BYE-BYE, BLACKBIRD...

Rating: 6/10 (20 April 2020)

PROS:Public Enemies is an enjoyable ride into the life of a bank robber in a time when capitalism was at its peak and the poor were led into criminal activities. Johnny Depp is charismatic as John Dillinger and captures beautifully the mannerisms and the charm of his character. On the other side, Christian Bale is convincing as the FBI agent Purvis and Marrion Cotilliard nails everything she's been given (the interrogation scene is terrific). The shooting scenes are entertaining and the two jailbreaks are impressive. The detail in the settings is incredible and the early 1930 era is captured perfectly. Also, it is worth mentioning the costumes and the music score.
CONS:The characters of the film are poorly developed. It depicts John Dillinger as ''Robin Hood'' but his moral values and leadership skills are never expored. The romantic stuff between Cotilliard and Depp feels generic and cliche. Aside from historical inaccuracies, the illustration of the fellow gangsters is shallow and forgettable (why is it even called Public Enemies?). From a technical aspect, the use of wide-angled zoom lens doesn't always pay off.