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*** Official "PUBLIC ENEMIES" Discussion Thread

post #1 of 24
6/25/09 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 
First reviews are starting to roll in, and the 2-3 that are up are overwhelmingly positive: Public Enemies Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes

Enemies Forever :: Hollywood Elsewhere

Glad to see that the initial test screenings that garnered mediocre reactions (my roommate included) may have helped Mann focus his efforts and deliver a good, maybe even great, film.

I'm officially excited to see it once again after a few months of wavering faith.
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post #2 of 24
6/25/09 at 9:40pm

Re: Depp and Mann May Plan Crime Wave [Public Enemies]

I've been looking forward to this flick ever since it was announced and I'm really hoping it delivers. After a bunch of disappointments so far this summer(other than Star Trek) I'm looking forward to a good movie.
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post #3 of 24
6/30/09 at 10:27pm

*** Official "PUBLIC ENEMIES" Discussion Thread

James Bs review, which is pretty in depth. He goes over alot and the result may be a bit more spoilers(though minor) than some wanting to go in completely blind might want to know.

He thought it was pretty well done though. Im kind of surpised the rating wasnt a notch higher with the praise he throws on it.

Also calls Billy Crudup performance as J Edgar Hoover brilliant.Looking foward to seeing it monday.

http://www.reelviews.net/php_review_template.php?identifier=1701

Edited by JonZ - 7/1/2009 at 07:15 am GMT
Edited by JonZ - 7/1/2009 at 07:17 am GMT
Edited by JonZ - 7/1/2009 at 07:22 am GMT
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post #4 of 24
7/2/09 at 7:28am
Brett, the film clearly focuses on Dillinger, and not Purvis.  I think it was just a decision Mann made.  I don't think he was looking to rehash Heat.  Purvis and Dillinger are alike in some ways, sure.  But that story has been done. 

The challenge with the two recent Mann films is that both of them present characterization outside of standard Hollywood process.  The performances are truly exceptional.  But the characterization is found within moments, within looks, and within the choices made by the main characters.  It is not highlighted or repeated for clarity.  I think the characters were straightforward, so there was no need to plumb fictional depths to create the illusion of dimensionality.  Mann cuts all of the fat away.

I didn't really sympathize with Dillinger.  I liked him, but he was a killer and a thief.  Mann didn't soften him or harden him really.  His relationship with Billie was built on his own needs, moreso than on hers.

I'm not personally ready to call it brilliant, though I am fairly certain it will improve on subsequent viewings (and I liked it quite a bit on my first viewing), as most Mann films do.

I can't wait to see it again.  I also don't think it'll have much success this summer, which is really too bad.  I'm recommending it to my friends, but we'll see how many bite.
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post #5 of 24
7/2/09 at 1:37pm
Glad to see the positive reviews. Can't wait to see it tonight.
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post #6 of 24
7/2/09 at 2:16pm
This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "Public Enemies". Please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "Public Enemies" should be posted to the Official Review Thread.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.


Crawdaddy
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post #7 of 24
7/2/09 at 7:03pm
I just watched it.  Fantastic film.  Probably the best Summer movie I will see this year.
A very tame "R" rating.  I thought it could be PG-13 easily.  Quite a bit of gunfighting, and moderate bloodshed.  Great performances by the whole cast.  I can't wait to see it again.
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post #8 of 24
7/3/09 at 5:38am
Re: the sound mix.

Anyone else find it a bit...different? Seemed very localized to the center channels, hardly any use of the surrounds. Anyone else hear the same or was this just my theater?
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post #9 of 24
7/3/09 at 9:22am
 No, the sound mix was very problematic when I saw it as well. Much of the dialogue was a bit muffled, but when ever the subwoofer hit, it hit HARD. (Don't even get me started on the Sony VHS camcorder Mann must have used to shoot this movie).
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post #10 of 24
7/4/09 at 7:33am
Here's a review that sums up my feelings on "PE" based on a single viewing. I'm sure I might change my mind somewhat over time. I did with "Collateral" and "Miami Vice." I must add that I don't agree with this reviewers opinion on Mann's use of HD cameras. I thought the film looked fantastic.

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/37762/public-enemies/
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post #11 of 24
7/5/09 at 5:55pm
Not a great movie, but it is a good one.

