Movie Recommendations for July 4th Weekend
'Public Enemies'There's relatively little "bio" but a whole lot of "pic" in director Michael Mann's new John Dillinger flick that's more red-blooded actioner than biopic. Johnny Depp is magnetic as the Depression-era bank-robber-turned-folk hero, who audiences never really get to know but will root for anyway; Christian Bale is awesome as usual as the dashing FBI agent hot on his tail; and Marion Cotillard is flat-out lovely as Dillinger's main squeeze Billie Frechette. And the nighttime Tommy gun shootout in the Wisconsin woods? Let's just say 'Heat' auteur Mann has one-upped himself this time. -- Tom DiChiara
Johnny Depp, Christian Bale & Marion Cotillard interviews
'Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs'They're baaack! Prehistoric creatures Manny and Ellie the mammoths, Diego the sabretooth tiger, Sid the ... well, we're really not sure what Sid is, and your kids' favorite silent screen star, Scratte, return to the multiplex for the third installment of the massively successful franchise. This time Scratte meets a Scrattina, and, appropriately, the whole shebang is presented in 3-D. So much excitement! What are you waiting for? Your children are already in the car, ready to go. -- Angie Argabrite
Reader Comments (2)
jon at 6:15PM on Jul 3rd 2009
I was a bit disappointed by the movie. I don't think it gave justice to the entire time period and didn't really get into Dillinger. I found some interesting comments about the film on pandalous:
http://www.pandalous.com/nodes/public_enemies_theatrical
Jason at 6:30PM on Jul 22nd 2009
I’m not quite sure what director Michael Mann wants me to take away from this version of Dillinger’s story. There are various allusions to Dillinger as a folk hero. He robs from the bank, but makes sure that the civilians receive their money. Is Dillinger making some social statement against the corrupt powers of the government? Well if he is, he never admits as much. Perhaps he just likes being a celebrity and realizes that if he treats civilians with respect he’ll be better liked. He blatantly tells Billie, “I rob banks.” However, Dillinger is lacking the motivation or general purpose of that line as it was proclaimed twice in Bonnie and Clyde. The eponymous gangsters of that film declared that statement as if it were an honor. They were counter-revolutionary figures, living off youthful exuberance, fetching nervousness, and a distinctly proclaimed social conscience. Dillinger, instead, echoes a different gangster in his proclamation to want to be, “top of the world,” conjuring up the image of James Cagney screaming his lungs out, and about to be burnt to a crisp in White Heat. Mann is just referencing other gangster movies, bringing with him nothing new, besides the fact that this film is shot in a high definition video, and what we’re left with is a protagonist without any ambitions or purpose for existence.
Read my full review at http://cfilmc.wordpress.com/