As we are close to capping off our “Michael Mann Week” here at The Film Nest, I have a question that might really need to be addressed: Has Michael Mann lost his magic touch?  In reviewing all of Michael’s works in this week’s Michael Mann: Career Retrospective piece, I didn’t see any point in his career where he had back to back missteps as a director.  Well, with Public Enemies, I am sad to report, this occurrence has happened.  Coming on the heels of the major let down (at least in box office) that was 2006′s Miami Vice, Mann was sure to hit at least a solid double with mega-stars Johnny Depp and Christian Bale on base, right?  Unfortunately, it is more like a bloop single at best.

Public Enemies is a biography of sorts, tracking the travails of the notorious bank robber John Dillinger, in the depression era 1930′s.  The film opens in 1933, four years into the economically woeful situation in the United States, and the height of Dillinger’s fame and fortune.  Yes, I said fame and fortune, though neither are remotely explained.  I’m still trying to determine what this movie was: a cops and robbers heist film (maybe); a character study (no way); a love story (more than anything, perhaps).  Public Enemies seemingly tries to be all of these and is none of these at the same time.

We follow Depp’s Dillinger busting his way out of prison in the opening sequence.  Confusion and gun fire reign, who’s who and what is what are unknown, and seemingly unnecessary, as we watch what unfolds on the screen before our eyes.  Dillinger’s gang is living large through robbing banks, perpetually on the run from the law.  Enter Christian Bale’s Melvin Purvis, based on the true to life individual, promoted to head of the newly formed FBI, ready to hunt down Dillinger and uphold justice.  Seems like it could be a nice little setup, but to what avail?

"Cock the hammer, it's time for action."

We see Dillinger rob banks and meet a lovely young woman whom he instantly falls in love with, the worthy Oscar winning actress Marion Cotillard, and the only questions that remain are; will his life of crime catch up to him or can he go on living lavishly forever? I think you know how this one goes.  Dillinger is a man living in the moment, which sounds great, if we cared at all.  We don’t because there is little character development, and what does take place is just thrown into a cycle of heist, arrest, break out; rinse, wash, repeat.

So yeah, Dillinger gets caught by Purvis and his men (history tells us this, hence its not a spoiler), only for Dillinger to somehow break out of prison again, and end up on the run.  While this all may be based on true events, the way in which Mann “organizes” the film is more chaotic than controlled.  There seems to be scene after scene of disconnectedness, while even when one thing leads to another, there is no emotional involvement in what happens.

This could all essentially be excusable, meanwhile, while it’s the middle of summer and audiences want to have fun.  But alas, there is little fun to be had here.  There are some shootouts, but no joviality in the plot, as in say, Road To Perdition, which is a heavier film in tone anyway, but still allowed us to have some laughs and thrills with the characters.  The much ballyhooed shootout in the forest is the most exciting set piece in the film, and still, it reeked of mediocrity for the most part.  Some people die, some don’t, but the lack of strong characters never help the film around all of its continuity issues.

It doesn't always feel "good to be a gangster."

Depp and Bale are fine, and what little acting that is required is relatively good throughout, there’s just not that much required.  A vast array of characters come into play; various agents and gangsters (Frank Nitty, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson), a madam for hookers, and of course, the love story with Cotillard which really “drives” the film.  Steven Dorff, Channing Tatum (in a huge 30 seconds of screen time, hand him an Oscar!) and my kiss of death, Giovanni Ribisi, all show up.  But they are all thrown into a loosely structured framework that simply doesn’t add up to much.  Have I said that yet?

This is not a summer blockbuster but rather your average, run of the mill actioner, with either a middling script, or poor editing and execution, most likely both.  It’s not like this group struck out on three pitched balls, but its just not nearly what you would expect from all the talent involved.  You have to blame Mann and now he has misfired twice in a row.  You might start to question where he will go from here, but last I checked Brett Ratner still has a career, so I guess Mann’s safe too.

I used to be a fan of the political hip-hop group Public Enemy, so when I first received word that there was a film titled Public Enemies, my initial reaction was one of befuddlement: Chuck D and Flavor Flav turned to acting?  But alas, that skepticism was met with greater delight when I learned that Michael Mann would be helming the picture and he would have some great actors in Johnny Depp and Christian Bale to help bring his story to life.  Mann has long been one of my favorite Directors, leading such enjoyable films as Heat and Collateral, among several others.  He is a veteran of the crime/action genre, so who better to bring the story of notorious gangster John Dillinger to the big screen?

"He's got a gat and ain't scared to use it."

To tell a bit about what the film will be based on, “PE” is set in the depression-era of the 1930′s (how apropos that America has been in a depression of sorts over the past year or two as well), Dillinger (Depp) and his crew have been doing what they do best, robbing from the rich (banks) and giving to the poor (kind of, depending on how the tale goes), in a manner that might make Robin Ghetto (that’s “Hood” to you) proud.  Dillinger was lauded by the public, since they hated the banks for the depression, and known for busting out of jails with greater ease than Jebediah from Out of Sight.  Bale (yeah, The Dark Knight and the just released Terminator: Salvation star), will play real-life federal agent Melvin Purvis who was the man obsessed with capturing the elusive Dillinger.  A cast that includes Billy Crudup (Almost Famous, Watchmen), Channing Tatum, and Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard bring heat to the film in a way few summer blockbusters can claim.  This will be a game of cat and mouse with Dillinger trying to stay a step ahead of Purvis the entire way.

"Why so serious?"

Some intrigue remains as to how well this film will do in the box office given a.) the current state of our economy and the types of films people are paying money to see (typically escapist) and b.) whether or not Bale will receive any public backlash from his outburst on the set of T4, which I wouldn’t think is likely to affect this film, but you never know.  On the flip side, Depp is among the most singularly popular actors working today, so odds of it blowing up (that’s slang for “doing well”) are in its favor.

"Oh, that's why!"

Early stills and the trailers look fabulous, so count me among those who are revved up for this one as it’s been a summer of slow starts in terms of quality films thus far for me.  This will only be Mann’s 8^th film in the last two decades, so expect quality to win out over quantity almost every time.  I always anticipate Mann’s movies (though his Miami Vice disappointed) and I am sure with the great attention to detail that both he and the lead actors are known for, we should be in for one hell of a fun ride.  This will be looting your box office funds come July 1st.