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PUBLIC ENEMIES Titled: "You can either die a hero, or be a living coward” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J H Dillinger “You’ve got two options, you can either die a hero, or be a living coward, what’s it to be?
This 1930’s epic should take major stopping in this clever true life adaptation by Director, Michael Mann. The idea of banks getting a raw deal during the US 1930’s Great Depression made me warm inside and it wasn’t anything to do with my age. The whole system was corrupt to the core when it came to banking laws and it was a welcome breathe of fresh air that bank robber John Herbert Dillinger systematically with ease and finesse robbed them of their inflated profits. No public outcry was evident in this epic drama, which Mann depicted and drew upon. The only enemy Dillinger has was the authorities, who were being bungled huge sums of cash in stopping the onslaught of bank robberies. Dillinger’s vision was simple, to rob banks and live in a little Villa on a little island with a small pond probably with a bit of Alan Titchmarsh decking looking over to view crimson sweet-peas that his delicate wife planted, smoking Cuban cigars. This all embroidered the ‘American Dream’. True capitalism working for the public, not for banks and the ever facilitated ‘nanny state’ we all know and been bitten by. This was a time where influence and the media had just started building egos
and idols up and so this brought the US public a reason to rejoice the banking fiasco at a time of mental and great physical hardships; times haven’t changed that much over the 80 years regarding the Westernized impression of the contrived financial market that just seems to grow and fail and get bailed out without actually putting anything back into the economy other than a mandatory annual fee.
True, gritty, pulsating viewing; with more than enough gun battles which with HD and surround sound can be pretty realistic; of course depending on what side of town you are. Instead of Jeremy Kyle, the US public in the 1930’s had will J H Dillinger get caught today? You can picture US families at dinner discussing the latest Dillinger news.
”I hope he doesn’t get caught just yet, we need this kind of distraction seeing the jobless record levels”.
Michael Mann certainly has grown-up since his ‘Miami Vice’, Don Johnson days whereby, pastel coloured suits frequented our Phillips television sets. Public Enemies, is a mature film from a mature Director whose aim was to deploy the true essence of what was about during Dillinger’s period of celebrity. It was only 60 years since the US Civil War, so minds certainly had wised up to what Capitalism had enrolled to. Mann has enriched his viewing audience that was perfectly timed to the banking crisis. Mann hinted that it was to do with the ‘coincidental gods’ that Public Enemies should be so aptly produced at this time of financial calamity. The film original concept was born during mid 2007 amid the initial US Housing slump. He was humbled at Johnny Depp’s interest in the script started to realize the potential. It was a gamble for Mann to release the epic in July 2009, as films notoriously have failed during July, but having Depps signature all over it the picture, the potential market was much greater.
John Herbert Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp; was a remarkable piece of master-craft acting. The details were not missed, Depp, created a powerful character that was hell-bent on breaking the banking system. Armed with an eloquent intellect that put the authorities to shame professionally, and a suave swagger that was built within Depp without even having to move; a glance was enough. Dillinger enjoyed the good life, the racing, ageing malts, true comradeships, and of course what fame brought him and that was respect and an instant club membership badge to many famous clubs. His notorious entourage was always beside loyal to each other fending off the FBI through-out their campaign of bank busting. The band of brother’s were admirable, perhaps a smidgen bit deluded, but what else could they achieve during a time of the Great Depression, whereby corruption was key to success and robbing came with a huge benefactor laced with fame and fortune.
Under huge scrutiny from the Select Committee of criminal acts, hence this is not present day. - J Edgar Hoover who is played by Billy Crudup, decides to drum up his best crime force who was Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale – American Psycho. Bales acting laid out the red carpet to Depp, as his role was full of strong meaningful words without the spark that made Depps performance more noticeable. Purvis was a simple but intelligent man, educated at Yale with a bordering stark quality that Bale nailed. 1930’s realism verses the American Dream according to Dillinger. Mann’s character analysis on Dillinger and Bale was an open verdict as a number of screen sequences lacked a feasible reality as Mann tries to link both men with similar qualities which proved to me they’re just ‘flesh and blood’ in their own right; - This was in depth enough for me, it was shallow stuff I couldn’t buy into. It failed for me, and the reason was purely based on family background. Dillinger’s first robbery was a 120 $ Grocery Store, Bale was at Yale. The only similarities were that both men were proficient gun-men.
During this period cinema was a major pastime, Public Enemies historical facts shone brightly. Mann’s delicate use of romance in which Dillinger sees Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) in a club and moves in slowly with intention, his honestly refreshing and to the point. Billie full of grace and manners was drawn into Dillinger’s world, filling her with his own dreams and waning for the average Joe lifestyle, which she wished Dillinger would have; though reading between the lines Billie’s dancing eyes actually relished being part of Dillinger’s plans. Cotillard understated serene masquerade only enhanced Depps performance.
Glamour and beauty runs rife in this epic. Old style gun-fights roll into the night with dramatic effect. Depp is Depp and he will be rewarded in this action movie. Towards the finale, you will see Cotillard hardening up to her chosen plight in being Dillinger’s lover. You can’t help falling in love with some people, and Mann has studied this genre with all his might.
Copyright -07 - 2009 - 1st2thebar
Pictures of Public Enemies (DVD)
Action packed with dollar notes escaping the vaults
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Jul 17th, 2009
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