Michael Mann's latest action movie is the gangster film, Public Enemies ( R). The movie documents the 13-month crime spree of John Dillinger, Public Enemy #1, and the efforts by the FBI to thwart his bank-robbing habits. Johnny Depp stars as the infamous Hoosier bank robber and he is joined in the film by Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard and Billy Crudup.
Ryan: From Heat to Collateral, Michael Mann has produced some crime thriller gems over his career. One can add Public Enemies to that list. Public Enemies is a well-crafted film that's one of the summer's best. The brilliance of the movie is that it has the feel of an old-fashioned Hollywood tale meshed with the modern visual flair of Mann's direction. The story unfolds in a meticulous manner but feels contemporary with its action. I wouldn't classify it as a great film (yet) but it's a solid flick.
Andy: While I like Michael Mann’s movies, I think one could argue that he consistently makes films that fall into the good-not-great category. The Insider and Ali are both very interesting, well executed movies, but I would have trouble calling them “great.” Public Enemies once again falls into that category. I enjoyed it, there were not obvious flaws (other than Mann’s penchant for going well over two hours), but three months from now I don’t think I’ll be telling people they should definitely see it.
Ryan: I get the impression that Public Enemies, despite its technical brilliance, might not resonate with some moviegoers. In this day in age when it comes to telling crime stories people don't just want the story, they want the “why” as well. If one is looking to this movie to shed some light on why John Dillinger did the things that he did, then those people are going to be disappointed with Public Enemies. The film isn't a character study or a psychological analysis of Dillinger. In that light some people would argue that the movie has no (or little) weight. All I would say to that is with regard to this movie--and this is true of many of Mann's films--the style is the substance.
Andy: I’ve also heard some criticism about Public Enemies not being a good summer movie. Biopics are for the winter, action should reign in the warmer months. But Mann’s unwillingness to turn Public Enemies into a character study of Dillinger keep it from being a typical biopic. I personally would like movies such as this to spend some time on the motives of those involved, but by neglecting to do so, Mann has embraced the “summer movie spectacle” aspect of Dillinger’s tale. And at the very least, I have to respect him for it.
Ryan: Being that Public Enemies is a straight-ahead movie the performances in the film are of the one- note variety but it's a heck of a note. All three leads give charismatic performances. At the forefront is Depp who plays Dillinger with a calm coolness instead of the over-the-topness that normally defines the genre. That definitely works to the film's benefit. Additionally Bale's performance is layered with an authentic intensity and Colliard's natural beauty radiates on screen.
Andy: While I find myself a little less enthusiastic than Ryan, there is no question that Public Enemies is one of the stronger movies to hit theatres this summer. As is always the case when he’s involved, Johnny Depp’s performance is at the forefront of what makes Public Enemies work. His cocksure attitude and steady demeanor exudes a confidence that makes Dillinger’s larger than life persona seem real and possible. For that reason alone the film is both entertaining and interesting.
In spite of some differing opinions, Public Enemies has a lot going for it, especially during a weak summer movie season. Final grade: B+.
No comments:
Post a Comment