Public Enemies

Ever since I saw the trailer for this, I’ve been interested. Add Depp, Mann, and Bale to the mix and I’m piqued. The trailer also had this period piece done to the backdrop of modern music. The mood was different.

Watching the movie presented a different tone from the trailer. Not sure what I was thinking – how can organized crime be considered lightly or particularly in chic style and not be farcical? The movie was not farcical. It was deliberate and a bit stoic – although that’s not necessarily bad. Whatever it was, coming in with expectations of one sort of mood definitely skewed the experience especially early on.

The cast did a wonderful job of portraying intensity in subtlety and occasional ferocity. I appreciated the normalcy that the look of the movie presented. It wasn’t dark or typical of 30’s gangster set like it could’ve been crafted on movie set or in CGI. It was, in fact, filmed in the Midwest where the story was set. It was in the Midwest where John Dillinger and his criminal associates established themselves.

Depp plays John Dillinger a bank robber gangster that gained notoriety with his exploits. Bale plays Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent that led the investigation and hunt of Dillinger. The movie easily could’ve have focused on the man vs man conflict since both actors are quite capable of handling the duties. The movie could’ve done a lot of things. As I’ve read from reviews, this movies was based on a non-fictional account of that era of gangster crime and it makes sense that there are numerous subplots that are interpreted.

Since I normally attach most to character development, I didn’t think the movie picked up until the middle when the charm of John Dillinger stood out and his notoriety made sense. Earlier in the film, it was established that Dillinger thrived in the safety that he created by hiding in plain sight; hiding with the people. He could only do that if they wanted to protect him and the shine of his appeal emerged, at least to me, only at this midpoint.

After that, the movie picked up. I appreciated understatements that make statements. As stated by critics, Johnny Depp’s rendering of a notorious gangster as a normal man – a romantic and loyal man – without the sharply and overplayed tongue was very appreciated.

Overall, I thought the movie had hits and misses. I liked the performances, the story, the type of storytelling, and other items. I also hoped for more standout dialogue and earlier connection to the character (and between the characters). It’s been fun to think about the movie afterwards.

[SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t know John Dillinger’s story or haven’t watched the movie and want to: don’t read this part.]

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It’s well noted that Dillinger was killed after watching the Clark Gable gangster movie “Manhattan Melodrama”. I just did research on it and this is what I found. Gable’s character, Blackie, was a highly principled and loyal man. Yes, he was a criminal and committed terrible acts, but the nobility of his character was pitted in his loyalty to his childhood friend, Jim, who was the district attorney. Dillinger, in Public Enemies, was depicted as such.

Earlier in the movie, Babyface Nelson, a Dillinger associate who was a loose canon and is more of the typical gangster movie ilk, died a very violent and bigger death. Interesting that, before he died in a car chase and gunfight, Nelson was doing his “James Cagney” impersonation at a bar. James Cagney was known for playing such roles.

Coincidental? Surely not. I like it. I like the subtleties.

posted by breakfast boy@ 5:34 PM