Documentary crime film, the highlight is definitely not only the stars in the film

Merle 2022-04-22 07:01:04

A tragic story under the Great Depression, the original ranger hero in the hearts of the people, as the story progresses, has no choice but to become the number one enemy of the public. People of any age and culture cannot withstand the guidance of public opinion. Under Hoover's powerful brainwashing offensive, those once charming knights gradually turned into gangsters who wanted to raise their guns. Especially in the scene in which a promotional video is played in the theater, with the words "Look to the left, look to the right", most people in the theater are unconsciously obeying the voice of the instructions. When everyone thinks you are wrong, no matter how principled you do things, no matter how unrestrained your behavior is, it is difficult to stay out of the world. As a legend, you can only be crushed and smashed by the endless gears of the times. The film questioned Hoover's ability to work, but in terms of his influence on society as a whole, Hoover deserved to be an important figure in that era. I once saw a post discussing Harry Potter, which mentioned that the Western world culture believes that language is magical and can achieve so-called magic, and I think Hoover is absolutely great in using language to control people's hearts. Master level or above.

Another highlight of the film is the love line between Johnny and Marion. Although there are not many scenes, it adds a lot to the overall dark crime documentary. At the beginning, Red had a conversation with Johnny and mentioned that he wanted to stay away from women. At this time, when Marion appeared, I thought that Johnny might miss this woman in the end. However, Marion's performance was eye-catching. Yiliang, especially in the interrogation part, when Marion, who had been clenching his teeth and acting strong, was finally able to move freely with the permission of the police officer Purvis, who appeared in time, we only discovered that the original arrogant and fearless first sister's performance, that Everything is really faked, and it is faked with all my strength. She was originally a humble clerk who could only afford cheap clothes for three dollars, but for the people she loved, she could fight with her life and the representatives of the entire Federation! Although there is not much portrayal in the film, we can imagine how heavy the grief of losing Johnny's Marion is!

Also mentioned is the female friend who finally betrayed Johnny. Some people will think that she betrays her friends without loyalty. However, when bargaining with the FBI, she has not forgotten the names of the six people mentioned repeatedly. If it is really just for herself, whether the price of betraying her friends is really affordable, I guess it is still one question. Human nature is being interrogated here, but it is precisely the excuse for other people to live with peace of mind that distorts human nature. Therefore, whenever human nature is controversial, it should not be just individual people, but the entire human community: what is wrong with you!

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Extended Reading
  • Raina 2022-04-24 07:01:03

    Both male protagonists are in love, and Bale's light-colored suit is really handsome at the end of the film~~~

  • Perry 2021-10-20 19:02:41

    Except for Johnny Depp who is still nodding, there seems to be nothing else to watch.

Public Enemies quotes

  • [Purvis and Baum are listening in on a wiretapped call]

    Agent Carter Baum: This is a phone conversation from a car dealership twenty-seven minutes ago. Harry Berman.

    [He pushes down the needle to play back an acetate disk]

    John Dillinger's voice: When you drop it, leave the keys on the floorboard.

    Harry Berman's voice: I got a DeSoto.

    John Dillinger's voice: Okay.

    [Purvis takes off his headphones]

    Melvin Purvis: How did we get to Berman?

    Agent Carter Baum: Off the Dillinger coat. The coat was bought in Cicero, Illinois, a few doors down from Berman's dealership. Now we know Berman. He's been supplying cars to the Syndicate since Capone. When Dillinger bought that coat, he must've been at Berman's switching cars.

    Melvin Purvis: Soon as they call to drop the DeSoto, we'll tail it. I want men on this, around the clock.

  • [Hoover is at a Senate Appropriation Committee hearing]

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: Why do we need this?

    J. Edgar Hoover: Because criminals flee in fast automobiles across state lines, thereby defeating local jurisdiction because there is no federal police force to stop them.

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: By my tally, your bureau wants to spend more taxpayer's dollars catching crooks, than what the crooks you catch stole in the first place.

    J. Edgar Hoover: Well that's ridiculous. The Bureau has apprehended kidnappers and bank robbers who have stolen up to and in excess of...

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: Really?

    [Hoover stops midsentence]

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: How many have you apprehended?

    J. Edgar Hoover: We have arrested and arraigned 213 wanted felons.

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: No, I mean *you*, Director Hoover.

    J. Edgar Hoover: Well, as Director, I administer.

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: How many have you arrested, personally?

    [long pause as Hoover stares at McKellar]

    J. Edgar Hoover: I have never arrested anybody.

    [Other men in the chamber gasp in shock]

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: You've never arrested anybody?

    J. Edgar Hoover: Well of course not. I'm an administrator...

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: With no field experience. You are shockingly unqualified, aren't you, sir? You have never personally conducted a criminal investigation in the field in your life. I think you're a front. I think your prowess as a lawman is a myth, created from the hoopla of headlines by Mr. Suydam, your publicist there. Crimebuster? G-Man? You're setting yourself up as a Czar? That's running wild in my estimation.

    J. Edgar Hoover: A *crime* is what runs wild...

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: If this country requires a bureau such as yours, I question whether you are the person fit to run it.

    J. Edgar Hoover: [getting angry] Well I will not be judged by a kangaroo court of venal politicians...

    Senator Kenneth McKellar: Your appropriation increase is denied.

    [taps his gavel, signifying the end of the session; Hoover and his aides get up and leave]

    J. Edgar Hoover: Feed the following to Walter Winchell: "McKellar is a Neanderthal, and he is on a personal vendetta to destroy me." We will not contest him in his committee. We need to fight him on the front page. Where's John Dillinger?