Depp powers 'Enemies'

Producing period piece films are always tricky. Producing period piece films with good, realistic action sequences is even trickier. But with his examination of infamous Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, director/writer Michael Mann has gotten nearly everything right.

Sure, some specific details might not be absolutely correct and liberties might have been taken, but thanks to the beautiful way the film is shot and powerhouse performances from all three of its leads, “Public Enemies” is slow-burning, tension-filled two-plus hours.

“Enemies” tracks Dillinger (Johnny Depp) and his crew as they move through the country, robbing banks and just living in the present while the FBI has assigned agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) to take them down. What transpires is an intelligent game of cat-and-mouse that isn’t unlike Mann’s “Heat” in the sense that both men plan and scheme in hopes of meeting their ultimate goals.

Depp is, as usual, fantastic in this film. His portrayal of Dillinger is the correct combination of romance, charisma and evil and makes “Enemies” a much better film whenever Dillinger is on the screen.

And of course, since this is a Michael Mann movie, the technical aspects cannot go unnoticed. Mann shoots the whole affair on digital, which gives it very cool documentary-like style that really works for the cold-blooded affair that’s happening on the screen.

The most glaring problem with the film is the lack of character development on either side of the coin, but as Dillinger says early in the film to Cotillard’s character: “I like baseball, movies, good clothes, fast cars, whiskey, and you” and really that is all we need to know to enjoy this film.