[Movie Review] PUBLIC ENEMIES
While most folks were eagerly anticipating one of the worst movies I’ve ever had to sit through as the biggie of the summer, I have had my eyes on Public Enemies ever since I heard that Depp and Bale were going to work together. I like Bale’s work, and dammit I’m a red-blooded heterosexual woman, so Johnny Depp is a sex god in my eyes. My my my, that is a cute, talented guy! I’ve been a fan of his before it suddenly became “in” to be a Depp fan. I was looking through my DVD collection a while ago and noticed that I have more Depp flicks than any other actor’s. So, you can imagine my giddy glee when a friend of mine called me up and said, “Hey, you wanna see Public Enemies early? I have a pass for you.” So, off I went to check out Public Enemies last week at an advanced screening. My expectations were not absurdly high, but with Michael Mann behind the camera and my favorite actor in front of it, how could I not expect a great flick? Well, this is going to be one of those reviews that I hate to write, because while this movie is good, it is still a letdown. A movie that has the likes of Mann, Bale, and Depp involved needs to be and deserves to be more than merely good. This movie is just that: merely good. Truth be told, there is some great stuff here, but it’s being suffocated by a painfully flat storyline and the fact that out of the main three actors (Depp, Bale, and Cotillard), one is great, one is merely serviceable save for one standout scene, and the other is painfully flat with one single facial expression through the entire friggin’ movie. Three guesses who that was…
The movie follows the exploits of legendary bank robber John Dillinger (the Depp) as his heists put him into the cross-hairs of the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup), who sics Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and a squad of Feds on the criminal who has become something of a Robin Hood-esque figure to the public and the media. That’s pretty much the whole movie in a nutshell. There isn’t too much introspective into who these people were, what their motivations were, etc., and that ultimately hurts the film. I don’t know squat about these people and why they are doing this crap, so why should I care about whether or not they get hurt or caught? I don’t know them! I’m not saying that I needed a flashback detailing all of their lives, but these people (save for one) are painted with such broad strokes that I found it difficult to care (and trust me, you’re supposed to care). My experience with this this was eerily similar to my experience with American Gangster a few years back: I sat there, I watched it, and I left trying to convince myself that it was better than it really was. I had to wait a full week to write this review, partly due to my schedule and partly due to the fact that if I had written that review last week, it would have been utter BS.
The sad truth here is that the parts are better than the sum of this film. It starts with the performances. Depp is fantastic here. You totally see why the public was so enamored with the guy. Everything, from the way he dressed to the way he treated his hostages, particularly those of the female variety, contributed to his legend. I want you to watch the scene after he takes a pretty blond hostage following a bank robbery, and pay attention to what he says, what he does and when he does it. That isn’t an accident. every move the man made was incredibly calculated to boost his legend and his tragically false sense of invincibility. This is a movie star role and Depp sells the hell out of it. It’s a damn shame that the rest of the movie doesn’t live up to Depp’s work here, because he is effortlessly charming here. The man can work a tommy gun, but he shines brightest during the moments where guns aren’t around. Perhaps his best moment in the film comes with his pursuit of the beautiful Billie (Marion Cotillard), a coat-check girl who catches his eye in Chicago and becomes the prey of his relentless pursuit. Once Dillinger gets it into his head that Billie is his girl, that’s it, and he won’t take no for an answer, even when she is initially offended by him. The lines that Dillinger drops to ultimately hook Billie have been spoiled by every single TV ad, but it’s still hilariously honest, sweet, and smooth as all hell all at once. I can’t say that this is even one of Depp’s top five best performances, but he is so enjoyable here that it hurts that I can’t give this film more popcorns than I have.
