Public Enemies: Love Doesn't Conquer All Things

Rating: 8/10 (7 December 2011)

Public Enemies is a gripping film chronicling the final moments of one of the most infamous American criminals - John Dillinger. The film, set in 1930s Chicago, allows the viewer to peer into the life of a twisted yet brilliant renegade. John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp, is a man plagued by an traumatic childhood and is artificially seeking satisfaction from life of crime. As the movie progresses, the real desire of Mr. Dillinger is revealed - he wants whatever man wants, to be loved unconditionally. His love interest in the movie is a woman named Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard). Billie is capable of loving Dillinger although she knows that his lawless escapades will soon come to an end. Dillinger is challenged by his nemesis, Melvis Purvis (Christian Bale) of the FBI. Purvis represents rise of the FBI, he is bent on bringing down the crime world's elite and John Dillinger will serve as his greatest accomplishment. Dillinger repeatedly evades capture while performing some of the most daring and incredible jail breaks. He is eventually thwarted by a prostitute and killed as brazen as the crimes he committed.
The theme of the film is love conquers all but crime never pays. The love shared between Dillinger and Frechette rivals any witnessed in a major motion picture. But love is blind and Dillingers lifestyle assured a meaningful but short relationship between himself and his beloved Billie.
Public Enemies is similar in dramatic presentation and romance to the movie, "American Gangster." Denzel Washington plays a modern day gangster, Frank Lucas, who controls a powerful drug-running business in Manhattan. Detective Richie Roberts, played by Russell Crowe, is bent on bringing down Lucas' empire. While the intense drama between Lucas and Roberts plays out, Frank Lucas falls in love with Eva (Lymari Nadal). Frank and Eva's relationship is one that exists despite Eva's knowledge of Frank's nefarious ways. Likewise, Eva knows that her life with Frank will be short but she desires his presence in her life nonetheless. Frank's drug smuggling schemes are eventually figured out by Roberts. Lucas is arrested and sent to jail. But, not before he reveals a wide-spread laundering scheme by a vast majority of New York City police drug-enforcement officers.
Both "Public Enemies" and "American Gangster" are based on real-life stories of two infamous American crime figures. Both movies also prove that although love looks beyond faults, some faults deny the possibility of a long-lasting relationship.