Public Enemies

"I'm not here for your money. I'm here for the bank's money."

- Public Enemies

Ok, so I really wanted to see this film when it first came out. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch at the theater. So, I had to wait to see it. Now that it's out on DVD, I finally had a chance to see it. It was definitely worth the wait.

Since I enjoy watching gangster movies, I really did enjoy watching this film from beginning to end. Let me just say, it's not for everyone. There are parts in the film that seem to kind of drag but bring a sense of history to the film. (If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I'm talking about).

There are times when there are some characters introduced and/or discussed in the film that may sound familiar to those who have studied and/or are interested in "gangster" type history. This is why I say - it's not for everyone.

For those who do enjoy historical type movies and have an interest in "gangster" type films, you may find this very interesting and entertaining. I did.

I really enjoyed Johnny Depp's performance of John Dillinger, one of the most notorious gangsters of all time. He really brought life to the character and insight into the gangster world at that time. The quote above sums it all.

It portrayed Dillinger as a man trying to survive - rebelling against large banks who did have the power to take advantage of people's money. Back then, the FDIC had not been fully established yet. So, people had to have faith that the banks would hold their money (in the form of deposits) for them. However, like any other institution that has too much power - it can corrupt.

It portrayed Dillinger as non-violent man. When him and his crew robbed banks, they made it a point not to kill innocent civilians. Very interesting. Though, there was violence with the action sequences between Dillinger's crew and the police. Being wanted by the law, it was very much a game of cat and mouse since Dillinger and his crew were always on the move.

By the end of the film, Dillinger had seemed to change. He wanted a more simpler life, a normal life. I really enjoyed how the director, Michael Mann, showed another side of Dillinger - the side that wanted to get away from the fast life and want simpler things. He no longer wanted the fast money, the fast cars, and the fast women.

Though, getting away from it all wasn't that easy - it was very hard for him to escape the world he once longed for. I don't want to ruin it for you but let's just say the saying, "Be careful what you wish for," can sometimes hold true.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. If you enjoy historical and "gangster" type movies, I definitely recommend this one. Check it out!

(p.s. If you enjoy historical type films, you might also enjoy this movie as well. Happy movie watching!)



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