The aforementioned Cotillard plays the token chick and nothing more for the majority of the movie, which had me writing her off. But out of nowhere, she decides to make up for her pedestrian performance so far with a great showing during an interrogation scene. Sucks that she couldn’t show that same fire through the previous hour that she was onscreen. She can’t speak English very well, and from what I’m told, she memorized her lines and their pronunciation, and as such she couldn’t really modify them. It shows in a lot of scenes, especially in a restaurant with Dillinger, but other than that, she’s fine. I do sort of wish that they’d cast someone else, though. She’s got ok chemistry with Depp, but I don’t think this role was right for her, and someone else could have easily bettered what she did here. Even still, she shows far more range and emotion than Christian Bale, who is downright robotic here. Flat and emotionless doesn’t even begin to cover it, people. He’s basically playing a Terminator in this movie. Seek the target, destroy the target at any and all cost. He’s the straight man to Depp’s charismatic performance, but the problem here is that he plays it too straight, to the point that he just about wears the exact same facial expression during the entire film. He’s at least not doing his growly Bat-voice here, but his attempt at a swingin’ 30s accent is almost laughable at points. If Christian Bale isn’t looking to be a movie star, then he is well on the right path. The man is a friggin’ black hole, devoid of any charisma or likability whatsoever. He’s flat, one-note, and dull, with the exception of one brief moment between Purvis and Billie that finally gave this guy a heartbeat. Too little, too late, though. All of the other supporting players do nothing but take up space. I can’t remember any of the characters’ names, and at times, I lost track of who was who, who was dead, and who was firing the doggone guns.
A lot is going to be made of Mann’s decision to shoot this film in digital. In my opinion, that decision was a huge mistake that is, to quote Christian Bale, effing distracting. There are some moments where the picture quality is astounding and the image looks pristine. But then, they move the camera or a person moves and the image gets blurry as all hell. They do a Steadicam shot down a small flight of stairs at one point and it was an eyesore. The camera was shaking slightly and the image was blurring. Why was this choice made? It makes no sense. It made sense in Collateral, as it gave that film a sense of immediacy, not to mention it made the nighttime scenery really pop. Here, it does nothing but distract from the film. I kept thinking someone had been zapped back in time with a video camera to film a reality show, and it just doesn’t work for this time period. I really hated it, and I found myself wishing that the film was shot on 35mm. The only time that the digital really works is during a spectacular nighttime shootout. The muzzle flashes are brighter than bright and the picture looks beautiful. Other than that, the digital is an annoying component of the film.
That shootout is a highlight of a film that is oddly peppered with bright moments, but ultimately fails to bring them all together into an excellent film. There’s good stuff here, but the whole thing plays puzzlingly flat. I think the problem is that we don’t get to see Dillinger’s rise before his eventual fall. When we meet him, he’s already an established force to be reckoned with, so the rest of the movie plays like I walked in right after Act 1 ended. Act 2 and 3 is alright, but that’s not enough for this film to be the instant classic that a little bit of me was hoping for. It’s worth seeing for Depp and that gun battle, but other than that, it’s only just alright. You have no idea how much it kills me to say that.
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23 Responses to “[Movie Review] PUBLIC ENEMIES”
I agree, it’s not much of anything. It has some nice shootouts and heists, and some scenes are great, unfortunately the great scenes are lost in a mix of TONS of boring scenes.
5 out 0f 10 for me.
You give it three, Total Film gave it four and Empire have it five stars. What’s a poor Brit to do?
I’ll just have to see it tommorrow and make up my own mind. I hope I love it. I could use a great film right now.
We all could use one Phil. How did the Dark Knight leave us?
Omg i just saw it and it was so great. And i gotta say something
Kristina-
Do women like Johny Depp for his looks or his charisma?
In my opinion he doesnt look like much but hes extremely charismatic, and a great actor, but he looks like a bum/hippie
Like I understand Brad Pitt or Christian Bale but not Depp…sexiest man in the planet? When i first heard that i felt like i got hit in the gut
Same with Billy Bob Thorton
It’s a mix of his looks, the charisma, and his humble attitude. He goes the extra mile to be nice to his fans. I just read about how a bunch of fans from around the world got together to make him a quilt for his birthday this year. They each signed their names on a cloth patch and sent it to this girl so she could sew them all together and send it to him. He sent them back the loveliest thank-you letter that he typed on his typrewriter and personally signed. Now how many celebs do you know that would do that? How many do you know that would go into a hospital in London, totally unannounced, dressed as JACK SPARROW to read to sick children for hours to cheer them up? Yeah he’s hot, but it’s the personality that seals it. Christian Bale is good-looking, but he’s also a total douche.
