In response to my calling Public Enemies "the most captivating, beautifully composed and freshly conceived gangster movie since Bonnie and Clyde," an HE reader has written that this sounds like a "transparent attempt to get in some advertising blurb." No, it isn't that. Another reader has expressed doubt if it's "more captivating, beautifully composed and freshly conceived than Goodfellas." Yes, it is that.
Let me explain.
Gangster-movie-wise, Bonnie and Clyde introduced some major new concepts in 1967. It simultaneously delivered a mid '60s youth-culture, up-the-establishment attitude while using quaint 1930s period trappings and details (with the exception of Warren Beatty's modified Rodeo Drive haircut) and occasional art-movie flourishes. It brought the French New Wave, in a sense, to Depression-era Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, etc.
Public Enemies is similarly out there with a radical use of razor-sharp, high-def digital widescreen photography (this is going to be one hell of a Bluray) that totally says "not the early 1930s!" and "55-inch LCD screens at Best Buy!" and at the same time says "actually, this is the real early 1930s without the rat-a-tat-tat Pennies From Heaven squawkbox atmosphere and embroidery and Jimmy Cagney-Paul Muni personalities that you've been conditioned to expect."
Add to this the use of shadowy and sometimes just plain dark and inky Gordon Willis-y compositions from cinematographer Dante Spinotti and deliberately muttered dialogue (half of which I personally couldn't hear, which was totally cool because I was so taken in by the "all" of it).
The combined effect allows audiences to see and experience the early 1930s in a way that is simultaneously "right now" and "back then."
It's simultaneously an art-movie that says "fuck the rubes if they can't take a joke," a shoot-em-up bank robbery gutpuncher and hell-raiser, a moving and deliciously off-the-ground romantic love story between Johnny Depp's John Dillinger and Marion Cotillard's Billie Frechette as well as a heavy bromance between Mann and Dillinger.
It really is a fresh package-and-a-half. Plus it's so "elevated" and so unconcerned with dumb-shit Transformer taste buds that it's some kind of bold and beautiful.
Due respect to Martin Scorsese but Goodfellas wasn't as fresh and "whoa" as this. It more or less just spritzed up and recycled the ethnically authentic Mean Streets goombah neighborhood culture and applied it to a rise-and-fall of northeastern mob culture arc from the '50s to the '80s with a lot of cinematic pizazz and that great narration from Ray Liotta and all those great performances from Pesci, Sorvino and that Harry Nillson music and so on.
Goodfellas, to sum up, was very cool and electric but Public Enemies is more exciting in a Bonnie and Clyde sense. That's what I was trying to say, and have now said.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 24, 2009 at 7:21 AM
comment #1
mutinyco
says ...
We should probably be setting apart gangster movies and mafia movies. They're not entirely the same thing.
Posted by mutinyco
at June 24, 2009 7:41 AM
comment #2
Josh Massey
says ...
Public Enemies is "a heavy bromance!"
- Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere
Posted by Josh Massey
at June 24, 2009 7:46 AM
comment #3
Noah Redfield
says ...
Wow. As if I wasn't already chomping at the bit for this film. I take it that Johnny Depp is back to acting at last?
Posted by Noah Redfield
at June 24, 2009 7:53 AM
comment #4
Chicago48
says ...
Whatever. I want to see it.
Posted by Chicago48
at June 24, 2009 7:56 AM
comment #5
Mark
says ...
Even leaving out the Godfathers/Goodfellas mafiosos, for the line "most captivating and beautfully composed" ganster flick in 40 years not to be hyperbole, it must leapfrog some of my alltime favorties: Resorvoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction, City of God, Untouchables, Miller's Crossing, Lock Stock, Assassination of Jessee James, etc. Hey, here's hoping. But i can't help remembering feeling burned by Jeffrey's take on Miami Vice.
Posted by Mark
at June 24, 2009 8:23 AM
comment #6
Mark
says ...
