Public Enemies

While the stylistic departure from modern neons and shadows might seemingly make Public Enemies an unusual exception in Mann’s oeuvre at the time, given the subject of his previous films, it is not surprising that it is Mann who brought the story of the popular John Dillinger to the silver screen. Dillinger’s celebrity status was boosted by his elusiveness, or, to be exact unmanageability. He picked bank after bank clean, his face was plastered on every corner and he repeatedly escaped justice or even prison. Following his own patterns, Mann doesn’t focus only on Dillinger (Depp) but also his hunter (Bale) and the volatile position of his girlfriend (Cotillard). The cast doesn’t stay behind either in maintaining links to Mann’s previous work; after almost a quarter of a century Mann once again works with Stephen Lang, who is known, among other things, from Manhunter (1986). (bk)