Here’s the thing: Public Enemies has a really good shot at being a good movie, or at any rate, a really amazing failure. This isn’t The Newton Boys, starring a dude who’d rather be shirtless; this isn’t Mobsters, where the studio pinned its hopes on the acting chops of Richard Grieco. No, this is a Depression-era crime and caper flick directed by Michael Mann, whose credits of course include Heat, Collateral, and even an old episode of “Crime Story.” And it stars Johnny Depp — one of the best actors of his generation, and a man who deserves more than just the embarrassing Pirates of the Caribbean franchise — as John Dillinger, who robbed something like 742 banks in the 1930s. And oh yeah, it co-stars Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent hunting Dillinger. The supporting cast includes Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, and Giovanni Ribisi. Basically, there’s a solid amount of above-the-line talent involved. Plus, it’s been a while since we’ve had a great crime movie set in the early part of the century, and the hats and tommy guns alone are enough to make you wish they made ‘em like this more often.
Nice! I was kind of hoping Johnny Depp would take on some kind of ridiculous accent. Maybe a little Edward G. Robinson. Either way this looks real cool.
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at March 5, 2009 11:01 AM
O man! Someone should have let Michael Mann play with tommy guns and fedoras long ago.
I have a Michael Mann boner right now. It's like a normal boner, but it does the drum beat to "In the Air Tonight" at the same time.
Posted by: JakesAlterEgo at March 5, 2009 11:02 AM
You know what's really sad? That beautiful historic Biograph theatre used to sit on a street that also housed two great small venues for independent bands, a totally communist bookstore that carried books you just couldn't get any where else, and a lovely old style diner. Now, it sits in between chain stores and a glut of condos. I hope the bastard developers are losing their asses and then some in the current economic climate.
Posted by: PaddyDog at March 5, 2009 11:05 AM
Purvis offed himself too
Posted by: gilp at March 5, 2009 11:08 AM
So you'll be coming in the air tonight, JAE?
Posted by: slower lower at March 5, 2009 11:16 AM
Nothing beats the muzzle-flash of a Tommy Gun. Except a Tommy Gun wielded by Johnny Depp.
Posted by: admin at March 5, 2009 11:31 AM
I sort of adore Billy Crudup's accent in this trailer even though I don't like what I've heard about him as a person (generally) and think his last name sounds like something my cat does when it's eaten too much. It's so properly 30's lawman, you know?
The rest of it looks good too, that just sort of jumped out at me.
Looks strong, the only weak link here is Depp and I'll tell you why:
1. He doesn't have the grit, not here, he looks too boyish.
2. That smirk looks STUPID on his face and it seems as if he goes through the whole picture like that. Dillinger just took one picture like that, at least that I can recall from the Biography/A&E/History channel docummentaries.
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at March 5, 2009 11:37 AM
*documentaries
oy
Posted by: BarbadoSlim at March 5, 2009 11:39 AM
I hear ya Paddydog, that stretch of Lincoln was rocking when I first moved to Chicago 10 years ago and now I don't even hit that end of town unless someone I know is doing a show at The Apollo. I miss the Three Penny Theater and Act I bookstore like crazy.
Posted by: JenVegas at March 5, 2009 11:40 AM
You had me at Giovanni Ribisi...I've been obsessed with him ever since The Dog Problem.
Posted by: Smokin at March 5, 2009 11:41 AM
O man...Act I books. How I loved you.
Posted by: JakesAlterEgo at March 5, 2009 11:50 AM
So great to feel the Act I Books love here. Remember the giant poster with the Woody Guthrie quote? Mr. PaddyDog used to joke that the CIA monitored everyone going in and out of the shop. When I was up for my green card, he swore they were going to pull up a photo of me browsing in Act I and stamp "Denied" on the application.
Posted by: PaddyDog at March 5, 2009 11:58 AM
That music is a terrible choice for this movie.
Other than that, though, I'm looking forward to this. I mean, DEPP and BALE. Goddamn.
Posted by: Jerce at March 5, 2009 12:06 PM
It was the only place in Chicago that I could get a copy of "Kaleidoscope" by Ray Bradbury for a play I was in.
Act I saved my ass.
Posted by: JakesAlterEgo at March 5, 2009 12:14 PM
I request... no, demand that Dillinger Escape Plan's "Setting Fire to Sleeping Giants" be used somewhere, somehow.
This looks like it'll be good. I'm surprised there hasn't been more movies about Dillinger. It's an incredibly exciting story. I just hope they don't go for a cheesy ending, and placate the conspiracy that it wasn't him that was killed outside the Biograph theater. The truth is always more effective than the myth.
Posted by: mark at March 5, 2009 12:33 PM
My theater nerd friends and I always thought that place was under surveillence too! Why wouldn't it be? All of us pinko, commie, theater lovin' wackjobs were totally plotting to take over the government one issue of "Actors Theater of Louisville One Acts" at a time.
Posted by: JenVegas at March 5, 2009 12:36 PM
Yaaaaaaaaaaaay Marion Cotillard. I have a huge crush on her.
Posted by: figgy at March 5, 2009 1:06 PM
OK, first time I read this as
it co-stars Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent humping Dillinger
I think this looks like a good film, but I'd walk over my dead grandmother to see my version.
Posted by: Drake at March 5, 2009 1:17 PM
Looks great to me...save for that recently one-note Christian Bale. He can be gone any time now.
Posted by: Cindy at March 5, 2009 1:26 PM
Dan: "Plus, it's been a while since we've had a great crime movie set in the early part of the century. . ."
We're currently in the early part of the century. I think you meant the early part of the last century. I know, it's only been a little over 8 years since this century started (it started in 2001), and I'm still writing 1989 on my checks, so I understand the slip up.
Posted by: BWeaves (from a different IP address) at March 5, 2009 2:06 PM
It's not heist crime or hitman oriented but don't you dare forget Mann also did The Insider.
Posted by: Trollin' at March 5, 2009 5:57 PM
I don't get why he shoots this with a digital camera. If you look the HD trailer on Apple.com, you're really confused about that. It's way too sharp - it looked great in MV an COLLATERAL, but in a movie set in the 30's? Weird, but let's see.
Posted by: Jakob at March 5, 2009 10:52 PM
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Posted by: evan at March 5, 2009 10:57 PM
Oi! You completely omitted the fact that David Wenham, a current favorite in my movie harem, has a role in this film!
Bale, Depp, Wenham...What other gorgeous men are in this movie? Provide a list!
Posted by: Jerce at March 5, 2009 11:44 PM
Yes, please.
Posted by: Joe at March 6, 2009 1:59 AM
JOHNNY DEPP WITH A FUCKIN' TOMMY GUN.
Off to change my panties now.
Posted by: kate the great at March 6, 2009 9:08 AM
Do you ever get the feeling that Trailers these days are somewhat missing the mark. They're supposed to inform us about upcoming movies not give away practically 90% of the actual film. I feel like thisd trailer is a summary of first 80% of the movie.
Posted by: RonnyK at March 6, 2009 10:39 PM
so...do you guys have comment moderators? 'cause i'm startin' to think that evan feller might not be from around here...
Posted by: dan at March 9, 2009 11:43 AM
july, huh ??? you mean that a movie will actually open before the end of the year? this is some " gap " period.
He just wanted to go to the movies!