The Quad

Issue date: 7/3/09 Section: Entertainment

Walking out of a Michael Mann film, you're likely to feel many things.

Entertained may be one of them, but certainly very dizzy and a bit confused should be high on that list.

Mann's kinetic visuals and "Blair Witch" style camera movements are sure to leave even the most seaworthy moviegoer a little sick.

Unfortunately this is true of his latest effort, "Public Enemies," which stars Johnny Depp as the Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger.

The film follows Dillinger as he attempts to elude capture by both local police and J. Edgar Hoover's (Billy Crudup) upstart Bureau of Investigation, which has labeled him as the first ever "Public Enemy #1."

Special Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) is the man charged with heading the task force to catch Dillinger and bring him to justice.

The problem for Purvis is that Dillinger has become a folk hero, a sort of modern day Robin Hood figure, to those whom the Depression has hit the hardest. His "take from the rich attitude" and daring robberies captured the imaginations of those who have lost everything.

With the public in his favor, Dillinger can walk the streets and enjoy the spoils of his robberies without fear of being turned in by some law-abiding citizen looking to do the right thing.

The film's plot is driven by the cat and mouse relationship between Dillinger and Purvis, as Dillinger flaunts authority at every turn, taking every chance to make those pursuing him look silly.

Also, Dillinger takes an occasional break from his criminal activities to court Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard), a coat check girl he meets at a party.

Outside of that, not too much happens, which is a problem for the 140 minute movie. The plot goes from robbery to robbery to occasional car chase without taking too much time for character development.

This isn't a concern for Depp, Bale or Cotillard, who all receive ample screen time, but the film's supporting players all get lost in a sea of fedoras and old timey accents.

After a while, unless you're familiar with the actor, it's easy to lose track of just who is who.

Of course, Depp is fantastic as Dillinger. The man was born to play the outlaw, a role that he cast himself in for a number of years in his personal life. Depp connects with Dillinger's outsider mentality and plays the character with a cocky yet likable swagger that few other actors could manage.

Bale's Purvis isn't quite as memorable. In fact, Bale's southern accent sounds so much like Martin Sheen's turn as Robert E. Lee in "Gettysburg," that it's hard not to expect him to order an ill-advised charge at some point.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools