How Public Enemies Show The Real Character Of Johnny Depp

The 1930s was a very eventful decade

The 1930s was a very eventful decade. With the Great Depression in full force, some people were forced to steal to be able to even eat. But in the case of John Dillinger, he had to steal in order to do whatever he wanted. John Dillinger is one of the most, if not the most, famous bank robbers of all time, and the film Public Enemies, directed by Michael Mann, tells the story of his crime spree and the efforts of the FBI, particularly agent Melvin Purvis, to bring him into custody no matter what the cost.

Public Enemies focuses heavily on Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp, showcasing the personality that made him so famous. He was not a psychotic or particularly vindictive criminal, but instead stole only to support a carefree lifestyle. Despite being a criminal, he had a code of ethics of never harming civilians, and only taking money from the banks he robbed. He never took money from the people inside the bank.

However, while Dillinger is having the time of his life, Melvin Purvis (played by Christian Bale) is hot on his trail. Fresh off of gunning down bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd, Purvis has his sights set on capturing Dillinger. However, Purvis questions the sometimes brutal methods he has been told to use by Bureau of Investigation head J. Edgar Hoover before his presidency. Purvis is told to ignore basic rights in order to get answers.

The film is directed by crime film master Michael Mann. The film is fairly historically accurate, albeit with a couple of inaccuracies added for effect. The performance of Depp is good, as usual. While the actor has been somewhat overused in recent years, this film reminds us of why we like him to begin with. Christian Bale puts up a solid performance, but his character does not get nearly as much screentime as necessary to have an emotional investment in him. However, Bale gets points for being able to emote without speaking in several scenes where his conscience is tested.

The movie is reminiscent of Mann's 1995 crime classic Heat. While Heat is still the superior film, the focus on the personal life of criminals gives a great look at the other side of the coin. Unfortunately, as previously stated, we do not get many opportunities to focus on the character of Melvin Purvis, which could have made the film much stronger.

by: Cid Snow

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