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PUBLIC ENEMIES

With Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Graham, Giovanni Ribisi, James Russo, David Wenham

Written by Ronan Bennett, Michael Mann & Ann Biderman (based on the book "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34" by Bryan Burrough)

Directed Michael Mann

John Dillinger was a notorious American bank robber from the 1930s, who gained cult status (like fellow criminals Baby Face Nelson, Dutch Schultz, Pretty Boy Floyd, Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel), regardless of the terrible deeds they committed.
In this Michael Mann telling of Dillinger's story, they cannot help but glamourize him, especially with Depp in the role. This never sits well (even if we know the bad guy gets it in the end).
This high energy conflict goes hand in hand with the telling of the rise of the FBI, the other side of the coin being Melvin Purvis, the lawman who hunted down Dillinger and other criminal. He was given carte blanche by J. Edgar Hoover to take these men down by any means necessary, matching their firepower and intent. Throughout the story, Mann tries to accentuate both Dillinger and Purvis' good and bad sides.
Another element Mann explores is focusing on Dillinger's woman and what she had to endure - some would say you can't help who you fall in love with while others would have little sympathy and say that if you know what you're getting yourself in for, you must be prepared to take the consequences.
But, even with a director like Mann, a cast like Depp and Bale, brazen acts of robbery, shoot-outs and chases, this movie failed to grab me by the eyeballs. On top of this the video look at the press screening also detached me from the believability (and I'm unsure whether we were supplied with an un-graded version...).

The fact that some people are willing to do anything for money (even kill another human being), certainly reflects how some of us haven't, and simply won't evolve.

3 / C
- Paul Blom


0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B - C

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6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temp.
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice

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