Public Enemies
From award-winning director Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral) comes the film inspired by one of the country's most captivating and infamous outlaws - John Dillinger.
Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean series) stars as the charismatic and elusive bank robber marked by the FBI as America's first "Public Enemy Number One." Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) plays Billie Frechette, the only woman capable of capturing his heart. Hunted relentlessly by top FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale, The Dark Knight), Dillinger engages in an escalating game of outrunning and outgunning the FBI, culminating in an explosive, legendary showdown. "It's a landmark crime saga" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).
Member Reviews
Overview of a criminal mastermind - maebers
The final product in an okay docu-drama on the life of one of America's most infamous criminals, but in the end you really don't discover anything about John Dillinger that you couldn't have found out by looking him up on Wikipedia. So this is a pretty film to look at, and with Depp and Bale it's a good way to introduce those unfamiliar with Dillinger to the criminal, but if you were looking for a character study on the bank robber you may find yourself a tad-bit disappointed.A Lot of Unfulfilled Promise - Bunnyhugs
This movie had the potential to be great.
It had all the classic elements to churn together to tell a good yarn, but somehow it didn't come out properly. It just lacked heart. And the psychological depth that was so amazing about Collateral.
Not a bad movie by any means, just definitely not a great one.Decent Performances - Forgettable Film - ArcAngelMD
When you adapt a nonfiction book to the screen you are usually left with one of two problems: (1) How to keep up with a good storyline in 90 minutes of film, or (2) How do you work flexibly with a already established story that both really occurred and is already in print.
Michael Mann tackled the first problem by making the film a painful three hours. The second one he just ignored.
The movie opens with scenes establishing the Depp and Bale characters. From that point on we are rushed through characterization that simply defines Dillinger by seemingly unlinked violent events of his life and Bale is simply ignored as the G man on his tail. This is unfortunate given the calibre of actor Mann was dealt and the fact that Dillinger was clearly a sociopathic narcissist that was only anchored by a number of dysfunctional relationships. Alongside Bale (who was clearly troubled) is a second interesting character, the "Texan" , who is virtually ignored. This certainly leaves you wanting for a Costner/Connery approach to the film. It certainly would of been better as a result. In the end this was a character piece. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the filmmakers.
Member Reviews
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Overview of a criminal mastermind - maebers
The final product in an okay docu-drama on the life of one of America's most infamous criminals, but in the end you really don't discover anything about John Dillinger that you couldn't have found out by looking him up on Wikipedia. So this is a pretty film ...A Lot of Unfulfilled Promise - Bunnyhugs
This movie had the potential to be great.
It had all the classic elements to churn together to tell a good yarn, but somehow it didn't come out properly. It just lacked heart. And the psychological depth that was so amazing about Collateral.
Not ...Decent Performances - Forgettable Film - ArcAngelMD
When you adapt a nonfiction book to the screen you are usually left with one of two problems: (1) How to keep up with a good storyline in 90 minutes of film, or (2) How do you work flexibly with a already established story that both really occurred and is ...