Private Enemies.

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2015)

Public Enemies (2009): Dir: Michael Mann / Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Stephen Dorff: A battle between crime and authority set in 1933. The film chronicles the success of bank robber John Dillinger whom no prison could hold and no bank could withhold. Directed by Michael Mann with superb period image. Mann previously directed Collateral as well as The Insider. Structure is often repetitious although climax is intelligent. Despite it's anti-hero applause Johnny Depp brings ruthless charm to Dillinger who leads a daring life but loves his wife. He will risk all but go down with the fame. Christian Bale plays the head investigator set on bringing Dillinger down. He is flawed in that the investigation does not always go as planned but these setbacks allow the character to appear more human. Billy Crudup plays plays J. Edgar Hoover out to convince congress widen the spectrum. Perhaps this role could have been broader but it does set the mission up and establish Hoover as a worthy protagonist. Stephen Dorff is in his element playing one of Dillinger's fellow ruthless bank robbers. Marion Cotillard steals scenes as Dillinger's wife, the one element he cared about. She will meet him by chance but suffer great abuse by others in order to secure his secrecy. In the end she is the victim of a so-called rebellious freedom that it positioned as an illusion. Score: 8 / 10