Not all it's cracked up to be (Public Enemies (DVD))

Member Name: Matt1987

Product:	Public Enemies (DVD)
Date:	29/07/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard give excellent performances

Disadvantages: Christain Bale's performance

I went into this film with high expectations, Johnny Depp can always be relied upon to put on a good performance and Christain Bale is also often very good. The trailer had also made the film look like it was going to be an action-filled thrill ride as the two main characters hunted each other across america.

However, when I saw it I wasn't impressed. Pretty much all the most exciting scenes from the film were in the trailer so i'd already seen them plenty of times, yes I can understand wanting to make the film look exciting but surely you should save something for the paying customer.

Depp I can't criticise, I thought he was excellent playing the public's hero John Dillinger excellently, just the right amount of cool and ruthlessness yet while still somehow coming across as someone you couldn't quite dislike. Marion Cotillard was also excellent as Dillinger's girlfriend, desperate for him to stop his criminal activities and go straight before the law catches up with him. Christian Bale, however, is a different matter. I thought he was terrible, struggling to express even the simplest of emotions. When his character, FBI agent Melvin Purvis, finally comes face to face with Depp's Dillinger I was expecting a scene filled with electricity and tension as the two played off each other. However what I got was Bale standing there emotionless while Depp did his best to spark some excitement in the scene. Very disappointing Christian.

Overall the film wasn't terrible, but it was nothing like as good as I had been hoping for or expecting. For Depp fans it might be worth a watch but even then I certainly wouldn't recomend buying it, save your money for something more worthwhile!

Summary: Not really worth it