As this long weekend winds down, hopefully many of you have had a chance to see Michael Mann's Public Enemies. Whether you liked it or not — and reviews have been decidedly mixed — everyone seems to have an opinion on the extremely limited interaction between stars Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Like Heat and American Gangster before it, once again we've got a film that promises two of today's hottest actors, yet barely delivers five minutes of shared screen time.
Personally, it didn't bother me in this case, because I was totally engrossed with Depp's portrayal of John Dillinger. But if I had showed up looking to see Bale and Depp going head-to-head, I would have been severely disappointed. How about you, PopWatchers? Were you looking for more? Or were Mann's stylized filmmaking and the pair's strong — if separate — performances satisfying enough? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
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It didn’t bother me but only because I was so frustrated with the fact that the movie never even tried to make me care about either character. I never got to know Dillinger or Purvis even though I spent two-and-a-half hours with them. The only things I’ll remember about the movie are the horrible editing, the cool HD digital cinematography, and the really sharp costumes.
I gave the movie a B, and I liked Depp for the first time in a long time — esp. since he didn’t wear that silly costume makeup…he looked like a normal guy.
It didn’t bother me that the two didn’t have much interaction; however, Bale didn’t give that strong a performance IMO. It could have been played by any B actor.
I loved the film. I actually went home and read everything I could on Dillinger, Frichette and Purvis. It really didn’t bother me that Bale and Depp had only five minutes on screen together. I thought the film was beautiful and worth another viewing!
It would not have made sense for Bale and Depp to have a many scenes together. Purvis wanted Dillinger dead and Dillinger wanted to be in South America to wait for Billie. The scene in the jail cell was perfect. BTW, the movie was awesome Mann film. The character development was there just not spoon fed. This was not suppose to be a bio pic of Dillinger. The movie starts in 1933 and Dillinger had only been out of prison for a few weeks after serving 9 yrs. This movie focused on him because he was an icon and when he died so did that era of the golden age of bank robberies.
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It would have not made any sense for them to have any more screen time. It was probably a good thing too because Bale’s performance was very flat….anyone could have played it like that. Had there been more scenes together, it would have been a real embarassment for Bale. Depp is probably the best actor of our generation. I don’t think anyone is as good as he is.
I liked the film but thought it would be better. Some people are saying it wouldn’t make sense to have Bale and Depp together more. I agree. But if you say that wouldn’t make sense then you would have to agree that killing Baby Face Nelson and Homer Van Meter at little bohemia didn’t make sense since they escaped that attack and died later. Van Meter died after Dillanger. The strange thing about Nelson, real name Lester Gillis, he was a killer. He would kill citizens and cops without even thinking about it. But he loved his wife and child and he traveled with them during his crime wave. His wife was arrested shortly after he was killed. After Dillinger was killed, Hoover made Nelson Public Enemy #1. Nelson was killed at the battle of Barrington. Both Nelson and Van Meter were killed after Dillinger. Historically speaking a lot of things didin’t make sense in this movie. But it’s a movie not real life, so they can change whatever they want. They didn’t even mention Dillinger’s wife.
I thought the movie was just ok. I was looking for more of something. It was under-developed in many areas, lot of promise but overall it fell short of delivering greatness.
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I don’t think it matters that their was little interaction between them… the only time I even thought about the topic was when I was reading reviews. The movie is not about their relationship… its not a people pleasing type of movie… it preserves the original story, which makes it great!
I don’t think it matters that their was little interaction between Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. I mean it’s great that the cast filled with wonderful actors, but I’m glad Michael Mann didn’t turn this into a ‘people pleasing’ movie, he preserved the original story, which I think really contributed to making this movie so great!
Michael Mann played fast and loose with the timeline and I’m not sure why. Although I liked the film and the performances of Depp, Cotillard, and Stephen Lang, I kept thinking that it could have been a better film if it had more heart. Classic example of style over substance.
Doesn’t matter that they didn’t share any screen time. What surprised me even more is how little screen time Depp and Cotillard shared. Wasn’t this movie previewed as their relationship. Very little character development in this movie, was half of the movie left on the cutting room floor in favor of the gunfights, which weren’t that exiciting either.
My grown children didn’t like the movie because it was ‘predictable’. I loved it because it was heartbreaking. Johnny Depp is the actor of our generation. The whole point of the character was his inability to connect because of how damaged he was so his relationship with Billie was clearly exactly told the right way. If you want a shoot-em-up, look at a John Wayne movie.
Depp did an amazing portrayal and I was blown away. I like how Depp and Bale had somewhat separate storylines until the end. I found it a nice climax.
Depp was amazing, and Bale is always great. I knew they wouldn’t be interacting much, but I guess I didn’t realize that it was much more of a biopic of John Dillinger than anything. I missed having more screentime with Christian, but I loved it anyway.
The film was a complete and utter disappointment from the story, character development to the AWFUL handheld shots that were clearly at the direction of Mr.Mann. He had a brilliant cast and one of the greatest living Cinematographers and its a total shame he did not let him do his job and properly shoot a film on FILM …the HD VIDEO looked like a a home movie at best. UGH! Can I have my money back!
My only criticism of the movie was that for someone who did nt know anything about John Dillinger a little of his backstory at the start of the movie would have helped to tie the first hour together. Apart from that I really enjoyed the movie – loved Depp, Bale and Cuddrup. Was it just me or was anyone else’s ears ringing after the shootout in the woods??? Great movie, such a big Mann fan – can’t wait to see his next…
@ Sparky – It wouldn’t have helped to have any background because Mann took so many liberties with the events and characters. I read Burrough’s book and the movie was absolutely nothing like it.
It really disappointed me that they chose to make a huge deal out of Billie rather than show more robberies and shoot-outs. Also, the focus of the book was how the robberies created the FBI and the federal police as we know it today. However, the movie came off as a Dillinger biopic.
And was shooting Pretty Boy Floyd necessary at the beginning? He was one of the last criminals to be killed, and Purvis didn’t do it.
You all missed the point. The movie was about the failure of Purvis and his one-sided drive to be successful in his government job. He got his men killed. Those early FBI guys were led by a incompentent boss. Purvis should have been an administrator.
Anyway the Charles Winstead character stole the show and Mann should have built up that character in the story.
I thought Stephen Lang was amazing.
i like Bale acting in a calm drudge FBI guy but he only has a supporting character.I’m not a big fan of Depp actor and here he’s really great Dillinger,his Dillinger is too likeable!
i love the movie as i loved “the good shepherd” by De Niro or “zodiac” by Fincher
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Some pretty tough comments here but can’t say all of you are wrong. I liked this movie more than any in a long time. It had exciting characters with good acting in a period of America I use to like. But surely we must all agree that is was great to see a movie made for adults where the original idea did not come from a comic book, cartoon and/or toy. Given what is made today this movie has to be a 4 star one.
I am finally glad Johnny Depp has been acting for almost 30 years.
It is the one summer movie I was looking forward to and it delivered. Ebert and NY Times gave favorable reviews, but as usual the EW review was off the mark.
I would love to let Depp Demolish me, I love him so much. He is so sexy. I would love him to give it me anally not as much as ryan cody though
I love Depp, i love to let him demolish me, Not as much as ryan cody though
I lvoe him so much, hes amaxing not as much as ryan cody though
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Hubby loved it, I thought it was good not great.
He also loved loved the cinematogrpahy, which I didn’t notice much.
I liked this movie – even better the second time. All the cast was fantastic, from leads on down. It’s just a different kind of movie.