And I get that Public Enemies introduces something fresh that lit Jeffrey up in a positive way. Maybe I'm just defensive that the line felt like a slight to the movies i mentioned above.
I do remember 10 years ago when Jeffrey raved on Matrix with what sounded like exaggerated praise, saying it was a new benchmark in action movies. But he nailed it.
Posted by Mark
at June 24, 2009 8:29 AM
comment #7
btwnproductions
says ...
Gotcha.
But I don't think gangster and mafia movies need to be separated. They're not in the authoritative Overlook Film Encyclopedia called "The Gangster Film."
(What was the last Holllywood 20/30s gangster film; 1997's Hoodlum? I must be missing something.)
The two-part, 60s/70s-set French gangster picture Mesrine, coming to the US this summer, packs a lot of punch.
Posted by btwnproductions
at June 24, 2009 8:31 AM
comment #8
DarienStyles
says ...
I have to ask this, Mr. Wells. Do you think Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard stand a chance of garning academy award nominations? He may be a given, but what about her?
Posted by DarienStyles
at June 24, 2009 8:44 AM
comment #9
Mark
says ...
What was the last Holllywood 20/30s gangster film; 1997's Hoodlum? I must be missing something.)
Road to Perdition
Posted by Mark
at June 24, 2009 8:50 AM
comment #10
hollyman
says ...
Even with a good review this movie is still not going to do well. Why release it this in summer. If Univseral had any thought for award season it would have made more sense to release this in November. My bet this movie will open #3 and die.
Posted by hollyman
at June 24, 2009 8:57 AM
comment #11
gradystiles
says ...
Hollyman, it can open at #3 and still do well, given that it'll be facing the 2nd weekend for Transformers and the opening weekend of Ice Age 3.
Posted by gradystiles
at June 24, 2009 9:08 AM
comment #12
hollyman
says ...
Grady:: trust me it won't do well. It will be lucky if it makes 15 million opening weekend.. Universal is banking that this is going to be a box office hit they are so wrong. This is the wrong time to release this. Collateral was released in August of 04 and barely made 100 million. Dreamworks thought it would do well over that figure because at the time Tom Cruise was the #1 box office star or near and Jamie Foxx was as hot at the time. The studio is making a huge mistake.
Posted by hollyman
at June 24, 2009 9:15 AM
comment #13
gradystiles
says ...
Hollyman, I think I may have said this to you in another thread, but you're simply wrong. You have no idea how the movie is tracking, and it's generating a good amount of buzz well beyond Mann-fanboys and internet geeks.
Posted by gradystiles
at June 24, 2009 9:22 AM
comment #14
Chase Kahn
says ...
I suppose I've never been that big of a fan of "Bonnie and Clyde". It's more of a respect thing -- acknowledgement of a milestone that looking back, for me anyways, isn't necessarily a "great" film.
Regardless, I'm hoping "Public Enemies" lights a fire under me in the same way that it did for Jeff.
Posted by Chase Kahn
at June 24, 2009 9:25 AM
comment #15
Midwest Doug
says ...
Agree, regretfully, with hollyman. The only reason this movie opens in the summer is because of Depp and, to a lesser degree, Bale. I worry that this will be a great Mann movie that will be deemed a flop, and Mann will be forced to work on a much smaller scale.
Public Enemies and Pelham would both have been great as mid-fall or late winter/early spring openers.
Posted by Midwest Doug
at June 24, 2009 9:25 AM
comment #16
poseidon72
says ...
Better than Goodfellas would mean its one of the top 50 greatest films ever made!
Posted by poseidon72
at June 24, 2009 9:29 AM
comment #17
Chase Kahn
says ...
First off, Hollyman -- the film opens on Wednesday, so a $15 million weekend opening doesn't make sense.
I don't think it will break the bank or anything, but I think buzz is slightly more substantial than you think. Hell, my sister (who has arguably the worst taste in movies I've ever seen) is fervently anticipating it. Why? I have no idea, but I think the Depp/gangster appeal will bring in a good deal of viewers who have no idea who Michael Mann is.
