ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

cricketbat How can a big-budget movie about a real-life bank-robber, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale be this bland and boring? It's surprising how little I cared about the characters and the plot. I read the actual history of John Dillinger after seeing this movie and I found that to be much more interesting.

torstensonjohn John Dillinger, at one time one of the FBI's Most Wanted and Public Enemy #1. In the era of Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie And Clyde and even Al Capone, Dillinger was one of the most flamboyant. A bank robber but also one who was sympathetic to the little man. The originality of the film plays a semi poor grasp at historical timing, and does get a few things wrong. strong script with some shining moments by Depp as Dillinger. Depp brings that charisma, swagger and finesse to how collected Dillinger was. The accuracy of the tommy guns and the vehicles I thought was spot on. Christian Bale I found to be rather dull as Melvin Pervis. At some points the character drove the logic of the FBI but mostly it became a vendetta.There were a few points in the fil that were choppy in editing, cinematography was very well done. Filmed in parts of Chicago and even in Wisconsin. If you have a vast knowledge of history and enjoy gangster films then this will fill your viewing pleasure. I give this a simple but worth 7/10.

Jona1988 Michael Mann has made some really great movies. Heat and Collateral are amazing. But he has made some weaker ones as well. Unfortunately Public Enemies belongs to his weaker. I had high hopes for this when it was upcoming. The poster of Johnny Depp clad in a trench coat and fedora hat and holding a Tommy Gun looked so cool. I imagined this as being like Heat but set in the 1930s. In several ways the setup is kind of similar. Johnny Depp and Christian Bale two actors at top of their game felt perfect as the leads. The criminal vs. detective thriller with both being the main character. Unfortunately it fails in all the things that Heat did so brilliantly. I've seen Public Enemies again after my first disappointed reaction but even when I tried to ignore my expectations on the director being Michael Mann and not to compare it to Heat Public Enemies is still a dull movie. The movie looks stunning I feel they have totally succeeded in recreating the 1930s Depression-era USA. But while the outside looks great it is on the inside that it is lacking. The story that is based on reality is actually a good one but the movie somehow still makes it feel uninteresting and completely devoid of any real substance . A major problem for the story is that we never feel anything for the characters. The actors do well overall but the writing is the problem also here. Johnny Depp fits well as John Dillinger. He looks the part and I can't say anything bad about his acting. It's just that his character lacks any real personality. I feel it's not really clear how the viewer should relate to Dillinger should we root for or against him. And this can be said about all characters in the movie there is no substance or development for any of them. I could not care less relation between Dillinger and Marion Cotillard's character. Christian Bale does well with what he's got but his character is less the focus of the story than Depp's. However I do feel that his attempts at an accent is very inconsistent. Unfortunate is that the action is just as bland as the rest of the movie. Michael Mann can or could direct tense edge of your seat action scenes. But the gun fights here are short and stale. It's just men shooting at each other but there is nothing creative about the action scenes. I'm not expecting these massive action set pieces and I know it's based on true events which seldom are as exciting as we like to see on screen. That doesn't matter. I think of Mann's Collateral which no is not based on reality but my point is that a skilled director can create thrill and suspense without that much spectacular action happening. Public Enemies is a well made movie only technically but lacking creatively. What should have been thrilling is boring. Actors struggling due to lack of characterisation. In the end this is not really a bad movie but it's not good either. Disappointing and forgettable I am sad to conclude.

Jawbox5 Michael Mann is one of the few directors where I'll happily watch anything that he is involved in. He is an expert when it comes to telling big stories and keeping them engaging, always fleshing out his characters and writing dialogue that leaps off the screen. Most importantly though his films always leave some kind of impact upon you and really make you consider the stories they are trying to tell. Public Enemies focuses on the famed bank-robber John Dillinger, who became something of a celebrity in his day due to his crimes never actually hurting innocent people. Whilst also looking at the FBI force, led by Melvin Purvis, out to catch him. With Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in the lead roles you're thinking this could be something special with Mann's directing, yet the film falls short where Mann's other films have soared and never becomes anything more than an entertaining little piece.The story focuses on three areas in Dillinger's crime exploits, his relationship with a girl named Billie and the FBI's efforts to catch him. I think all three areas are handled adequately, but never anything more than that. The crimes and shootouts are exciting to watch but nothing we haven't seen before. The romance is very believable but could have been delved into more. It is interesting to see the workings of the FBI yet more could have been shown of their efforts and plans. The big problem with the film appears here. It is enjoyable but it severely lacks the pathos and grandness of Mann's other works, while on the flip side it doesn't go into enough detail on Dillinger himself to be an intriguing character piece that is could have been. It is stuck somewhere between these two styles and would have fared better if it had picked one to go for.Mann is capable as ever behind the camera, he knows how to make the dialogue interesting and create a sense of location. It must be said however that the hand-held camera work and shooting the film in digital do get in the way many times, mainly due some irritating shaky cam and some shots looking distinctly amateur because of the low resolution. Not to mention that quite a lot of the film is shot in close-ups which does appear somewhat unambitious at times. Johnny Depp does a good job with what is a difficult type of performance, he makes Dillinger charismatic and gives his relationships an air of believability. The problems with the role are mostly due to the writing as we're never given a true insight into Dillinger and what makes him tick. Its all well and good making him stylish but there needs to be a complexity to such a character. Christian Bale is solid as Purvis and offers the intensity we've come to expect from his performances, but he is also let-down by the writing. Purvis simply isn't fleshed beyond wanting to take down his prey and he has nothing more than that, we're not shown any witty or intellectual side to the character. Marion Cotillard is good as Billie, bringing a sense of style and respectability to what could have been a forgettable role. Stephen Dorff, Jason Clarke, Billy Crudup and Stephen Graham show themselves as fine actors despite their limited characterisations.The action scenes are very effectively done and have the appropriate amount of tension, it is certainly an area that Mann knows how to do well as he has shown many times in the past. The shootouts and the bank robberies had a real excitement to them as there was a sense of vulnerability to both sides. The sequence at the woodland lodge was extremely gripping and there was an unpredictability to the outcome which is something Mann has done in the past, keeping you gripped to the screen as a result. Dillinger's eventual downfall also lacks the bite that you would expect and is something of an anti-climax given the build-up. Some of the commentary that the film gets in is quite welcomed. The way that Dillinger becomes something of a celebrity whilst the FBI is shown in a not so positive light is smartly done especially considering that most films tackle this aspect in a heavy-handed manner.So Public Enemies falls short mainly because of its unsure story- telling and weak characters. I think the plot, acting and directing are all solidly done yet that is also part of the issue. They're all done well but never especially well because it is lacking in the key areas. You know Mann will provide the goods in these areas but he can never propel the film onward because of the script. We never really know anything in detail about the characters we follow and as a result the film isn't as gripping as it could have been because we are kept at arms length at all times. As said the film would have benefited greatly if it either decided to go all out and tell a big story or if it was an understated character study, but as it falls somewhere in the middle it never reaches its potential. It's all good fun and easy to enjoy, but it is not a film that will get you thinking and it is rather underwhelming when its all said and done.