Post by aplsdka on Jul 7, 2009 7:04:25 GMT 1
So, I went to see Public Enemies twice last night. I figured that I usually rewatch movies that I like, especially while they're still in theaters, and why not get it over with as I knew that I'd like it. And this was a *great* idea for various reasons concerning the film, as well as the fact that the air conditioning was broken and I was in the top row (heat rises) and I nearly spontaneously combusted the first time. The next one was in a different theater though, thank goodness. So I liked it a lot better the second time with the air going and all. And then I wanted to discuss it, since I know at least a couple other people on here have seen it.
So yeah, here's where the safe reading ends
First, the issues that made me glad I saw it twice... is it just me, or was everyone mumbling? I mean, even the line that Purvis repeated three times, I didn't catch until the second run through. Second... well really, the biggest issue was mumbling. But also, I realized that I was gonna have to read Billie's letter, since the first time I spent its screen time thinking someone would say something out loud about it. I thought it was somewhat important to the story (I mean, he plots to get his friends out of jail and not his girlfriend? You should know why he's doing that), and you can't count on people to read it. I think something should have been said, or it should have been given more of screen to let people know they had to read it. Something like that, but then maybe I'm crazy. And also, they were really subtle about a lot of things. Like, I knew the general story going in, and I knew that Purvis brought in experienced people from wherever else (thank goodness he did, since his people sucked major ykw), but even the second time, when I realized what was happening, I still didn't know what he was really doing, if that made sense... like if I didn't know what was happening, I wouldn't have gotten it from the movie. Another thing, with the Arizona thing. I still don't know what happened there, but at least the second time I realized they were in Arizona. So like... some things weren't established enough, and some things too much. I can't remember right now, but there was a sequence where I thought it was completely extraneous. Anyone else notice?
However, it did do some things right. My first theater (the hot one) didn't really laugh, but in the second theater they did; I'm sure it had to do with temperature. The punch lines were actually really good, and people even cracked up at "I have absolute nothing I want to do in indiana" (going from memory so I'm probably off), which was in the trailer and which I'd been desensitized by already. However, I doubt people saw the trailer (and paid attention to the trailer) as much as I did. So anyway, the funny stuff was funny, but not too much of it. That was a good job.
As well... damn, the gun fights were insane. I loved the guns, they were definitely the coolest part. When Johnny shot at the guards at the prison... total pwnage. I give the guns and cars an A+ and need say no more as they speak for themselves.
Now, a character by character rundown
First, Purvis. I felt like his accent was a little on and off. I'm not around that area and I'm sure someone else actually knows whether it was good, but it just felt like he vascillated between normal actor accent and whatever his accent was supposed to be. Also, I've realized that I really do not like Christian Bale's nose. That's probably not pertinent though. He did a good job though, I don't really have anything to say.
Then, Frechette. I think she did a good job with the accent, as I read a million interviews of how she was nervous about it. IMDB says that she messed up (reverted to french) during the interrogation scene, but I think whoever wrote that didn't know that her character was partially french and had a blended accent. It makes sense that while you're being interrogated you would get a thicker accent. So anyway, the way she spoke was great. She's also very beautiful when she's smiling. I thought that she and Johnny had great chemistry, at least outside of the bedroom. Cause I mean, it was okay inside of it, but really kinda weird. Also, she was great during the interrogation scene.
And here's Johnny! *cough* umm, Johnny Dillinger, of course. I thought he was good but not great *cringe*. I mean, it was spot on acting of course... there just wasn't that extra spark. His singing scene was great ("was he jolly?") and man, when he started crying I almost did too. I find myself unable to say any more right now, but I'm sure that'll be an easy one for everyone else. He did do a great job of making Dillinger charismatic, and damn was he hot.
Finally... Prince Albert
. Cause if he is who I think he is, he can do no wrong. In fact, who was he? Cause umm... yeah.
But, on to sad things... Michael Mann, as director, is in charge of camera shots, right? Well then I get him an F-. I get the appeal of using a handheld camera, and at times I thought that it fit okay... but it made it so hard to get to know the characters. The camera work was so shaky and painful to watch at times, and you didn't get very clear shots of any minor character's face. In addition, I don't know if he's in charge of this, but the sound on the characters was often too low. And in the beginning when they're in the car, they say something that sounds as if you're hearing them through a car. Which isn't a goal of a movie, usually. So Mann I didn't like. He had his moments, but mostly the camera work was distracting, not helpful. Also, it was a long movie and he could have pared it down a little bit. Not a ton, probably... but there were some wasted sequences.
Another thing that really bothered me was the historical inaccuracy. They killed three men who weren't dead at the supposed time of their on screen deaths (floyd, nelson, and I think that guy at the beginning), and although this I understand better, apparently Dillinger didn't fire any shots in the woods either. And only two or three people died total there, instead of the sevenish they put on screen. It seems really weird to completely disregard actual deaths like that. It doesn't detract from the story, and after Nelson's little crazy boy thing at the bank (apparently he actually attacked the public unlike john, at least they got that right) I was glad to see him go, but still. And Floyd was kind of pointless, except that it was Channing Tatum. Oh and that reminds me:
Best part of the whole movie... Ten Million Slaves.
This song totally made the film. It's absolutely perfect.
