Public Enemies

I did not like this film. Some facts:

The Good:
- The film made money.
- The film has a 7.2 rating on imdb, which is respectable.

The Bad:
- The film wasn't nominated for any major awards: Oscars, Golden Globes, SAG (despite Depp's acclaimed performance). Not even, God forbid, something from Cannes.

The Ugly:
- Character development. It had none. Dillinger wasn't developed at all. What motivated him? Why was he a hero to the common folk? The film doesn't say. Ditto for Melvin Purvis, G-Man. There were many poorly developed, anonymous characters. They all looked alike, dressed alike, talked alike. I couldn't keep them straight. For example, Pretty Boy Floyd: he was active but had no character, no reason for the audience to root for his life or death. Ditto for the read-headed Dillinger sidekick who dies late in the film. Does anyone even know his name?

- Story. Very weak. Where were the dramatic scenes that you fast forward too? Where was the connection to culture, the Great depression? For example, in Bonnie and Clyde, there's a great scene where B&C let a farmer shootup his recently re-possessed farm. BANG. BANG BANG. Right in the sign that says, "This farm is the property of XYZ Bank." In another scene, which was unsuccessfully duplicated in Public Enemies, Clyde says, "Is that your money or the bank's?" Those were great scenes, containing both great action and exposition. Public Enemies doesn't compare.

- Dialog. Many times in the film, I couldn't understand what they were saying. Better sound editing and/or diction lessons required. Where were the memorable lines like, "We're the Barrow Gang. We rob banks."

Why it made money:
- Johhny Depp
- Michael Mann
- It's a story about a glamorous, Robin Hood-like crook.
- There's plenty of action and violence.