Johnny Depp has done some wonderful films. In my mind, his best ever was Edward Scissorshands. He acts well in Public Enemies. But the film script does not do him justice.
John Dillinger was the gangster who was like a cat with nine lives. He somehow evaded the local police and later the FBI by almost sheer luck. As Public Enemy #1, he captured the imagination of a generation in need of heroes...even lawless heroes.
Given such historical fodder, we might expect a really fascinating, in-depth look at the guy who was probably as well known as FDR himself. Sorry, gangster fans, not to be had here. The portrait of Dillinger remains in the realm of the superficial.
Who was Dillinger? What made him a gangster? What drove him to rob banks a la Jesse James and leave money for the downtrodden?
A contrarian would argue that the focus was on JD as an adult. But what about flashbacks? Or even better, a little disclosure to his lady (well played by Marion Cotillard)? And let's learn a bit more about Melvin Purvis too...after all, with Christian Bale playing the famous FBI man, more depth was possible.
Grade of B- for a somewhat entertaining flick, with some good gunfire scenes and unidimensional characterizations.
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