--- title: "Public Enemies: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/public-enemies/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/public-enemies" critics_score: 61 critics_reviews: 20 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Public Enemies (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 61 from 20 reviews: 7 positive, 10 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics admire Public Enemies more than they enjoy it. Of twenty reviews, ten are mixed and only three are hostile, and the praise is almost unanimous about one thing: the way Michael Mann and his camera handle the 1930s. The nighttime shootouts, the Little Bohemia sequence above all, are singled out again and again, along with the production design and the natural light. Johnny Depp’s controlled Dillinger is the performance most often picked out, with Marion Cotillard a close second. The complaints are just as consistent. Reviewers find the film emotionally cool, Dillinger himself opaque, the romance thin and the supporting figures, Christian Bale’s Purvis in particular, barely sketched. The spread is wide, from a strong recommendation at Empire down to outright dismissals at The Hollywood Reporter and Digital Spy. The digital look also divides: Radio Times calls the lighting vibrant, The AV Club finds it a flaw. The Guardian, almost alone, counts Depp’s restraint against the film. ## Empire — Ian Nathan Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 January 2009. Nathan finds the film intelligent, challenging and worth the effort it demands. He particularly praises its immersive digital recreation of the 1930s and Marion Cotillard’s performance as the story’s emotional centre. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/public-enemies-review/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. The critic presents the film as a strong, documentary-style crime drama. They praise its cast, sumptuous production design, and vibrant natural lighting. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-lgnyex/public-enemies/) ## Total Film — Rob James Rating 4/5. 16 June 2009. The critic finds the film a startling, atmospheric crime epic, though its supporting characters remain ciphers. He praises Mann’s vivid visual style and the romance’s tragic heartbeat. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/public-enemies-review/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 1 July 2009. Ebert finds the film stylish but emotionally cool. He singles out Johnny Depp’s controlled performance as a strength. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/public-enemies-2009) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 June 2009. Denby finds the film visually ravishing and expertly directed, but says its emotional distance and underdeveloped view of Dillinger keep it from greatness. He especially praises Mann’s lucid, fast-moving direction and elegant visual style. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/07/06/tommy-guns-and-toys) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2009. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film admirable but not electrifying, with its meticulous historical tapestry making a stronger impression than its overall impact. He particularly praises the Little Bohemia shootout, where the nighttime cinematography and gunfire stand out. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/public-enemies-michael-mann-1200474972/) ## Film Comment — Andrew Sarris Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no details about what the review praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/issues/september-october-2009/?pdfviewer=issue&pdf-page=63) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2009. The review's verdict and specific praise or complaint are unavailable in the visible page text. The page identifies the film and critic but exposes only a paywall shell. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/public-enemies/5002607.article) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Rating C+. 30 June 2009. Phipps finds the film disappointingly smaller than life, despite its audacious refusal to mythologize Dillinger. He praises a fleeting farmhouse scene and a thrilling nighttime chase, but faults the unfocused storytelling, digital-video look, and lifeless romance. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/public-enemies-1798206492) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Rating 2.5/4. 28 June 2009. Schager finds the film visually potent but dramatically underdeveloped and ultimately uninvolving. He praises the action sequences’ muscular framing and movement, while faulting the central romance for feeling thin and contrived. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/public-enemies/) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 3/5. 30 June 2009. Johnston gives the film three out of five, suggesting a mixed verdict. The teaser foregrounds the hunter-and-hunted pairing and invokes Mann’s *Heat* as a comparison. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/public-enemies) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2009. The review gives the film a mixed verdict, finding it engaging but not fully successful. It singles out Johnny Depp’s performance as John Dillinger for praise. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/movies/01enemies.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 2 July 2009. Bradshaw finds the film potent and confident, but says its ingredients do not quite come together. He praises the forceful gunfight sequences while faulting Depp’s emotionally restrained performance. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jul/03/public-enemies-film-review) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film visually accomplished but ultimately unsuccessful, with Dillinger left emotionally opaque and the story lacking tension. They praise the performances, dialogue and Mann’s compelling attempt, despite its failure to bring the story together. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/johnny-depps-gangster-is-rapped-in-public-enemies-7415278.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 June 2009. Honeycutt finds the film sprawling and unable to make Dillinger or the other figures compelling, despite its star cast. He praises the smoothly staged shootouts and strong cinematography, but says the human element goes missing. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/public-enemies-film-review-93298/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4 out of 5. 4 November 2009. Brew finds the film flawed but absorbing, and better than its divisive reputation suggests. He particularly praises Johnny Depp’s characterisation of Dillinger, while noting that Purvis and the romance receive too little development. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/public-enemies-blu-ray-review/) ## NME — Owen Nicholls Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 4 July 2009. The critic recommends the film as intelligent, complex and tense, despite some pacing and visual-style complaints. They single out the chemistry and performances of Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard for praise. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/blogs/the-movies-blog/theres-more-to-public-enemies-than-johnny-depp-although-he-is-damn-fucking-cool-46936) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 2009. The critic finds Public Enemies solid and interesting, but less cohesive and compelling than Michael Mann’s best work. They praise its immaculately staged heists and nighttime shootout, while noting the film’s ideas never fully come into focus. [Read the review](https://collider.com/public-enemies-blu-ray-review/) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2009. Carty finds the film competent and a refreshing change from blockbuster fare, but not among Michael Mann’s best. He praises two quieter sequences, especially Dillinger’s unnoticed visit to the police squad room. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/public-enemies-film-review-by-stephen-carty) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 30 June 2009. The critic finds the film dull and argues that Michael Mann misses the point by privileging Dillinger’s legend over the facts. They single out the one-sided portrayal of Dillinger and the G-Men as especially damaging, while noting that Christian Bale and Billie are short-changed. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a162783/public-enemies/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/public-enemies.md