I also thought the film really looked great. Although Im sick of Depp, I enjoyed him here. Some of the other performances were really good especially Grahams Baby Face Nelson.
And of course, no one can film a shootout like Michael Mann.
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post #12 of 24
7/5/09 at 7:31pm
Yes.... the mix did seem to be all in the forward channels when I saw it too.  I thought overall the HD video image was a bit dingy looking.
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post #13 of 24
7/8/09 at 8:40am
i didn't think ali nor mohican was that great. i feel like when mann comes back "home" to cops&robbers genre, he is a MASTER. but when he strays, i think it's a terrible waste of a talent. think of the best works: heat, collateral, miami vice and now public enemies. it's all about that law and lawlessness world. he understands the men that operate within those realms and their hearts of darkness. i shudder when he tries to go outside of that. it just doesn't work.
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post #14 of 24
7/12/09 at 9:38pm
I don't mean to thread fart but Public Enemies is a misfire -- I didn't like it.  I watched Collateral to see a real Mann film right after seeing a matinee of PE.  I can appreciate what he was trying to do and there are a few things that I liked but it did not work as a whole for me at all.
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post #15 of 24
7/13/09 at 7:39am
i haven't seen this film yet.

u guys feel this is similar to how miami vice was received when it first came out... then slow acceptance by people later on? or did mann just completely made a blunder?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S View Post

I saw this a few days ago. Overall, it was a decent enough film; although, I thought it dragged a bit in the first half. I also found that I just couldn't get very invested in the characters. For the most part I felt detached as a viewer. There were some good sequences in the film; however, I thought the ending sequence was the best one in the film.

I would give this one a B- based on my single viewing.


Edit: I should add that there was scene in particular that I thought was just plain stupid and annoying; however, that seems to be par for the course in the films of today.
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post #16 of 24
7/13/09 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JediFonger View Post

i haven't seen this film yet.
 


 

So stop posting in the Official Review thread. That's for people who have seen it and are writing a review.
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post #17 of 24
7/13/09 at 10:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JediFonger View Post

or did mann just completely made a blunder?
 


 


Considering nearly all of the reviews from HTFers are positive to glowing, the general consensus would seem to be that it's not a "blunder".
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post #18 of 24
7/13/09 at 10:29am
I thought "Public Enemies" was a good film, it was historically inaccurate in some ways, but overall, a good crime film.  Also, I had no problem with the way Mann shot this film and in my opinion, he's one of the best directors when it comes to filming a shootout scene.





Crawdaddy
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post #19 of 24
7/13/09 at 2:47pm
I saw this yesterday and thought it was very good. I've been a little mixed on Mann's work, so I wasn't sure what to expect.

The video look wasn't problematic once I got used to it, but still I wish it was shot in a more film-like manner like Fincher and other directors use digital. This video look Mann likes ends up a bit soft and smeary during fast motion.

Also, the supporting cast was quite surprising. I wasn't expecting so many recognizable faces in small roles.
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post #20 of 24
7/13/09 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JediFonger View Post

u guys feel this is similar to how miami vice was received when it first came out... then slow acceptance by people later on? or did mann just completely made a blunder?
 


 

Not really. I thought Miami Vice was Mann's weakest work, and still feel that way.
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post #21 of 24
7/13/09 at 4:51pm
Dull, ugly to watch, and just a mess!  It felt like nothing actually HAPPENED in this movie.  Dillinger robs a bank, Purvis chases him - lather, rinse, repeat.  No character depth, no story beyond basic cops and robbers fare, and an unappealing video look that just doesn't fit the 1930s setting.  Blech!  
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post #22 of 24
7/13/09 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chad R View Post

Not really. I thought Miami Vice was Mann's weakest work, and still feel that way.

And I'm the opposite.  I adored Vice from the get-go.  One of my favorite films from that year.
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post #23 of 24
7/13/09 at 10:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JediFonger View Post

i haven't seen this film yet.

u guys feel this is similar to how miami vice was received when it first came out... then slow acceptance by people later on? or did mann just completely made a blunder?


 



 

I don't think he made a complete blunder with this film. I just think he consistently makes at least one blunder within his films. The taxicab driver turning into a superhero at the end of COLLATERAL was a blunder. The relationship between Crocket and Gong Li's character (whatever her name was) in MIAMI VICE was a blunder, and the retarded police station scene in this film was a major blunder. It not only was aggravating, it also made Depp's Dillinger look a lot dumber than Depp's Dillinger thought he was.

Also I think there is a problem with a film when a supporting character (Baby Face Nelson) shows up for only a few scenes and succeeds in projecting more life and energy than the main character shows in the entire 2+ hours that the film ran. At times it f felt like Purvis and Dillinger were being played by automatons; although, I have to credit Bale in that he was able to project how troubled Purvis became, especially considering how little development his character was actually given. On the other hand, I'm getting a bit tired of watching Bale because he tends to play all his characters the same way. His acting sometimes reminds me of Kevin Costner.......wooden.

I'll agree with everyone else's assessment regarding Mann's ability to film shootouts. He does a great job in that respect.
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post #24 of 24
8/3/09 at 7:27pm
According to an interview with Mann, the police station scene is something that Dillinger really did do (assuming you're referring to the one where he walks into the "Dillinger unit").
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