And yeah, sometimes he does dress like he’s homeless, but he’s still a babe.
What’s wrong with dressing up like you’re homeless? It’s so comfortable.
Did…did haz and I actually disagree on a film?? lol wow once in a blue moon for that
I usually find that to be a good thing.
Yup, I have to agree with pretty much everything you said Queen. Films are about the emotional content for me. If the movie can’t make me feel something, it can’t take me anywhere.
I just didn’t care about anyone or anything here; it was a completely lifeless film. I couldn’t understand why Depp chooses Cotillard or why she falls for him. It just happens and their relationship is not earned. If there is no effective set up, how can there be an effective pay off?
Dillinger also has a zillion accomplices, none of whom are given enough time to stand out or matter (save for Baby Face – he was a shit). The only reason I could tell them apart was because they were played by well known actors like David Wenham, Steven Dorff and that guy who looks a bit like Chris Columbus. There’s a scene towards the end where Dillinger is in a police station and sees a board posted with mug shots of his gang, all of whom have ‘deceased’ banners attached. It suddenly occured to me that I hadn’t seen most of these guys get killed. I guess I wasn’t paying attention.
I will say though that I liked Bale in the film more than you did Kristina. I thought he was aiming to be the ultimate stiff to create the best contrast to Depp and he did a good job. I was far more interested in what makes him tick than Dillinger.
….Aaaaaaaaaand the digital look worked for me. What can I say? Thanks for lowering my expectations going into it honey. I guess you’re returning the favour for Transformers 2.
Lol hey i liked this movie! It isnt going to get an Oscar like some people have predicted but its a good movie
Grundy, yeah but theres movies people HAVE to agree to like, and if you dont you ****ing suck.They go beyond opinion or likes and dislikes. Like The Godfather or Ghost. Or TDK.
Oh gotcha, i dont know much about Depp so i wanted that cleared up, those reasons you mentioned are why i like Gwyneth too lol.
Dudes like Tobey Mcwire, Bale and Russel crowe ARE dicks…and Megan Fox/Lindsay Lohan in the womens side.
He doesnt beat his wife or flash his vagina to get attention.
Im sure that if Gwyneth Paltrow dressed like a bum shed look 40x hotter <3
I now understand.
I for one, will be celebrating..well America yeah but also my finding of 31 scripts!!!
Haz whats your email? I wanna send you a “gift” lol
Correction…many gifts. You might know what i mean
happy fourth.
Hazmat1367@aol.com Lol
You worry me
Youre gonna get cought and get sued lol
Have fun, im celebrating right now by watching Independence Day on tv but our party starts at like 8….then we have fireworks…i love 4/7 lol
We have some sick fireworks this year
Oh and happy 4th of july to you!
LOL i’m fine i hope. Cool, thanks and have a great night. We are having fireworks here and the bright side is this hot girl (lol).
TDK is overratted.
In your opinion
In my book, since it didnt get nominated, its extremely underrated
No, it that case it’s fact.
I laughed so hard at Hazzy’s comment about Johnny not flashing his vagina to get attention.
I don’t know personally, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a vag to flash.
And yup, King Phil prepped me for the horror that was TF2. Holy moley what a piece of shit that movie was.
But thats why hes cool though. Hes nice to fans and hes not a royal prick.
I like actors like that.
I always show my support to Gwynnies breast cancer website.
You should all join the fight against breast cancer…
I dont like the “help new yorks poor” one so much but i still support it…only cuz Gwyneth is in it
If i were a chick id use her perfume too….i bought my ex her perfume…but i never told her it was GP’s cologne
So basically i just join shit shes on because im weak and pathetic.
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