  
Public Enemiesa.k.a. “Dimosios kindynos,” “Ennemis publics,” “Gangsteri,” “Inimigos Públicos,” “Közellenségek,” “Nemico pubblico,” “Verejní neprátelé”MPAA Rating:
 for gangster violence and some language.Reviewed by: Sheri McMurray Extremely Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Crime, Drama
Length:
2 hr. 23 min.
Year of Release:
2009
USA Release:
July 1, 2009 (wide—3,200 theaters)
DVD: December 8, 2009   
Relevant Issues
Thieves in the Bible: Theft, Robbery, The two thieves
“Public Enemies” is an expertly crafted American drama based on fact, is handled with great attention to detail, is directed by Michael Mann who is a gifted director, and has some great performances by the actors. That said to it’s credit, I must say you’ll probably want to wait and rent this one on DVD, so that you can get up and pop some corn and answer your emails in between it’s long and brooding shots. This film should have premiered later in the year. It is the perfect fair for the “thought-provoking” end of year films, not the ruff-and-tumble action we want during the summer blockbuster months. As one reviewer in the Washington Post put it: “Public Enemies” has no soul. Similarly, Time Magazine claims that the film's emphasis on docudrama allows for “precious little dramatic juice,” and these comments say it all. “Public Enemies” is a singularly American drama. It is intelligent and beautifully produced, paying close attention to detail. Every set and costume is meticulously presented, and with solid performances by some of our days most proficient actors who manage to give us little spurts of gifted delivery, which were not enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. Filmed close to the faces of the actors, there aren’t many long shots allowing it some scope. The action scenes, although full of shoot outs and bank robberies, just seemed to fall flat. The film centers around the final year of John Dillinger’s (Johnny Depp) sensational criminal career between 1933 and 1934. The government puts the pressure on the first director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) to round up and prosecute the leagues of bank robbers and mob bosses birthed by the great depression. These men were seen in the eye of the public more as celebrities than for the ruthless criminals and murderers they really were. Hoover, after not being able to garner the funding he needs to spread out his net of G-Men to get the job done, tightens up his squad and hires on talented and respected FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and his band of Texas Rangers to settle the score on crime. Purvis is known for his use of modern technologies and then considered stealth processes to capture and sometimes kill his criminal prey. Having already brought down the likes of Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum), he leads the man-hunt to bring down the likes of Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and eventually John Dillinger. Most of the success at avoiding capture is that the Dillinger gang is always on the move, covering a wide area that stretches from the midwest states of Indiana and Illinois to Arizona. The one thing that Dillinger cannot leave behind, however, and ultimately weakens his toughness and emotional guard, is his love for girlfriend Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard). She is the one link to Dillinger, and Purvis knows this all too well. After Billie is caught and arrested, Dillinger never leaves the Chicago area, looking for a way to rescue her. Because of this one blunder, it is only a matter of time before the final showdown in front of the Biograph theater in Chicago on the fateful night of July 22, 1934. “Public Enemies,” because of it’s obvious subject matter, is full of bloodshed, shooting, and graphic images of murder, death and destruction. The rating of R for gangster violence and strong language is more than appropriate. There are women called whores, and they are just that, who are seen in flimsy attire, but never nude. I could count on ten fingers all the swear words, however, and the one love scene in the film, although steamy, really doesn’t show much ‘skin,’ but relies mostly on passionate kissing and the ‘love language’ that hints at what is actually going on between the lovers. The gun battles are graphic and extremely realistic, making you feel as if you are right in the rooms or standing beside the men who are shooting and being shot at. The death scenes are graphic, and the use of Hollywood special effects prosthetics makes the blood oozing from bodies appear extremely real. Of course, this film is not for children or even adults who cannot take such stark realistic depictions. Needless to say, this is not a Christian film, and never considers God or a life-changing experience with Him as an answer to a change from the degraded life of crime the criminals lead, or even the hope for the men who hunt and kill them. It is actually very depressing, because there is no happy ending, as its ending has already been told in the real world and historic story of John Dillinger and Melvin Purvis. We know full well as Christians that a life of crime can never culminate in any kind of true happiness. That all the money, possessions and celebrity this world can offer will never reap the rewards of true joy. Only Jesus can give a man that. Even men who have lived a life of crime, if turned towards and accepting the love of The Cross, can say they are truly happy. That is because they are forgiven and fully pardoned from the One who is in control. No court can do this for a man’s soul, only Jesus can bestow true and lasting forgiveness. In that total forgiveness, from God our Maker, is true and complete happiness and joy. As I sat and watched the ending credits roll to “Public Enemies,” I felt a real sadness. Not a sadness for the film, but for the very real persons portrayed therein, for all those who are hurting in this world while living a life of crime, looking for the easy way to fulfillment. The one thing that kept repeating in my mind and heart were these sobering words. That one who uses violence can expect only a violent response. That if one lives by the sword, he most definitely will die by the sword. How very true the words of Jesus in Matthew 26:52 ring down through man’s existence, and how we should head them still today: “Return your sword to it’s place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Moderate / Sex/Nudity: Moderate See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Comments below:
