Post by dvdjunkie on Jul 11, 2009 8:03:19 GMT -6
Michael Mann is without a doubt one of my favorite directors in this modern era of film, but I think he missed his mark with this film.
Not that it is a bad movie, but so much of the film was done with Hi-Definition cameras that it almost looks like a television news program instead of very dramatic action scene.
Johnny Depp stars as John Dillinger in this biopic of the era of the gangster. Don't get put-off by this term 'bio-pic' because it truly is not just about Dillinger, it is about how we today conceive all of these characters of the 30's that were supposed to be the 'Public Enemies', but were also worshipped by a lot of people who thought they were pretty nice guys.
The supporting cast includes Christian Bale as G-Man Melvin G. Purvis, who made it his own personal vendetta to wipe 'the streets of these vermin', and then there is a complete study in the character of J. Edgar Hoover as portrayed by Billy Crudup. The major scene stealers in this film are Giovanni Ribisis (Alvin Carpis), Bill Camp (Frank Nitti) and Channing Tatum (Pretty Boy Floyd). Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is just beautiful as the Lady in Red, who was also known as Billie Frechette, Dillinger's love interest.
The film is told almost in a documentary style, and is more about the era, than one man's story. Michael Mann takes us out of the story every once in a while using the Hi-Def cameras like television cameras to depict some of the actual events during this period.
Depp gets to break out of the actual jail cell that once house the infamous Dillinger, and he dies on the same slab of marble at the Biograph theater that Dillinger did. Actual location sites were used throughout the film, and this adds to the story very much.
If you go into this movie looking for a 'Godfather'-style movie you will be highly disappointed. This is a 'Love Story', about America's fascination with the bad guys of a by-gone era. A very remarkable film with more pluses than minuses to recommend it by.
On the Junkie-Meter, I will give this a very strong 3.5 out of 5 stars, and it will go on my list of DVD purchases when it arrives on the shelves later this year.
Not that it is a bad movie, but so much of the film was done with Hi-Definition cameras that it almost looks like a television news program instead of very dramatic action scene.
Johnny Depp stars as John Dillinger in this biopic of the era of the gangster. Don't get put-off by this term 'bio-pic' because it truly is not just about Dillinger, it is about how we today conceive all of these characters of the 30's that were supposed to be the 'Public Enemies', but were also worshipped by a lot of people who thought they were pretty nice guys.
The supporting cast includes Christian Bale as G-Man Melvin G. Purvis, who made it his own personal vendetta to wipe 'the streets of these vermin', and then there is a complete study in the character of J. Edgar Hoover as portrayed by Billy Crudup. The major scene stealers in this film are Giovanni Ribisis (Alvin Carpis), Bill Camp (Frank Nitti) and Channing Tatum (Pretty Boy Floyd). Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is just beautiful as the Lady in Red, who was also known as Billie Frechette, Dillinger's love interest.
The film is told almost in a documentary style, and is more about the era, than one man's story. Michael Mann takes us out of the story every once in a while using the Hi-Def cameras like television cameras to depict some of the actual events during this period.
Depp gets to break out of the actual jail cell that once house the infamous Dillinger, and he dies on the same slab of marble at the Biograph theater that Dillinger did. Actual location sites were used throughout the film, and this adds to the story very much.
If you go into this movie looking for a 'Godfather'-style movie you will be highly disappointed. This is a 'Love Story', about America's fascination with the bad guys of a by-gone era. A very remarkable film with more pluses than minuses to recommend it by.
On the Junkie-Meter, I will give this a very strong 3.5 out of 5 stars, and it will go on my list of DVD purchases when it arrives on the shelves later this year.