I mean -- $15 million? -- why would someone who say, saw "Taking of Pelham 123" two weeks ago NOT see "Public Enemies" next week?
Posted by Chase Kahn
at June 24, 2009 9:30 AM
comment #18
anonymous2
says ...
I'm with Grady. This will open well above 15 mil. 4th of July weekend? Johnny Depp? It will definitely gross more than Collateral as well. So what if it doesn't get the honor of "number one movie in America!"
Posted by anonymous2
at June 24, 2009 9:31 AM
comment #19
BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
says ...
The genius of the marketing campaign is simply to put Depp's lovely face in an awesome hat and dapper suit on all the posters. Have you seen any (outside of theaters/internet) that feature any of the other cast members? Nope. Depp is hugely popular right now, and as others have mentioned above, even some of my clueless co-workers/friends are interested in this movie in a way they absolutely weren't for, say, Miami Vice.
The Cruise/Collateral comparisons are off-base, because however you look at it, that film was far less of an "event" than this one. Plus Cruise was greyed up and playing the villain. Audiences tend to know when it's a Cruise "art" role, hence Magnolia and Lions for Lambs not making M:I-2 money.
What's more, this movie is being covered by a wide range of media. They had a lengthy preview on CBS Sunday Morning this week. It has come at exactly the right time with its theme of bankers getting robbed and the money being redistributed.
That said, with TF2 and Ice Age around it's got an uphill struggle to be a huge hit. We'll see, but I don't think it'll bomb.
Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
at June 24, 2009 9:37 AM
comment #20
GKLondon
says ...
Box office prediction conversations are like drunken religious debates. Fun, everybody gets to look like an expert as they're sure of their position above all others, but nobody really gets anywhere.
The film will be good at the very least, that's all I give a shit about. My only concern is whether it's amazing or not.
Posted by GKLondon
at June 24, 2009 9:46 AM
comment #21
gradystiles
says ...
GKLondon: It's amazing AND it'll do better at the box office than some here are predicting. How about that?
Posted by gradystiles
at June 24, 2009 9:48 AM
comment #22
Edward
says ...
"Public Enemies" should do far better business than "Pelham 123." "Pelham" was enjoyable, but it's not a great film. As Chase said, "Public Enemies" does have that "Depp/gangster appeal" and should draw more of a diverse audience than "Pelham."
Posted by Edward
at June 24, 2009 9:50 AM
comment #23
GKLondon
says ...
Gravy.
Posted by GKLondon
at June 24, 2009 9:51 AM
comment #24
Gordon27
says ...
Extra! Extra! Wells likes movie he had already decided to like nine months ago! World completely shocked that Wells has hyperbolic praise for new Michael Mann movie!
Posted by Gordon27
at June 24, 2009 10:14 AM
comment #25
MrTribeca
says ...
Anyone thinking this is going to have to have a first weekend gross of $15 mill or less should be in a cinema when the trailer for this shows. I've seen it a dozen or so times and it always get a positive buzz afterwards. The shot of Johnny giving a smirk whilst watching himself in the newsreel gets many of the ladies sighing. And some of the guys.
Posted by MrTribeca
at June 24, 2009 10:24 AM
comment #26
Travis Crabtree
says ...
I like movies.
Posted by Travis Crabtree
at June 24, 2009 10:42 AM
comment #27
Chase Kahn
says ...
I like movies, too.
Posted by Chase Kahn
at June 24, 2009 10:50 AM
comment #28
YRG
says ...
The trailer didn't grab me but Wells has sold me on this. When Mann is good, he's really good. I hope it blows TF2 and T4 out of the water with rising b.o. on good word of mouth as the popcorn and bubblegum boomfests fall by half each week.
Posted by YRG
at June 24, 2009 12:29 PM
comment #29
Mike
says ...