Positive
Positive - “Public Enemies” does not deserve it's R rating at all as far as offensive content goes. I counted a total of 4 G**Damns and that was it for the cussing besides one or two more curse words. The sexual content was minute, there was one scene when John and Billie are scene making out, but both are clothed and then the other scene is of Billie in a bathtub, but she is covered and nothing but her bare legs and arms can be seen. Positive - This movie is beautiful start to finish. Depp is charged, focused, coy, and absolutely wonderful to watch. The film is full of wonderful lines that mostly Depp says. Pay attention to Depp's face, body motions, and words. Riveting and cunning. There are a lot of insightful life lessons in this movie that are well deserved. Camera angles are excellenty shot in this movie. Christian Bale is misplaced, and does not do a well in his role. He seems forced and odd, in a movie filled with excellancy. Wrong role for Bale. Maybe even wrong movie. However, the film surpasses his flaws by a long shot. Two scenes, which were very short, were objectiable in the movie involving sex which were easy to simply look away from the screen. Worth ten bucks to see. Depp will definitely be one for grabs regarding best actor. “I'm having too good of a time enjoying today to worry about tomorrow”—Depp in “Public Enemies.” 5 out of 5 stars. (I don't say that often) Positive - “Public Enemies” is sleek and powerful like the big V8 Ford getaway cars these old school robbers loved hightailing it in. I don't recommend it for kids, as there are about 4 GDs, a scene of brief sensuality, and manful portions of bullet-riddling violence. I do, however, recommend this for the curious adult. It's a solid movie, but I fear its success will be undermined by its proximity to the box office juggernaut “Transformers 2.” Positive - Two reasons I saw this movie: Johnny Depp and Michael Mann. Terrific movie. The shoot outs were very realistic. Though the movie was dry at times, it really started to pick up after Billie got caught. Other than the violence and the mild cussing, this movie was not that offensive. However, what did make it offensive is that the characters did not rely on God to get them out of their lifestyle. There a very little to no movies that are Christian anymore, mostly because, as I read in an article on this site, we vote for the filth Hollywood puts out. I very rarely go to the movies anymore, but I could just sense that this movie would be a good one, and it was. If you are sensitive to a lot of realistic violence and blood, don't go see this movie. Positive - Let me quickly brief you on the objectionable activity of this movie… only because there is not a lot of it and, it shouldn't muddle the rest of this review. God's name is said in vain about 5 times. Two scenes involving sex were about 2 minuets long in total and did not taint the movie at all. Positive - Common folks, very offensive for this movie, you got to be kidding me?? There was hardly any language, 1-F-word, which we hear in PG-13 movies now a days and few others sprinkled here and there. The script along with the acting of Depp and Bale were great. I think Bale was able to take such a dry role as Nervous Pervis and turn him into something exciting to watch on screen. Yes, it moved slow at times, but that's when you got to witness Michael Mann's “cheesy” music selection. :) And for those who are complaining about the blood shed, I am guessing you haven't seen any of Michael Mann's previous works to realize that he is a master with gun fights which normally equal blood shed. Take “Heat,” “The Insider,” “Miami Vice,” “Collateral,” the list goes on. So if you don't like blood shed, I guess this movie isn't for you. But hey we all got taste so who am I to knock you for it. Overall, if it weren't for the acting, then this movie would have been a huge disappointment. But seeing Depp in a new role shows why he is one of the greatest actors of our time, and you can always rely on Bale to come through with a solid performance. I really enjoyed the film, I've seen it 3 times. Neutral
Neutral - Why did director Michael Mann waste the talents of Johnny Depp and Christian Bale so much. The script needed a bit of work. Most of the film feels emotionally distant and sterile (not the trait of a good biography). Though not a bad film, “Public Enemies” offers little for the 1930s gangster genre. I kept thinking to myself “I've seen James Cagney do that better” or “that scene was so much more fresh in ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ or ‘The Untouchables’.” The characters remain fairly stagnate and some of the lines are downright cheesy. The “big scene” between Depp and Bale is especially disappointing and derivative. Negative
Negative - This movie does contain alot of graphic bloodshed, which I found rather unneccessary (yes, I know that is how it looks in real life, but there is enough gore in the world without having to blow it up on the big screen). The language, while there wasn't a ton of it, was quite rough when it did appear. Comments from young people
Neutral - I've just got home from watching this film today and my overridding emotion concerning it is one of disappointment. I'll be the first one to admit that I expected alot from this movie. Jonny Depp is one of my all time favourite actors, and with his amazing performances in films such as “Pirates of the Carribean” and “Finding Neverland” he was the main reason I actually bothered to watch this film. Positive - It could just be that I am amazed by Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, or that I am ridiculously drawn to an era not my own, but I thought this film was brilliant. There was a low amount of swearing, I hardly noticed any as I hear more swears in a half hour on the school bus everyday than I heard in the whole movie. There was no nudity. Yes, there was plenty of violence, but it's a gangster film, it's a bank robber from the 30's, of course there's violence. If there was none it would just be unrealistic. I mean in real life people are shot down in the streets, and when the movie is based on reality then can we expect any different? The R that was afforded everywhere else was dropped to 14A here, and I say that it was rightly dropped. It is sad, a charismatic man who was led on the wrong path died a tragic death. The filming is beautiful with plenty of hand held camera scenes. The costumes brilliant, they dressed so much more classily than today. I would go and see it again… and I am. |
E-mail this page to a friend