Public Enemies
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard
Directed by Michael Mann
Rating: MA
Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, in "America's golden age of crime", Public Enemies is based on the true story of American outlaw John Dillinger.
Dillinger, played expertly by Johnny Depp, is infamous for his lightning fast bank robberies. As Dillinger constantly slips through the hands of the law, top agent Melvin Purvis, played convincingly by Christian Bale, is recruited to catch Dillinger.
Johnny Depp, mostly known for his odd and quirky characters, is unrecognisable as the strong and courageous Dillinger, portraying clearly his strength of character.
In fact, I would say this role truly cements Depp as one of Hollywood's finest actors. He plays Dillinger with both substance and style, giving an extremely realistic portrayal.
Depp's acting skills are complemented with superb cinematography. Surprisingly, the use of handheld camera techniques worked well, particularly in heightening the chaotic shoot outs.
The use of sound was also well done, particularly the sound of the guns, (which sounded so real! I can still hear them ringing in my ears!). The final scenes really tie the whole story together, with the very tense and dramatic, however, sad but fitting end for Dillinger.
Like the robberies, the film is fast paced. At times (particularly at the beginning) one feels confused as to what is going on, and who is shooting at who. But good guys and bad guys are quickly established, and audiences find themselves emerged convincingly in a different era, where the definition of a fast car was very different to ours!
Conversely, this is also a love story, one of tragic proportions. The relationship between Dillinger and his lover (played superbly by Marion Cotillard) is portrayed brilliantly, while at the same time capturing the bourgeois society that they could never fit in to.
It is this that gives the story depth and significance, as it reveals to audiences, the human and sensitive side, of an otherwise inhuman murderer and thief.
This is a classic cops and robbers story, but audiences will quickly find themselves on the side of the criminals, hoping at times that Dillinger will get away, and that the police will fail.
It is this subversion of a traditional good guy/bad guy story that makes it such an intriguing and enjoyable film.
4 stars
