Chicago: depression-era - is the setting for Michael Mann's new film Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp (as 'Public Enemy #1', John Dillinger) and Christian Bale (as the determined FBI agent, Melvin Purvis). The film depicts the last year of Dillinger's life, and through the lens of a digital camera, we follow the notorious bank-robber's escapades; meet his crew; his love interest; and ALL the people trying to catch him.
As a fan of Mann's previous work (The Last of the Mohicans/ Heat/The Insider) I anticipated his filming style would be both interesting and unique. With Public Enemies, I both liked and disliked the filming techniques he chose to use in this movie. Shooting with a digital camera, allowed Mann to get extreme close-up shots that kept the movie tense, and permitted the audience to follow ever so closely and freely with the 'gang' (some of the confrontation scenes between the 'cops and robbers', he filmed, were spectacular). But, the footage went in and out of a grainy resolution and occasionally, the sound would increase quite drastically. I found these glitches distracting from the story, and I had to wonder - if Mann's intention was to incorporate a grainy feel to the film, to accentuate the time era, why didn't he maintain it throughout the entire film?
Johnny Depp's acting is solid. And although I've enjoyed many of the quirky characters he has portrayed on film in the past, it was a pleasant change to see him playing someone 'somewhat' normal.(Dillinger might be a killer; but he's no 'Sweeney Todd'!)
Although Christian Bale, had me worried about his acting abilities during his first scene (I wasn't sure if he was trying to do an accent or not), he eventually grew on me. Although his character was ultra-serious and bland, I realised that a man with the name "Melvin Purvis" probably couldn't help but take himself too seriously, and so, I found him believable.
Dillinger's love interest, Billie, is played by Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose). Mann's camera loved her. And she was absolutely stunning.
My biggest critique about this movie, was there were far too many cast members. The cast was vast! And it was very confusing sometimes, trying to distinguish between the 'good guys' and the 'bad guys'. They all dressed the same (fedora; with long coat), many were fair-haired, and they were all carrying heavy artillery. Basically, if I didn't recognize an actor from a previous role, I couldn't keep track of which side they were on while they were engaged in a 'cops and robbers' shoot-out.
Overall, I did enjoy this movie. The sets were great and I liked the pace of the film. I would recommend seeing it on the big screen, just to see some of the impressive footage I mentioned earlier. You'll enjoy it - but don't expect to be "wowed".
In my opinion, while this movie was entertaining; it is not "one of the best pictures of the year, so far".
Personally, I'm still holding out for that one...
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