Oh Johnny you romantic!
Written: Jun 30 '09 (Updated Jul 01 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Beautifully photographed; authentic shootouts. Johnny Depp without makeup. Chemistry betw Deep and Cotillard.
Cons: Almost feels like a docudrama.
The Bottom Line: Love Johnny Depp as the bad boy romantic. He and Cotillard have special chemistry that should carry over to another movie.
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| lli_wright's Full Review: Public Enemies |
There is a line in Public Enemies that is straight out of today's headlines. It is when FBI Agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) is assigned to the Chicago Bureau because "Chicago is the center of the crime wave". As a Chicagoan, we badly need a Purvis to clean up our crime wave (smile).
No one films shootouts better than Michael Mann. They are crisp, clean, efficient, realistic. There are several shootout scenes in Public Enemies reminiscent to Heat. If anyone recalls, there was the bank hold-up shootout when DeNiro's gang is surrounded by Pacino's detective squad. Mann takes you straight to the street and the action; guns blazing and pop-popping sounds of gunfire. It had you on the edge of your seat. It happens in Public Enemies a few times when Purvis surrounds the Dillinger gang in the street and in the woods. Fire blazes out of tommy guns and bullets crackle into trees and houses. Another edge-of-the seat action scene. A Mann thumbprint.
We do not learn much about Dillinger. When we first meet him, he is choreographing a jail break, one of three in his life. He's brazen and loves being the folk hero to the little man. When he and his gang rob banks they come in wearing business suits and long coats and treat the customers with courtesy. The set decorations, scenery and costumes are authentic looking because Mann photo'd the movie in and around Illinois and Indiana at the same hotels and locations that Dillinger lived.
There are several interesting aspects of Dillinger's lawlessness such as, how he decides how much money a bank has and which banks are lucrative enough to rob. But who would have thought Dillinger to be a romantic? As Mann writes it, Dillinger's love was for Billie Frechette(Marion Cottillard), a half-French/half-Indian coat check girl that he takes away from her working class surroundings. And as portrayed by Depp and Marion Cotilliard, their love was quick and deep. Billie turns into Dillinger's enabler and protectionist and becomes outlawish herself. And he is the chivalrous one, going to dangerous lengths to be with her.
Strong mention is for Johnny Depp, the romantic leading man. Mann makes his Dillinger caring, not mean spirited or criminal, more business-like. [Who could NOT like Depp and those dreamy eyes and that sexy look. ] When he talks to Billie he looks deep into her eyes and she into his. I hope Depp realizes his strength as an actor is in bad boy romantic leads and not those silly children's characters he's been playing. In fact, the camera loves Johnny Depp without all the clownish makeup. He is even daring enough to show his frown lines, which give him character. There's one scene with Billie (Marion Cotillard) and you see the bags under his eyes. Goodness - no botox face!
Christian Bale's part is frankly, throwaway, and could be played by any B actor. He appears intermittently and only to catch Dillinger who escapes him repeatedly.
The story is so familiar there's nothing new to bring, except that the Mafia (Syndicate) worked with the FBI to catch Dillinger because his lawlessness put pressure on Congress to clamp down on illegal operations.
Public Enemies might disappoint the majority movie goers who will expect a Godfather/Goodfellas/Scarface gangster movie. Remember, this is the 1930s, not the 1950s or 1960s. This movie is closer to Bonnie & Clyde and will be considered "art house". In my opinion, Depp and Cotilliard should find another vehicle quick! They are that good together.
This is a good, not a great movie. It comes close to feeling docudramatic. Surprisingly, not a lot of script and dialogue, but high def cinematography helps hold the interest.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Viewing Method: Press Screening
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Pacing
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Epinions.com ID:
lli_wright
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Location: Chicago, IL, US
Reviews written: 244
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
Working stiff who loves to give opinions to anybody who will listen.
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