‘Public Enemies’ Deserves a Second Look

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies was one of the most anticipated films of the year (Read my Parcbench review here, John Nolte’s slightly opposing view here). However, it seems that many critics are drastically underrating this film. This is unfortunate because even though the film may not be the gangster movie we are used to; it sure has hints of perfection throughout. After reading many reviews panning this film, I decided to give it a second look.

There were still some obvious flaws. There are a couple of choppy edits as well as questionable music in the scene where Dillinger walks into the cop shop. But the flaws most people discuss don’t seem to be a true flaw at all. I’ve heard and read many people say the film has no depth and the characters are shallow. This is simply not a fair assertion.

The film may appear shallow to some, but it doesn’t give us anything we don’t need to know. That is exactly what makes this film enjoyable; there is no abundance of useless information. It is about Dillinger’s short time as public enemy number one, nothing more. (more…)

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Tags: "Public Enemies", Dillinger, gangster movies, Johnny Depp, Michael Mann
Posted Jul 23rd 2009 at 4:28 pm in Classic Hollywood, Film | 18843022 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/cyogerst/2009/07/23/why-some-may-be-wrong-about-public-enemies/%27Public+Enemies%27+Deserves+a+Second+Look2009-07-23+23%3A28%3A10Chris+Yogerst

Review: ‘Public Enemies’

Striving for cinematic greatness is always a risky proposition. The risk is that when you fall short there’s no mistaking the swing-and-a-miss. To his credit, this is the position Director Michael Mann loves to put himself in. He always strives, always puts himself out there and the result is a number of unforgettable films but also a few obvious and glaring misses. “Public Enemies” misses. Not as badly as “Miami Vice” or “Ali,” but other than a couple of sequences, “Enemies” never gels, grabs, bites or takes hold. Instead, the narrative just kind of rolls along hitting insistent beats en-route to the inevitable.

Johnny Depp is John Dillinger, a criminal before crime was organized who specializes in bank robberies and jail breaks. His dash, audacity and refusal to steal from the common folk has made him something of a folk hero to Depression-weary America, but J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) sees an opportunity to use Dillinger’s exploits as a way to firm up his fledgling national police force (the F.B.I.), but first he’ll have to prove his modern, centralized methods work. (more…)

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Tags: "Public Enemies", Baby Face Nelson, Christian Bale, Frank Nitti, John Dillinger
Posted Jul 1st 2009 at 6:18 pm in Featured Story, Reviews | 17531425 Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/07/01/review-public-enemies/Review%3A+%27Public+Enemies%272009-07-02+01%3A18%3A37John+Nolte

Trailer: Public Enemies

That is one outstanding trailer and the first footage I’ve seen.

This era’s always proved difficult for present-day filmmakers to credibly recreate.  One major exception is “L.A. Confidential” (1997), but the rest, most notably Scorsese’s ridiculously over-praised “The Aviator“ (2004), overtax your suspension of disbelief with a sense that everyone’s play-acting with clothes found in grandma’s attic. Director Michael Mann appears to have figured out that stylizing the hell out of it is the way to go. The music and atmosphere make you want to dive right in. (more…)

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Tags: "Public Enemies", Christian Bale, J. Edgar Hoover, Johnny Depp, l.a. confidential
Posted Apr 10th 2009 at 11:26 am in Entertainment, Video | 102806No Commentshttp://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/04/10/trailer-public-enemies/Trailer%3A+Public+Enemies2009-04-10+18%3A26%3A17John+Nolte