And then at the end... I thought about crying. Since I don't cry at movies, this was a big thing. Would definitely (and probably will) go again. What did you all think? That is, the people who weren't scared away by the big blocks of text. And if you're just scrolling past:
Feel free to post without reading my into topic, about your thoughts and feelings on the movie.
So yeah, here's where the safe reading ends
First, the issues that made me glad I saw it twice... is it just me, or was everyone mumbling? I mean, even the line that Purvis repeated three times, I didn't catch until the second run through. Second... well really, the biggest issue was mumbling. But also, I realized that I was gonna have to read Billie's letter, since the first time I spent its screen time thinking someone would say something out loud about it. I thought it was somewhat important to the story (I mean, he plots to get his friends out of jail and not his girlfriend? You should know why he's doing that), and you can't count on people to read it. I think something should have been said, or it should have been given more of screen to let people know they had to read it. Something like that, but then maybe I'm crazy. And also, they were really subtle about a lot of things. Like, I knew the general story going in, and I knew that Purvis brought in experienced people from wherever else (thank goodness he did, since his people sucked major ykw), but even the second time, when I realized what was happening, I still didn't know what he was really doing, if that made sense... like if I didn't know what was happening, I wouldn't have gotten it from the movie. Another thing, with the Arizona thing. I still don't know what happened there, but at least the second time I realized they were in Arizona. So like... some things weren't established enough, and some things too much. I can't remember right now, but there was a sequence where I thought it was completely extraneous. Anyone else notice?
However, it did do some things right. My first theater (the hot one) didn't really laugh, but in the second theater they did; I'm sure it had to do with temperature. The punch lines were actually really good, and people even cracked up at "I have absolute nothing I want to do in indiana" (going from memory so I'm probably off), which was in the trailer and which I'd been desensitized by already. However, I doubt people saw the trailer (and paid attention to the trailer) as much as I did. So anyway, the funny stuff was funny, but not too much of it. That was a good job.
As well... damn, the gun fights were insane. I loved the guns, they were definitely the coolest part. When Johnny shot at the guards at the prison... total pwnage. I give the guns and cars an A+ and need say no more as they speak for themselves.
Now, a character by character rundown
First, Purvis. I felt like his accent was a little on and off. I'm not around that area and I'm sure someone else actually knows whether it was good, but it just felt like he vascillated between normal actor accent and whatever his accent was supposed to be. Also, I've realized that I really do not like Christian Bale's nose. That's probably not pertinent though. He did a good job though, I don't really have anything to say.
Then, Frechette. I think she did a good job with the accent, as I read a million interviews of how she was nervous about it. IMDB says that she messed up (reverted to french) during the interrogation scene, but I think whoever wrote that didn't know that her character was partially french and had a blended accent. It makes sense that while you're being interrogated you would get a thicker accent. So anyway, the way she spoke was great. She's also very beautiful when she's smiling. I thought that she and Johnny had great chemistry, at least outside of the bedroom. Cause I mean, it was okay inside of it, but really kinda weird. Also, she was great during the interrogation scene.
And here's Johnny! *cough* umm, Johnny Dillinger, of course. I thought he was good but not great *cringe*. I mean, it was spot on acting of course... there just wasn't that extra spark. His singing scene was great ("was he jolly?") and man, when he started crying I almost did too. I find myself unable to say any more right now, but I'm sure that'll be an easy one for everyone else. He did do a great job of making Dillinger charismatic, and damn was he hot.
Finally... Prince Albert
. Cause if he is who I think he is, he can do no wrong. In fact, who was he? Cause umm... yeah.But, on to sad things... Michael Mann, as director, is in charge of camera shots, right? Well then I get him an F-. I get the appeal of using a handheld camera, and at times I thought that it fit okay... but it made it so hard to get to know the characters. The camera work was so shaky and painful to watch at times, and you didn't get very clear shots of any minor character's face. In addition, I don't know if he's in charge of this, but the sound on the characters was often too low. And in the beginning when they're in the car, they say something that sounds as if you're hearing them through a car. Which isn't a goal of a movie, usually. So Mann I didn't like. He had his moments, but mostly the camera work was distracting, not helpful. Also, it was a long movie and he could have pared it down a little bit. Not a ton, probably... but there were some wasted sequences.
Another thing that really bothered me was the historical inaccuracy. They killed three men who weren't dead at the supposed time of their on screen deaths (floyd, nelson, and I think that guy at the beginning), and although this I understand better, apparently Dillinger didn't fire any shots in the woods either. And only two or three people died total there, instead of the sevenish they put on screen. It seems really weird to completely disregard actual deaths like that. It doesn't detract from the story, and after Nelson's little crazy boy thing at the bank (apparently he actually attacked the public unlike john, at least they got that right) I was glad to see him go, but still. And Floyd was kind of pointless, except that it was Channing Tatum. Oh and that reminds me:
Best part of the whole movie... Ten Million Slaves.
This song totally made the film. It's absolutely perfect.
And then at the end... I thought about crying. Since I don't cry at movies, this was a big thing. Would definitely (and probably will) go again. What did you all think? That is, the people who weren't scared away by the big blocks of text. And if you're just scrolling past:
Feel free to post without reading my into topic, about your thoughts and feelings on the movie.
Also I evoked laughter from people near me when Billie was being interrogated and got slapped by telling Lynz " I hope Johnny bursts in there and shoots the bastard for smacking his girl around". I was rather disappointed that didn't happen 