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| Movie Review: Public Enemies Alternate Title: American Gangster
Story: This is not a perfect
movie and at times has more style than substance but it has many elements
to delight one and all. It has beautiful people, fine acting, incredible
photography, fine period details, a love story, good shoot 'em ups and
a great soundtrack. It was expertly visualized by director Michael
Mann and written by Mr. Mann, Ronan Bennett
and Ann Biderman. It is based on the book by Bryan
Burrough called Public Enemies: America's Greatest
Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34. John Dillinger died at the
tender age of 31 on July 22, 1934. He had spent most of his adult life
in prison but in the short time he robbed banks across the land he became
an American folk hero. The Depression was on, people were mad at the
banks (sound familiar?) and Dillinger's charm and savvy captured the
public's fancy. This movie focus' on that short period of time
with gusto. We get to see Dillinger rob banks, escape from prison, run
from the Feds, fall in love and get killed. The secondary story is about
the newly formed FBI run by the deranged J. Edgar Hoover and his top
agent, Melvin Purvis. The Keystone cops aspect to the formative FBI
is amusing as was watching how organized crime enlarged before laws
were passed to stop Interstate crimes. The downside to the film was that there were
too many characters coming and going that were not properly introduced
in the story telling. It was not clear who some of the characters were
since they all wore fedoras, suits and carried guns. This film could
also have been called 'Men With Hats.' That said - it was still a good
ride, visually appealing and you will not have been robbed with either
your time or money. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWof6CovHxI Watch some old footage of the real Dillnger here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqkWr6P01eE Acting: Johnny Depp as John Dillinger is perfect.
He gobbles up the screen with his best performance in years.
Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis is robotic but mesmerizing.
Oscar winner for La Vie en Rose, Marion Cotillard plays
Billie Frechette and is a terrific match for Depp. Billy Crudup
as J. Edgar Hoover was sensational. He made me think how good Hoover
would have looked in that pink tu tu. I would not be surprised if he
got a Supporting nod for this role. Trivia: Director Michael Mann often
portrays criminals as likeable and sympathetic (Thief and Heat). He
often portrays the leader of a group of criminals as a hard-edged loner.
He was Will Smith's personal choice to direct Ali. Spike Lee campaigned
vigorously against Mann, saying that only a black director could do
Ali's story justice. He directed four different performers in Oscar-nominated
performances: Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Jon Voight and Jamie Foxx.
Predilection: I like Johnny Depp and Michael Mann.
Critters: None
Food: Steak and potatoes
Sex Spectrum: Many legends surround John Dillinger.
One urban legend says that Dillinger's penis had somehow found its way
into the Smithsonian Institution. These legends are the result of the
photograph of his corpse - the bulge caused by his arm, stiff from rigor
mortis, covered with a sheet. Some who saw grainy newsprint copies of
the photo mistakenly believed it to be his unnaturally large erect penis.
Check out the photo and story here: http://www.snopes.com/risque/penile/dillinger.asp
Soundtrack: Great soundtrack - appropriate to the
time period.
Opening Titles: Other than white type on a black
background setting the time and place all credits are at the end.
Visual Art: It is filmed beautifully by director
of photography, Dante Spinotti - it is a visual delight
to watch.
Theater Audience: About 30 other people.
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I looked at my watch a few times.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: I am sure it will get a few nods.
Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. Dillinger
has been portrayed on the big screen many times including: Lawrence
Tierney played the title role in the first film dramatization of Dillinger's
career; Dillinger (1945), which inaccurately
attributed several cold-blooded murders to Dillinger. In 1959's "The
FBI Story" starring James Stewart, Jean Willes plays Anna Sage
and Scott Peters plays Dillinger. Director Marco Ferreri's 1969 film
Dillinger Is Dead includes documentary footage
of real John Dillinger as well as newspaper clips. 1973's Dillinger,
by John Milius with Warren Oates in the title role, presented the gang
in a much more sympathetic light, in keeping with the anti-hero theme
popular in films after Bonnie and Clyde. Lewis Teague directed the 1979
film The Lady in Red, starring Pamela Sue
Martin as the eponymous lady in the red dress. However, in this film,
it is Dillinger's girlfriend Polly in red, not the Romanian informant
Anna Sage. Sage tricks Polly into wearing red so that FBI agents can
identify Dillinger (Robert Conrad) as he emerges from the cinema. A
TV movie Dillinger was released in 1991, starring
Mark Harmon.
Length: 15 minutes over the Lobo two hour rule.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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