"Public Enemies"

There’s just no better way to glamorize a gangster than to put Johnny Depp in the starring role, dress him up in period garb, put him in the most stylish and specially made fastest cars of the era holding a machine gun on running boards, and give him some dynamite lines. Perfect.

I assume this story of John Dillinger takes some liberties with historical accuracy, but who knows being as much of his high crime, depression-era bank robberies took place in the seemingly always gangsterized city of Chicago.

Directed by Michael Mann, it’s an action movie with a heart. Special Agent Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale, is assigned the daunting task of capturing or killing John Dillinger after he escapes from prison, evades police and multiple Bureau agents, and robs a bunch of banks. Bale’s portrayal of the no-nonsense, confident yet humble Purvis, giving him a heroic approach to the formidable commission is understated and well done.

Charming the lovely Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard), a coat checker who falls in love with the dashing gangster, Dillinger comes for her in spite of her warnings to stay away because she’s being watched. Thinking he can put them up in an old safe place, Billie is captured inside the hotel and Dillinger has to speed away. Billie refuses to give him up, giving a fake location which sends the feds on a wild goose chase and infuriates her interrogators.

Their love is for real and outside of Billie only one of John’s friends remains true to the end. It isn’t until John reluctantly hooks up with Baby Face Nelson on a job that things begin to deteriorate for him. Betrayal ends his “career”, and Billie seems to be the only one who knows his life will come to a bad end until he senses it’s close.

There’re a lot of gangsters and G-men in this film to keep track of, and it moves fast most of the time. The R-rated film is quite clean considering its subject matter, and the romance is low key but essential to establishing the character (I know: he’s a gangster, for crying out loud!) of John Dillinger in this story. I’ve seen some PG-13 rated films far more offensive than "Public Enemies".

Some reports label Dillinger a folk hero for robbing the banks the common people held responsible for The Depression. This particular movie plays that up to establish an empathetic “hero” who doesn’t relish the killing and prefers to just get the money and zoom away in “One minute and 40 seconds. Flat.”

There’s a bit of melodrama at the end, but, c’mon, it’s a movie, and in this case it’s just right. Good film. I loved it. I'll be seeing it again soon. And, yes, I’m a Johnny Depp fan.

Father, you know my prayers. You know my heart. You love more deeply than I ever could. Your desire is to bring the lost to Jesus . . . before it’s too late. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Comments

[Mark H.]

You're a Johnny Depp fan? I had no idea. ;)

[Nicole]

I knew you'd be the first (and perhaps only) to comment, Mark. And here I thought I was being incognito all this time what with the novel, the favorite films, the . . .

It's a good film, Mark. You have any interest in seeing it?

[Mark H.]

I'd love to see it. If my partner in crime would get his rear in gear, you'd see that in our July movie preview.

[Nicole]

Email me if he gets it posted. It's a good flick.