved in this Summer’s latest cops and robbers flick, the overall result is surprisingly flat. Michael Mann returns to the genre that made him a superstar with Heat, but unlike his crime drama masterpiece from 1995, Public Enemies is lacking in tension as well as chemistry between the films leads. Johnny Depp headlines the film as the iconic John Dillinger, during his final string of bank robberies in Depression-era Chicago. Christian Bale stars opposite Depp as Melvin Purvis, assigned to the task of taking Dillinger down once and for all. The film is exceptionally well cast all around, with Mann having a keen eye for talent as always. Unfortunately, for the very little screen time Bale and Depp share together, the time they spend together isn’t very memorable. Safe to say, there’s no DeNiro/Pacino coffee shop scenes in Public Enemies. It’s a shame that two such electric personalities are given so little to do on-screen together, and it harms the films impact. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the film, per say, but considering the vast amount of talent on-screen (and behind it), I, for one, expected something more from the film than was delivered. The trailers have a very high-energy, rock and roll vibe to them, but the film itself is far more deliberately paced, and Christian Bale is severely under utilized, given little more to do throughout the film than take orders or give them. Depp, however, who carries the entire film on his back, delivers a memorable and charismatic performance as the prolific Dillinger. Dante Spinotti takes the reins of the film as the films Cinematographer and does a fantastic job of capturing 1930s America. Mann has a strong cinematic eye, as always, and delivers a visually stimulating picture from beginning to end. Perhaps it’s my own high expectations that lead me to expect the film to be something it wasn’t, but unfortunately, Public Enemies doesn’t deliver on the promise that the talent involved, and subject matter, could have delivered.

Public Enemies Review

For all the top-tier talent involved in this Summer’s latest cops and robbers flick, the overall result is surprisingly flat. Michael Mann returns to the genre that made him a superstar with Heat, but unlike his crime drama masterpiece from 1995, Public Enemies is lacking in tension as well as chemistry between the films leads.

Johnny Depp headlines the film as the iconic John Dillinger, during his final string of bank robberies in Depression-era Chicago. Christian Bale stars opposite Depp as Melvin Purvis, assigned to the task of taking Dillinger down once and for all. The film is exceptionally well cast all around, with Mann having a keen eye for talent as always. Unfortunately, for the very little screen time Bale and Depp share together, the time they spend together isn’t very memorable. Safe to say, there’s no DeNiro/Pacino coffee shop scenes in Public Enemies. It’s a shame that two such electric personalities are given so little to do on-screen together, and it harms the films impact.

There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the film, per say, but considering the vast amount of talent on-screen (and behind it), I, for one, expected something more from the film than was delivered. The trailers have a very high-energy, rock and roll vibe to them, but the film itself is far more deliberately paced, and Christian Bale is severely under utilized, given little more to do throughout the film than take orders or give them. Depp, however, who carries the entire film on his back, delivers a memorable and charismatic performance as the prolific Dillinger.

Dante Spinotti takes the reins of the film as the films Cinematographer and does a fantastic job of capturing 1930s America. Mann has a strong cinematic eye, as always, and delivers a visually stimulating picture from beginning to end.

Perhaps it’s my own high expectations that lead me to expect the film to be something it wasn’t, but unfortunately, Public Enemies doesn’t deliver on the promise that the talent involved, and subject matter, could have delivered.
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