8. Public Enemies
What We Got: A standard Biopic of infamous depression-era bank-robber John Dillinger
What It Should've Been: A crime-thriller chronicling the beginnings of the FBI, establishing the thin-line between law-enforcement and criminality I guess blame the ouvre of Michael Mann more than anything for this one, 'Public Enemies' would be a worthy effort for anyone else. For Mann, however; with the over-bearing shadow of his 1995 masterpiece 'Heat' well in mind when going into his movies, the Johnny Depp as John Dillinger bio-pic just doesn't measure up. It seemed like this was another spirited story choice for the director of 'Thief' 'Collateral' and 'Manhunter', a period piece on the depression-era gangsters and their mark on society at large in this time. Instead it is a surprisingly standard chronicling of the last months in the notorious gangster's life. I'm not sure if it was the original intent was to be something more, getting great actors like Christian Bale and Billy Crudup to play lawmen Melvin Purvis and J. Edgar Hoover (who is better than Leo DiCaprio in the Eastwood Bio-pic of the man) respectively in this old time gangster's tale. The title I thought, going-in, would refer to the two sides involved, with Dillinger and his gang representing the official 'Public Enemies', and Melvin Purvis and Hoover being the real 'Public Enemies'. Because at the time, in the public's eyes, the government and its agents were the true 'Public Enemies' to them. John Dillinger was actually a sort of folk hero, taking money from the banks that scammed millions out of their hard-earned savings. This concept is referred to in the scene when he is being taken to jail, as the streets are lined with spectators cheering him on like a rock star. Unfortunately, this idea is never again touched or expanded upon, with an oddly cold and detached Depp flatly playing out Dillinger's final days. An alright Michael Mann film that could've been so much more if Dillinger wasn't the main focus.