Public Enemies was much more interesting than I expected. I’d resisted seeing it, despite my generally high estimation of Johnny Depp, because I have such low expectations when it comes to Michael Mann films. Mann just seems unable to keep himself from ruining films with amazing potential (e.g. Ali, Heat, even Miami Vice could have at least been entertaining). Only The Insider (mostly) escapes my critical wrath.
But Public Enemies is good. Very good. Mann’s direction is disciplined (!) and the visual style– or I should say the stylish visuals– really make the film. But the center of gravity is Dillinger (Johnny Depp). The title might be plural but there’s only one enemy who really matters. Paradoxically, it’s Depp’s performance– that he is so good and the script so dialed into what is likely the most realistic portrayal of a character like Dillinger– that prevents Public Enemies from being a great film. In getting at the truth of Dillinger, that he was a hollow figure and underneath the suave machismo he wasn’t much more than a psychologically myopic killer (this whole aspect of the film isn’t helped much by the hackneyed role given the sadly under-utilized Marion Cotillard as Billie Frechette, Dillinger’s lover), the movie itself finally feels similarly hollow.
