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Created Feb 28, 2010 09:01PM PST • Edited Feb 28, 2010 09:01PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   Depp takes the lead in this film about the gritty crime superstar John Dillinger. Aaah, crime in the 30’s – where sheer guts, automatic rifles, and human shields kept the bad guys alive. Of course, just like any industry, changes happen – and Dillinger must cope in an evolving world where the feds get more organized to prevent slips away across state lines. Public Enemies wasn’t a particularly insightful movie, but it was fun, fast paced, and just as gritty as the times.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Johnny Depp makes a good gangster, but I’m not so sure an accurate Dillinger, who was probably not so smooth an operator. Christian Bale plays the man of few words Melvin Purvis who eventually gets his man. Not the movie of either of their careers, but a decent job.

5. Male Stars Good 3.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Michael Mann delivers a very good movie cinematically, but not a memorable one. The fineries of a well shot and edited period-piece were there, but the film comes across as a little less than a genuine attempt at portraying the real Dillinger.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Sordid 2.6

17. Sex Erotic 2.6

18. Violence Brutal 2.6

19. Rudeness Profane 2.6

21. Reality

    Glib 1.8

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

23. Biological Glib 1.8

24. Physical Glib 1.8