This Film Should Be Shot

Rating: 2/10 (19 January 2010)

Whether by firing squad, by assassination, or by suicide, this film should be shot and killed. Rarely in cinema history has such an abomination of heinous execution and excruciating boredom been allowed to live on screen.
Johnny Depp, in his blandest and most overly calculated performance to date, plays convict extraordinare. Marion Cotillard, in a role that gives her nothing interesting to do, plays his love interest. Christian Bale, who casts aside any charm or wit he might have shown in other roles, plays G-man Melvin Purvis. The rest of the cast is rounded out by an assortment of actors doing their best cop/robber impersonations.
The plot is simple. Dillinger goes on a final romp while Purvis tracks him down. That's basically all there is to it, since the film's laughable cinematography and editing make the scenes incoherent. In one particular shoot-out in the woods, the shots are so choppy and the lighting so poor that it's impossible to tell what's going on. The costumes and art direction are probably great, but Mann shuns establishing shots, so we don't get a chance to see them.
"Public Enemies" is poorly scripted, poorly edited, poorly shot, and poorly acted. It is far too long, and its plot deflates early on. This movie is unworthy of the greats involved with it, and it deserves to die.