Review: Public Enemies

This Depp gangster vehicle is on the face of it an unusual choice for director Mann. For example, it swaps his distinctive city based cinematography of metallic blues and greys in favour of sepia and harsh lighting.

Depp is on form here as gangster Dillinger, alternatively arrogant and naive, and the story of  this 1930s criminal celebrity is a good one although lacking back story.

Ultimately though, it does suffer in comparison to Heat. The  lawman's and the criminal's stories and characters simply aren't as engaging as Pacino's and De Niro's. Similarly, it also lacks the punch of the set pieces in the earlier film. Perhaps less would have been more.

Verdict:  Good, but oddly unengaging.