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Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 4360 Location: NYC baby!

I was kind of disappointed by this. I feel like Mann was only firing on half energy in every scene that didn't involve guns. Depp's Dillinger is about the only character with any depth in the film as no one else is given anything to do other than be a "fed" of a "robber". Even the scene between Bale and Depp is incredibly underwhelming.

The whole time I kept thinking how much better Heat was at telling almost the same kind of story.

Meh, not horrible, but certainly not as good as it could and should have been.

6/10

Joined: 27 Feb 2009 Posts: 16

6/10 is exactly what I'd give it too.

It was good - I was thoroughly entertained but it was lacking. Another review elsewhere said it felt like the 3rd part of 3 part miniseries - we're expected to know these characters but we don't. I'd agree with that at the beginning but by the 2nd half, one gets Dillinger.
I wonder if reading the book gave me an advange going in; I knew who many of the side characters were -- their stories, what they were doing while Dillinger was around and after. Like Karpis - played by Gionvanni Ribisi-he and his gang were my favorite of the gangs/robbers profiled in the book (the others being Bonnie and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd and Machine Gun Kelly and the rise of the FBI).
I loved the shoot out at Little Bohemia but the historical record is much different - in real life it was a complete fuck up for the FBI; as was most they did. They were completely incompetent at that point and lucked into so much. That said, Mann presenting that portion of the film was fascinating. It felt like a DTV movie - but with a good script, great actors and good director - as in its unpolished and that makes it feel more real. I was completely immersed. The effect isn't as strong in the dialoge scenes but for the action it really brought me in.
All and all its a great abridgement of a fantastic tale ... I highly recommend the book.
_________________
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read ~Groucho Marx

Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 1096

Public Enemies is a good film, unfortunately not a great film. I don't think it's destined to become a classic like Heat. I shouldn't have even had Heat on my mind while watching PE. Because PE is no Heat. Again, that's not to say PE is bad.

One of the problems I think was Depp's performance. Depp played Dillinger as if he were on tranquilizers. Which is not good considering Dillinger is the star of the show. His attempts at humor fell flat for me and didn't feel genuine. Bale also lacked any sort of spark that made him an interesting character. His southern accent could have used some work too.

I think the two actors that stood out the most were Marion Cotillard and Stephen Graham as psychopath Baby Face Nelson. Stephen Lang was also quite good given what little a part he had.

I'd say the best parts of the film are the shoot-outs. Mann continues to school everyone on how to film and choreograph shoot-outs. Anyway, I wouldn't rush to see this film. I would recommend seeing it eventually though.

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