Who would win a fight between Batman and Captain Jack Sparrow?
While Sparrow’s got the attitude, the wits, and an unmatchable demeanor, Batman’s altruism puts the people on his side, and it doesn’t take two looks to know he’s got a bit more in the strength department. In Michael Mann’s latest bio flick Public Enemies, a fight of similar standards occurs as Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale-The Dark Knight) takes on the first national public enemy John Dillinger (Johnny Depp-Pirates of the Caribbean).
Public Enemies chronicles the story of what it was like for Dillinger, a bank robber in the heart of the Great Depression, who doesn’t have to worry about getting past security cameras, cell-phone tracking, or even the FBI. The only thing standing in his way to endless green and a ceaseless reign is Purvis, the leader of the Bureau of Investigation, whose mission is to kill public enemy number one so the bureau can gain enough credit to elevate itself into a national organization that can chase criminals across state borders.
The movie’s a constant chase and isn’t for the blood-shy, but escapes falling into the niche of your typical hard-hitting action film because of Dillinger’s love affair with Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard-La Vie en Rose), a coat-check worker who’s not afraid of sky-high dreams or the spontaneity it may take to get her there. Frechette’s not a James Bond-esque sidekick, but a true love interest who provides a humanizing appeal to Dillinger and a visual of what it was like to live in the 1930’s.
Perhaps it's Dillinger’s finesse with Frechette, or his Sparrow-like jokes, but you’re immediately on his side. Although you should cheer for Batman who’s keeping the people safe, Dillinger’s the kind of guy you see heart in. Depp captures the role in a made-for-the-part fashion, as Cotillard also delivers a goosebump-inducing performance.
Mann's latest creation is a striking interpretation of the Great Depression, with thought-provoking perspectives of the government and everyday people. Not only will it actually make you appreciate today’s high-tech world of metal detectors and mass-media crime reporting, it will make you leave wanting your own John Dillinger sidekick.
Public Enemies a sure-shot from the first gunshot to the last because everyone is fully characterized by the revelation of only a few foibles, while most of the movie is kept to the actual action. While history may let us know how the story ends before it begins, any film that makes every gunshot necessary rather than attention-grabbing is a score. Whether it’s 1933 or 2009, Public Enemies will always be worth more than any of the banks Dillinger ripped off.
Public Enemies premieres on Wednesday, July 1.
