Public Ennemies

Strange how Michael Mann always seems to do the same movie.
Cops & robbers. Viril friendships. Strong women, yet sacrified for the men's choices.

Yet that's only a frame. And one movie after another, he manages to explore different characters, different stories.

Beside the fact that Public Ennemies takes place in the 30s, Johnny Depp's John Dillinger is very different from Hanna, McCauley, Vincent or Crockett & Tubbs.
He might as well been a rockstar, for in that time, to enjoy fast money and fame, robbing banks might have seem the way to go. Live fast, don't think about tomorrow die shot down by the cops. Although an expert bank robber, he just fancies himself as a movie hero. And he's got a band, that goes by the same rules. Some wilder...

On the oherside of the line, Christian Bale's Melvin Purvis portrays in a sense the birth of modern police, with the beginning of interstate investigations, telephone wiring, etc. He also loses his soul in the process, having to give up his principles to achieve his goals (or those of his superiors?).

Tragic characters, which make for an engaging story, deep and layered.
The cast supporting it is perfect.

It's quite interesting to see this era, the flamboyant all gun blazing bank robberies treated that way. Characters like Baby Face Nelson, who was portrayed as a comical character in the Coen's "O'Brother...", come across in a similar fashion here (crazy gun-blazing psycho). Only the context doesn't make it funny of course.

In another difference to other Mann's movies, the focus here is also on the "villains" (or are they?). There's not much emphasis on the confrontation (as in Heat) but more on how everyone works.

As for direction, well anyone who's seen Collateral or Miami Vice can guess that it's incredible. Mann still hasn't given up his DV and shows us the American 30s like no one has shown it before. Classic yet modern, aiming for a gritty feel during the tense shoot-outs and very intimate (lots of close ups) in character development, making sure every detail feels authentic. It feels like a true time travel.

So I won't carry on because it's the kind of complex movie for which my weak words are just not worthy. Suffice to say that, even it might not reach up to the height of Heat, it's yet another classic from Mann, that can certainly support comparision with The Untouchables...

There's a very interesting iterview of Michael Mann over at AICN. Better read after seeing the movie I think.