I loved “Public Enemies”. I love Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, and both were in top form. I love the fact that we still have actors who can look like they belong in a tailored suit. “Public Enemies” was like an old-fashioned Clark Gable gangster movie, an inspiration which was referenced in the film itself. Good was good and bad was bad, but you felt sorry for the poor lovable rogue and his girl, and bad for the conscience-torn detective. It edged into Noir territory, certainly, but lacked that foggy too-unrealistic biting edge of reality of a true Noir. Rather, it was historical. This story was based in history, and history was truly brought to life. I felt like it was the Great Depression and the only way left to the good life and excitement, after the 20s faded so sadly into the 30s, was robbing banks, or loving the man who did. I felt like I’d grown up on the Texas frontier and come back East to be the good man taking down criminals with my gun and my hard-earned fast-shooting justice. Every once in a while the film even fades into black-and-white; whether the footage was historical or not, it felt like it could be. The cinematography of most of the film, however, felt more modern than historical. Costumes were spot-on, and the visual flow was good enough, but I just don’t feel like it transcended normal good cinematography. The brief excursions into the black-and-white footage actually are what caused me to notice this, as they felt a bit jarring visually, and reminded me that the standard shooting sequences for action movies have changed quite a bit since the 30s. As great as the actors are in this piece, it doesn’t feel like a star vehicle a la “Pirates of the Caribbean”, or “The Dark Knight”. Here Depp and Bale are actors rather than celebrities, playing roles of nuance and emotion to which they fit themselves, rather than vice versa. Christian Bale doesn’t reek of sexy but of unease and a vague distrust of the city, lurking under a Texan-justice exterior. Johnny Depp is sexy, but that’s because John Dillinger stole the hearts of thousands as he robbed the banks who’d made them poor (perhaps we can all relate?). He’s an odd mix of consideration and domination; the sort you shouldn’t fall for but just can’t resist, despite yourself. It’s that restraint that makes his character so much more appealing. The movie doesn’t say “It’s Johnny Depp, go fall in love with him.” It shows us a cold-blooded killer, a man who has to grasp and hold on and sneer at the world and win or be miserable, and yet we still want to be his girl because for him, love is real. I love this movie because it doesn’t try too hard. It doesn’t have to. It just is that great. While the cinematography isn’t show-stopping in the good sense, neither does it stop the show. And the wrenchingly relevant drama of post-Wall Street crash (the first time) USA is brought to life impeccably by a wonderful cast, especially these two actors I love watching in anything – and this isn’t just anything. Set securely in the past, Public Enemies is perfect to watch today. And I’ll bet my bottom dollar it will steal your heart as completely as Dillinger cleaned out his banks. -Sharon Campbell
