Movie Review: Public Enemies

Posted by Dennis Velasco Categories: Universal, Action, Drama, Noir, Period, Romance, Thrillers

What better holiday weekend cinematic fare than having guns, explosions, and the incredible acting skill of Johnny Depp?  Right?  Well, you’ll get all of the aforementioned in Public Enemies, however, all three do not make this movie as great as you would like. Public Enemies is a story about notorious bank robber, John DIllinger (Depp) and his love for Billie Frechette played by Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard and the impossibility of that love, all things considered.  Dillinger was Public Enemy number one to the United States, but also other crime syndicates, considering the heat his actions brought to the forefront.

Overall, the movie is only okay, but at times it seemed a bit too slow and if you’re the type that gets nauseous with shaky camera scenes, be forewarned.  Understand, this is a Michael Mann-directed film, so there will be a lot of pore-revealing close-ups, which actually humanizes the actors, and handheld type shots.  The acting is good, particularly from Depp, Cotillard, and Christian Bale, who does a way better job than he did in The Dark Knight.  In any case, the problem with the movie is that it didn’t strike a good mix between the love story and the bad deeds of Dillinger or establish certain characters and why we should care for them.

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In Theaters This Holiday Weekend: July 1, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, IFC Films, Action, Animation, Drama, Family, Foreign, Period, Romance, Sequels, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are some possible suggestions for your 4th of July weekend:

• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG): starring Ray Romano, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah (directed by Carlos Saldanha)
• Public Enemies (R): starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard (directed by Michael Mann)

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Box Office Breakdown: Transformers Rises Above the Competition

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, FOCUS, Disney, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Animation, Drama, Family, Period, Remakes, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Thrillers, Box Office, Lists

It’s not very often when “loud” and “mindless” are deemed good qualities. But in Paramount’s case, it was a recipe for success.

Over the past five days, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did what most films have been attempting all year: It passed the $200 million mark. (Up just became the first 2009 film to hit $250 million.)

While the Michael Bay film is definitely on track to be one of the most successful entries this year (let’s not forget about Harry Potter), the sequel’s opening still takes second behind last year’s topper. During its opening run, The Dark Knight earned $203.8 million domestically.

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Read More | Variety

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Jimmy Cagney: The First Public Enemy

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Universal, Action, Adaptation, Drama, Period, Casting, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, isn’t the first gangster flick Hollywood has made and it certainly won’t be the last. Detailing the 1933-34 efforts of the FBI to thwart Depression-era criminals John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, the movie will take viewers into the massive manhunt and the rampant crime that marked this period of American history. Stories of these legendary criminal figures and others (Bonnie and Clyde is one good example) have long lit up the silver screen.

The very first Public Enemy list was created in 1930, the term coined by Frank J. Loesch. At the top of the list was notorious gangster Al Capone. This became the start of the Public Enemy Era, but it also became the start for a much more benign era in Hollywood: gangster movies.

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Read More | Public Enemies

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Sherlock Holmes Posters Unveiled

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Adaptation, Drama, Period, Comedy, Upcoming Releases

Christmas is still over six months away, but the excitement for Sherlock Holmes is already building.

Last month, we got the trailer. Now we have the intense posters.

Sherlock. Holmes. Does anything more need to be said?

Read More | Just Jared

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In Theaters This Weekend: June 19, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Columbia Pictures, IFC Films, Sony, Touchstone, Action, Adventure, Biopics, Documentary, Foreign, Horror, Period, Romance, Comedy, Lists, New Releases

Here are some possible suggestions for your upcoming weekend:

• The Proposal (PG-13): starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen (directed by Anne Fletcher)
• Year One (PG-13): starring Jack Black, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (directed by Harold Ramis)

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: June 16, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Disney, MGM, Lionsgate, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Action, Drama, Horror, Period, Science Fiction, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• Dr. Strangelove: Blu-ray
• Fracture: New Line
• Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: DVD
• Friday the 13th, Part 2: Blu-ray
• Friday the 13th, Part 3 (3D): Blu-ray
• Friday the 13th, Part V: A New Beginning: DVD
• Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives: DVD
• Ghostbusters: Blu-ray
• The Greatest Game Ever Played: Blu-ray
• Kickboxer: Blu-ray
• Miracle: Blu-ray

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Read More | Amazon

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Getting Into Character: Kristen Stewart Rocks It Out as Joan Jett

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Biopics, Musicals, Period, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases

And you thought Robert Pattinson’s hair was shaggy.

For her next film, Twilight‘s Kristen Stewart will be steering away from vampire fantasy for a little rock ‘n roll reality. In The Runaways, the 19-year-old will channel Joan Jett, a former member of the ‘70s band of the same name. Stewart’s New Moon co-star, Dakota Fanning, will join her as Cherie Currie, the female group’s lead singer.

No release date has yet been announced for the biopic.

Read More | Just Jared

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Getting Into Character: Sam Worthington in Clash of the Titans

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Warner Bros, Action, Adventure, Period, Remakes, Upcoming Releases

Hugh Jackman may be the Aussie getting most of the attention right now, but here’s a name you should remember: Sam Worthington.

Last month, the actor got his big break starring opposite Christian Bale in Terminator Salvation. It was a role James Cameron, Worthington’s director on this December’s Avatar, suggested him for. Now Sam’s testing his fighting skills in a different forum.

The picture above is from Clash of the Titans, a remake of the 1981 film. In it, Worthington plays Perseus, the son of Zeus (Liam Neeson). The “epic action adventure” follows Perseus’ journey to battle Hades (Ralph Fiennes), the god of the underworld.

Titans, which is being directed by The Incredible Hulk‘s Louis Leterrier, also stars Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace), Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royale), Jason Flemyng (Benjamin Button) and Alexa Davalos (Defiance).

Read More | Entertainment Weekly

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This Week on DVD and Blu-ray: June 2, 2009

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: MGM, New Line, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Action, Adaptation, Classics, Drama, Period, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Sports, Thrillers, Home Entertainment, Lists, New Releases

Here are some of the DVD and Blu-ray options available this Tuesday:

• Air Force One: Blu-ray
• Anaconda: Blu-ray
• Bruce Almighty: Blu-ray
• Defiance: DVD, Blu-ray
• Eddie Murphy: Delirious (25th Anniversary Edition): DVD
• Fletch: Blu-ray
• Glory: Blu-ray
• The Graduate: Blu-ray
• He’s Just Not That Into You: DVD, Blu-ray
• Inside Man: Blu-ray
• Navy Seals: Blu-ray

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Read More | Amazon

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