
Originally Posted by
clocker
Public Enemies- Johnny Depp, Christian Bale.
The early 1930's were the heyday of classic American crime with Bonny and Clyde, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson and most notably, John Dillinger all running wild at the same time.
Public Enemies focuses on Dillinger and has an outstanding cast, exquisitely detailed period sets (even using one of Dillinger's actual cars) and an intrinsically fascinating story.
I was bored to death, and I blame director Michael Mann.
Heavy handed and striving for his trademark epic sweep, Mann fails to evoke any interest in a cast of characters all larger than life.
I don't know exactly why I was so disappointed except to compare Public Enemies to what I consider to be the gold standard of gangster flicks...Goodfellas.
In Goodfellas, Scorcese made it obvious why the criminals wanted- or had- to be what they were....it was fun and the perks were enormous.
The rewards outweighed the risks.
None of that is made clear in Public Enemies, where neither the devastation of the Great Depression or the lure of an easy lifestyle is ever shown.
Being a bank robber looks as boring as being a milkman with the added downside of violent death.
Where's the attraction?
It's too bad.
The combination of Bale and Depp should have been epic but for me, it was simply OK and that's just not good enough.
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