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Everything in this film, brute violence included, is done with a certain level of class and charm. Despite the fact that the violence is at time grotesque, like seeing a prison guard have his head smashed to the ground and numerous bullet wounds, there are visuals but never overly graphic visuals. There is something charming about the time period of the film in general. Despite being in the midst of the Depression, the cars, clothes, and aesthetics of the time just add a little something extra to the film. There are nice little added touches, like films the characters see in the theaters and songs from the era that give a nostalgic look to the more elderly demographic.
To take a second to get off my knees and stop groveling at the feet of this film, there is one thing that felt incomplete. The development of John Dillinger was done well, but it could have been much better. We get about three sentences of a back-story on him and the rest we pick up from things going on in the diegetic present. The Godfather Part II dedicates half the film to Don Corleone’s rise to power but Public Enemies doesn’t give so much as a two-second flashback. The integrity of the movie wasn’t hurt from this, but I would have felt more attached to him as an antihero. This would have been nice being that he seemed to be the one to root for as opposed to Pervis who was much more of a dry character.
That aside, there really aren’t any issues with the film. Some moviegoers might find it to be somewhat dialog heavy, but anyone who can appreciate older films or even films with depth will appreciate the words to bullets ratio. Its hard to say when the last time a crime film this good was released and it is easy to say that Public Enemies is the best movie of 2009 as of yet. When Oscar season rolls around it will probably lose that spot, but for now it can bask in the glory of having everything to offer-- action, suspense, drama, humor, top notch acting, innovative directing, and so much more. It did everything it set out to do, and did it all with grace.
Movie Grade: A
Public Enemies: A Second Look
Review By: Ryan Hamelin
RyanHamelin@TheCinemaSource.com
Movie Grade: B-
I really wish I could say that I loved this movie. The potential was undeniably there. Michael Mann, gangster era crime drama. Johnny Depp, dashing criminal and America’s first public enemy number one John Dillinger. Christian Bale, FBI agent hired to track him down. Marion Cotillard thrown in for good measure. I am a huge fan of Mann’s 90’s crime classic Heat and the thought of a period piece version with tommy guns had me ready and rearing to go. The biggest problem is that honestly, this is one of the worst produced films I’ve seen in a long time. ...
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