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RATING:  
SINGAPORE : It has been a while since any Hollywood director has been bold enough to try his hand at a 1930s gangster film based on a true story. Michael Mann truly delivers and does a beautiful job in translating the life of John Dillinger from history books to film.
"Public Enemies" casts Johnny Depp in the re-telling of the exploits of the legendary bank robber John Dillinger, who seemed unstoppable at the height of his ‘career’ in the during the 1930s.
The era of the Great Depression with its economic and political instability gave Dillinger the perfect opportunity to not just stage heists but get away as a dark hero.
Dillinger’s ability to outwit and elude the authorities at every turn only served to earn him the respect and admiration of a disenchanted public while making officialdom look highly incompetent and inefficient.
This put power hungry FBI leader, J Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup), on a mission to track down and capture Dillinger at all costs.
Whether it’s history or directorial license, it appears from the very beginning of the film that Hoover’s determination to bring down America's "public enemy No. 1" is fuelled by his desire to boost his public image rather than ensuring the safety of the general public.
This gives room for agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) to brighten up the picture as the man in charge of a team with the sole purpose of capturing John Dillinger.
Depp puts up a stunning performance, oozing charm effortlessly as the charismatic Dillinger, injecting just the right amount of ‘bad boy’ swagger and cockiness to his character.
It is a relief to see Depp reminding the movie-world that he is capable of handling any and every kind of role, breaking away from the quirky figures of Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy and Willy Wonka in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
While Depp’s character remains the main focus of the film, there is a long list of other characters which advance the plot and offer depth in characterisation.
Christian Bale successfully takes on the role of Melvin Purvis an agent who comes fresh from eliminating criminal “Pretty Boy” Floyd, to nail Dillinger in desperate, unconventional and sometimes even underhanded ways.
French star Marion Cotillard plays Billie Frechette, the woman who wins over the heart of Dillinger, also puts up a stellar performance.
Giving a different dimension to what could have been a gangster movie, Mann delves into the relationship between Dillinger and Frechette, making it tightly interwoven into the plot.
The undying love they have for each other despite all the obstacles will melt hearts and could make you forget for just a moment that "Public Enemies" is all about a criminal.
This is a movie that is a colourful history lesson that brings to life famous names such as J Edgar Hoover along with those from the halls of infamy who thrived during the Great Depression era such as “Pretty Boy” Floyd (Channing Tatum) and George “Baby Face” Nelson (Stephen Graham).
But if only history lessons could be as fun, with hearting-stopping action, gunfights, and jail-breaks that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
While the ringing of heavy machine guns will stay with you long after the movie, "Public Enemies" offers much more, with a superb cast and details to history from clothes to cars that are absolutely spot-on, making the film even more breathtaking.
- CNA
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