Movie Review: Public Enemies

I always wanted to see a Johnny Depp movie on the big screen. Finally i got the opportunity with "Public Enemies". It is based on the real-life story of John Dillinger, a bank robber during the great depression of 1930s. Johnny Depp is the star of this movie, he gives a steely performance. Everybody knows he can do different and weird roles but with this he reminds us once again that he can play a real life character also (he has done similar roles in movies like "Finding Neverland"). Johnny Depp has an excellent screen presence, audience just get captivated as soon as he comes on screen. Excellent performance from him. He is one of the major reason for this movie being good.

I would like to praise the director and the cinematographer for the 1930s atmosphere they created on screen. Whether it be in terms of surroundings, cars, buildings, clothes, music etc. The cinematography is absolutely stunning. The fault lies in the pacing of the movie. The movie after some time starts to drag on. Also John Dillinger's character is not much explored, he is shown as a person about whom everybody knew everything, but for someone like me who isn't aware of his history it becomes difficult. More should have been explored about his past, about the person himself so that the other side of the character could be showed. All the famous things he did would be known to many, but if in the movie they would have shown what kind of a person he was it would have helped in making this good movie a great one.

Christian Bale looks mechanical as if he is still doing the Batman role. Always looks serious, but probably that was the requirement of the character so here i would give Bale benefit of doubt. Otherwise, Christian Bale performance is nothing to boast of, decent but not great. Also there are not many scenes between Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, if they would have featured in more scenes together probably it would have spiced up the movie.

Overall a good movie, not entertaining but still a good one. Watch it for good performances, excellent cinematography, to gain some knowledge of the 1930s depression era and the bank robbers. But after you come out you will have a lingering feeling that something was missing, more could have been done. Michael Mann screwed up this wonderful opportunity he had. Still you can't criticize someone for making a good movie, but somewhere i felt that a great movie was reduced to being just good. I am saying all this because i had sky high expectations before i walked in to see it, and as it is said that expectations is the root of all disappointment, in the case of this movie it applies perfectly.