Public Enemies (Universal Pictures)
An Actor In Search of a Character
Michael Mann creates a valid look at the depression era of America. He also has a brilliant actor playing the lead role in his film Public Enemies. Sadly the scriptwriter never gives Johnny Depp enough of a plot for him to bring John Dillinger to life. He is a man who robs banks but the why of the question remains hidden.
The movie starts with Dillinger breaking some of his friends out of prison. He is helped by his friend, cousin, whatever Red Hamilton (Jason Clarke). After this exciting kickoff to the film Mann moves on to show Dillinger robbing banks and eventually meeting Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard).
Dillinger and Frechette fall in love instantaneously. They make a very attractive couple but again the basis for their relationship is not revealed. One minute they are two individuals and the next they are a couple. You have to wonder why.
Interspersed in the film are brief cameos by good actors such as Emilie de Raven. She plays Claire on Lost and she shows up here as a bank hostage. Then you get glances of Channing Tatum, Stephen Dorf, Lily Taylor, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi and Leelee Sobieski.
Billy Crudup has a few scenes as J Edgar Hoover, and Christian Bale has even more as Melvin Purvis. Neither man gets much of a chance to make an impression or to truly create a character.
Diana Krall is the songstress in the movie and her rendition of the songs is a plus. A big plus. Her voice in the background helps convince us Dillinger and Frechette are falling ion love.
For many it will be enough just to have Depp as the star. The entire movie rests on his shoulders and though he gives a mighty effort he can not create character development which is not in the script. He takes what he is given and makes the best of it but in the end it isnt enough.
The film is rated R for profanity and violence.
The film is over two hours in length. You would think that would be plenty of time to study the characters and get to know them. It isnt. We get the bank robberies, the love story, and the final take down. It makes for an interesting movie but not a thorough one. Michael Mann had the potential to create a great film but all he did was make a good one. That is because he was wise enough to cast Depp in the lead.
I scored Public Enemies an incarcerated 6 out of 10.
