DVD Reviews

Public Enemies – Blu-ray Review

By Patrick Luce Dec 9, 2009, 14:27 GMT

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. ...more

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies reminds of the classic films of the gangster genre while having the modern slick feel of his other crime films – such as Heat, Collateral, and even Miami Vice.

Mann (who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronan Bennett and Ann Biderman) is one of my favorite directors, and this film is an example of why I like his work. The director is at home in the crime genre, and fills the film with actors that are perfect in their roles, production and costuming that sells the time period, and a pace that holds the viewer from start to finish.

The film sees Johnny Depp taking on the role John Dillinger and playing the character with a swagger and deadly violence that would make James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart proud. Depp’s Dillinger is a new kind of criminal who is all charm for the camera and public perception, but willing to kill without a second thought.

As the film opens, the audience sees how deadly Dillinger is as he breaks several criminals out of prison and opens fire on guards during the getaway. The audience also learns of his loyalty to his friends as Dillinger kicks one criminal to the curb for blowing the getaway and causing one of his men to get killed.

Once free from prison, Dillinger and his crew begin a crime wave that would draw attention from local law enforcement (who were unequipped to handle this level of violence), the FBI (which was still struggling to get more power to pursue criminals), and the press (who seemed to be hypnotized by Dillinger’s charms).

Depp’s Dillinger is joined by other killers like John 'Red' Hamilton (Jason Clarke), Homer Van Meter (Stephen Dorff), and Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) as the gang takes down pretty much any bank they want to, walk around Chicago like they own the city, and get all the pretty women – including Dillinger’s love interest Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard).

All the press attention causes FBI head J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) to task agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) to bring in Dillinger and his kind dead or alive.

Bales character is a man who clearly believes in right and wrong and is unwilling to cross the line, but pushed to sacrifice some of those beliefs to capture this new breed of criminal. He becomes a figurehead in the pursuit of Dillinger due to fame he received from killing Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum) during an arrest.

As the movie plays, the story (which is not historically accurate) starts to focus on the cat and mouse game being played by Dillinger and Purvis. With the body count rising and the crimes getting bolder, Hoover instructs Purvis to take the gloves off and hurt Dillinger anyway he can – which means arresting family members, and Frechette. Purvis also brings in lawmen who are not afraid to get their hands dirty to stop Dillinger.

Dillinger remains cocky (even breaking out of prison a few times), but slowly starts to lose his friends and safety. He also starts to lose safe places to hide and medical help due to mob head Frank Nitti (Bill Camp) instructing his people not to help Dillinger. Nitti sees the FBI growing stronger through Dillinger’s crimes and doesn’t want it to affect his business.

As friends die, Dillinger finds himself alone and forced to take risk while Purvis gets closer and closer to his prize.

Public Enemies is a film that reminds of the great classic gangster films (like White Heat) thanks to the performances of its cast, and the film’s great action sequences (where Tommy Guns blast). Mann keeps the film moving while making sure there is time for character development. The bank robbery scenes and shootouts with the FBI are thrilling thanks to director of photography Dante Spinotti and the editing work of Jeffrey Ford and Paul Rubell.

Depp’s Dillinger is full of charm with a deadly violence barely under the skin (as seen when he confronts a man over a coat and disrespecting Frechette). Dillinger doesn’t seem to be a bad man – even though he has chosen a bad career. As the film plays, you tend to forget that you are supposed to be cheering for Bale’s character thanks to the natural charm of Depp.

A total opposite from Depp’s Dillinger, Bale’s Purvis is a by-the-numbers FBI agent. He is quiet, reserved, and always focused on the task in front of him. As he chases Dillinger, some of his beliefs are pushed (there is a great scene where Frechette is being beat by an FBI agent and Purvis has to stop it), and Purvis seems to question what the FBI is becoming to catch these criminals.

I was also impressed with Cotillard’s performance and how she made her character matter. She was not given a lot of screen time, but the actress makes an impression in the film as a good woman who falls for a bad man. She also leaves an emotional impact during the integration scene (where I found myself hoping Depp’s Dillinger would get revenge on the agent for beating her), and in the film’s final moments.

The film looks incredible on Blu-ray with the production values and costuming really brought to the front of the picture. Blu-ray is a format that really helps you appreciate the little details of the film and the work done by costume designer Colleen Atwood, set decorator Rosemary Brandenburg, and production designer Nathan Crowley.

The Blu-ray also comes loaded with special features that take you into the making of the film; takes a look at the actual criminals and FBI agents involved in taking them down; and commentary from Mann.

Public Enemies is a great addition to the gangster genre, and will remind of some of the great gangster films of the past. Mann’s film looks incredible on Blu-ray, and features a plot and performances that will keep you watching from start to finish.