OUTLAW: Johnny Depp plays Depression-era bank-robber John Dillinger, escorting girlfriend Billie Frechette, played by Oscar winner Marion Cotllard in the new film 'Public Enemies'. (Peter Mountain/ Universal Pictures)
Michael Mann does it again, casting a spell with his painstakingly researched and accurate biopic of one of America’s most idolized and infamous bank robbers, John Dillinger. Dillinger reigned as public enemy number one in the Depression era, known for his lightning fast raids (averaging one minute and forty seconds each), daring jailbreaks, and his larger than life personality. In the span of his career, he is believed to have robbed two dozen banks, 4 police stations, and to have escaped from jail twice.
The FBI had just been formed and its chief, J. Edgar Hoover (played by the talented Billy Crudup), created a special taskforce to apprehend Dillinger, with the hope that the publicity from capturing the notorious criminal would further elevate the status of the FBI in the public eye. We’re taken through a highly-charged cat-and-mouse chase, with endless gunshots following trails of successful bank robberies.
FBI:(L-R) Christian Bale plays Special Agent Melvin Purvis, seen meeting with FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, played by Billy Crupup in 'Public Enemies'. (Peter Mountain/ Universal Pictures)
Obviously, it goes without saying that when you have Johnny Depp in the lead character role, you need an equally strong actor to play his nemesis, in this case, FBI’s top agent Melvin Purvis. Christian Bale delivers his usual A+ performance in his portrayal of Purvis. Ultimately, Depp is unrivaled in his ability to transform himself into the part that he’s playing. His every movement, every syllable uttered, every facial expression, transports us from the theater into the 1930s Midwest. Not even the beautiful Oscar winner, Marion Cotillard, can distract us from the man who has so convincingly fooled us into believing he’s the real Dillinger reincarnate.
I haven’t felt this torn between rooting for the bad guy versus the good guy since Mann’s “Heat” where Pacino and De Niro were riveting in their performances. Aside from the stellar casting and acting, Mann’s skillful directorial eye keeps us at the edge of our seats as we witness an accurate portrayal of a slice of American history.
Rating: 4.5 stars/5.
