Good Fun but Slightly Underwhelming

Rating: 4/10 (3 March 2016)

Michael Mann is one of the few directors where I'll happily watch anything that he is involved in. He is an expert when it comes to telling big stories and keeping them engaging, always fleshing out his characters and writing dialogue that leaps off the screen. Most importantly though his films always leave some kind of impact upon you and really make you consider the stories they are trying to tell. Public Enemies focuses on the famed bank-robber John Dillinger, who became something of a celebrity in his day due to his crimes never actually hurting innocent people. Whilst also looking at the FBI force, led by Melvin Purvis, out to catch him. With Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in the lead roles you're thinking this could be something special with Mann's directing, yet the film falls short where Mann's other films have soared and never becomes anything more than an entertaining little piece.
The story focuses on three areas in Dillinger's crime exploits, his relationship with a girl named Billie and the FBI's efforts to catch him. I think all three areas are handled adequately, but never anything more than that. The crimes and shootouts are exciting to watch but nothing we haven't seen before. The romance is very believable but could have been delved into more. It is interesting to see the workings of the FBI yet more could have been shown of their efforts and plans. The big problem with the film appears here. It is enjoyable but it severely lacks the pathos and grandness of Mann's other works, while on the flip side it doesn't go into enough detail on Dillinger himself to be an intriguing character piece that is could have been. It is stuck somewhere between these two styles and would have fared better if it had picked one to go for.
Mann is capable as ever behind the camera, he knows how to make the dialogue interesting and create a sense of location. It must be said however that the hand-held camera work and shooting the film in digital do get in the way many times, mainly due some irritating shaky cam and some shots looking distinctly amateur because of the low resolution. Not to mention that quite a lot of the film is shot in close-ups which does appear somewhat unambitious at times.
Johnny Depp does a good job with what is a difficult type of performance, he makes Dillinger charismatic and gives his relationships an air of believability. The problems with the role are mostly due to the writing as we're never given a true insight into Dillinger and what makes him tick. Its all well and good making him stylish but there needs to be a complexity to such a character. Christian Bale is solid as Purvis and offers the intensity we've come to expect from his performances, but he is also let-down by the writing. Purvis simply isn't fleshed beyond wanting to take down his prey and he has nothing more than that, we're not shown any witty or intellectual side to the character. Marion Cotillard is good as Billie, bringing a sense of style and respectability to what could have been a forgettable role. Stephen Dorff, Jason Clarke, Billy Crudup and Stephen Graham show themselves as fine actors despite their limited characterisations.
The action scenes are very effectively done and have the appropriate amount of tension, it is certainly an area that Mann knows how to do well as he has shown many times in the past. The shootouts and the bank robberies had a real excitement to them as there was a sense of vulnerability to both sides. The sequence at the woodland lodge was extremely gripping and there was an unpredictability to the outcome which is something Mann has done in the past, keeping you gripped to the screen as a result. Dillinger's eventual downfall also lacks the bite that you would expect and is something of an anti-climax given the build-up. Some of the commentary that the film gets in is quite welcomed. The way that Dillinger becomes something of a celebrity whilst the FBI is shown in a not so positive light is smartly done especially considering that most films tackle this aspect in a heavy-handed manner.
So Public Enemies falls short mainly because of its unsure story- telling and weak characters. I think the plot, acting and directing are all solidly done yet that is also part of the issue. They're all done well but never especially well because it is lacking in the key areas. You know Mann will provide the goods in these areas but he can never propel the film onward because of the script. We never really know anything in detail about the characters we follow and as a result the film isn't as gripping as it could have been because we are kept at arms length at all times. As said the film would have benefited greatly if it either decided to go all out and tell a big story or if it was an understated character study, but as it falls somewhere in the middle it never reaches its potential. It's all good fun and easy to enjoy, but it is not a film that will get you thinking and it is rather underwhelming when its all said and done.