Jeff, just to clarify: are you saying that you consider this to be Mann's best film ever?
Posted by Mike
at June 24, 2009 5:17 PM
comment #30
Gaydos
says ...
Here's Todd McCarthy's view from Variety:
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117940559.html?categoryid=31&cs=1
Posted by Gaydos
at June 24, 2009 6:03 PM
comment #31
BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
says ...
Interesting what he has to say about the look of the film.
Can some techy industry type explain why Mann's HD has that real video look to it, whereas other HD films like Che or even the Star Wars prequels just look like any other movie? Is it because of a different camera? Or is it a deliberate choice?
Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
at June 24, 2009 7:07 PM
comment #32
Jonah
says ...
I think somebody else mentioned this, but the Cruise/Depp comparisons in regards to Collaterals box office are not valid.
Cruise was playing an ice cold, charisma lacking killer. It was a great performance, but it had zero sex appeal for the ladies.
Depp is playing Dillinger as a charismatic, kind of good guy. He'll bring in women that couldn't be bothered with Collateral.
Posted by Jonah
at June 24, 2009 9:24 PM
comment #33
Filthy Rich
says ...
Depp + Bale + Michael Mann - it's going to do just fine.
I agree that Pelham should have been in August and normally I would agree that Public Enemies should be as well but Depp has become a different kind of box office draw over the past five year and I think he can open this.
I just hope I'm not disappointed by the hype. It's hard to live up to that kind of expectation.
Posted by Filthy Rich
at June 24, 2009 9:25 PM
comment #34
Dignan
says ...
I don't know where you guys are getting Johnny Depp = box office but it sure is entertaining watching you all contort yourselves to explain how a film that you haven't even seen yet is sure to make bank.
Pirates of the Caribbean made a ton of money because it was Pirates of the Caribbean. The film certainly didn't open to 46 mil because of Depp. Once Upon a Time in Mexico opened two months after Pirates to 23 million on its way to 55. Secret Window the following spring did 18 mil on it was to 40. Sweeny Todd opened to 13 mil on its way to 50. These are the numbers Johnny Depp pulls. Pirates of the Caribbean sequels and Charlie & the Chocolate Factory are known entities with built in fan bases, not testaments to Depp's box office draw.
Public Enemies would be VERY happy to pull Collateral numbers (24 mil on its way to 100m domestic) because it's not going to get there. It's going to be fighting for eyeballs with younger guys off seeing Transformers 2 in its second week not to mention losing its opening weekend to Ice Age 3. By the time Bruno is out on the 11th, this thing will be bleeding screens. This is a fall film unfortunately dropped on the 4th of July weekend when people are going to be searching out escapism, which this film aint. Word of mouth is going to be muted. Read Variety or the Reporter or Kim Voynar. Hell, even McWeeny ends his positive review with
"Overall, it's a solid, smart adult entry into the summer sweepstakes this year, and a nice moment for Mann, even if it doesn't particularly break new ground."
Be still my heart.
Posted by Dignan
at June 25, 2009 12:39 AM
comment #35
gradystiles
says ...
Dignan: I've seen the movie. It will make more than Collateral. Will it be Pirates big, or even Star Trek big? No, of course not. I just think the predictions of a $15 million opening or a $60 million total gross are silly.
Posted by gradystiles
at June 25, 2009 5:17 AM
comment #36
Midwest Doug
says ...
@BBWD: I think it's just because Mann is a fanatic for shot composition. On the Collateral commentary, Mann talks a lot about using HD Video and then converting to film to get depth of field at night-time, and how shooting right to film stock is insufficient to pull in all of the light at night. So I think Mann likes to use HD to really deepen the depth of field / fill up the screen, while others are much less concerned with filling the background and composing the shot.
Posted by Midwest Doug
at June 25, 2009 6:14 AM
comment #37
Steven Kar
says ...
Dignan is making sense.
Posted by Steven Kar
at June 25, 2009 4:43 PM
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