20 years ago, the righteous policeman and the chivalrous killer in the movie could fight back to back in the rain of bullets for love. It was a time when heroism was rampant, and a bloody masculine passion was written in that paragraph. In a poem in the name of youth. Twenty years later, the police and bandits are very clear about their identity. Even if it is adapted from a story in the 1930s, the agent has to fire a fatal shot. Although they have become sympathetic in the long-term contest, and the evil charm of the gangster dumped everyone, they couldn't stop the final duel, because the heroic age has passed away, and we no longer dream.
The movie The Enemy of the Public is based on the legendary story of John Dillinger, an idol criminal figure in the American Depression. John Dillinger was an out-and-out thief. From May 1933 to July 1934, he robbed the bank and used many tricks to outwit the police with surprisingly clever ways. Speaking for the people who were suffering due to the economic crisis had a great influence in American society at that time. At that time, the police and the government regarded him as the number one public enemy, but the people regarded him as the true hero of that era. In the era of the Great Depression, the people fell into the embarrassment of unemployment and life became hopeless. In this era, Americans needed a hero to save their little confidence. But the positive and shining characters let them again and again. Everyone was disappointed, and their aura became dimmed. At this time, John's stunning appearance made the lost Americans regain hope and touched valuable fighting spirit.
Michael Mann’s choice of Johnny Depp to play the role of this man of the world is really the finishing touch. Looking at the world, I am afraid that only Captain Jack, who is "versatile and close to monster", can shape John Dillinger to an ideal state. Dillinger in the movie has a deep and unwillingness to be lonely, exuding a charming evil. No matter what the real John Dillinger looks like, but after the meticulous creation of Captain Jack, this image will undoubtedly shine brightly and remain famous in history. Although the FBI portrayed by Batman Christian is full of upright and resolute and handsome, he is still slightly bleak in front of his rival Dillinger. The director created a taste of elegant crime during the Hollywood black-and-white film period. The fateful characters of good and evil fight wits and courage. Although the film does not have much bloody taste, the whole film is full of fateful powers belonging to the two men. Shrouded in an invisible dramatic tension, until at the end Dillinger fell down and the camera flashed through Melvin's shocked eyes. It turned out that the battle of fate was so simple and real. The fallen man shot calmly and relaxed. People don't have a sense of accomplishment, this is ridiculous fate.
There is a very attractive theme, and there are movies of Johnny Depp, Christian and other big names. "The Enemy of the Public" should be round and round, but unfortunately the loopholes and shortcomings are still obvious. First of all, the character design is not full enough. If you don't search and understand the character of John Dillinger in advance, it is easy to feel that the movie is boring and dull if you don't understand the background of the story. Moreover, as an action film "Public Enemy", the shootout scene is not vigorous. Although a closer look can feel that Michael Mann has indeed worked hard on the audiovisual aspects of the shootout, and it has a taste of the old Hollywood era, but this does not mobilize it. Audiences who were accustomed to the shocking scenes of the explosion of bullets. The rhythm and atmosphere make this movie fall short in its beauty, and it is this faint repression that fills "Public Enemy" with the sadness of a hero's end.
In the era of heroes, because people need a warrior who can become a hero to give them confidence and hope, even for villains like Dillinger, he has done incredible and surprising things that are still being said today. , This genius robber became a rare bright spot in that dim era. Precisely because the ordinary and embarrassing life requires different colors, we can now see "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Public Enemy". But that era of heroes has passed away after all, let alone these two movies, even works like "The True Colors of Heroes" and "The Two Heroes" will not appear again. Because with the development of society and the times, people are living more and more realistically. Few people will fight for love and righteousness, and few people will go to the bullets for justice. The value of "righteousness" is more about existence. On the lips or on paper, interest is the core of the theme.
I miss Wu Yusen's movies, the era of John Dillinger, and the chicness of "Bonnie and Clander". Although it was impossible to escape the fate of tragedy in the end, there were heroes that our time did not have in those eras.
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