gvnmorgan

Hello. My name is Gavin and I am new to this site. I will mainly be writing my blogs about the world of cinema which has been a passion of mine since I was about eight. The labyrinth plot and untrustworthy characters of Film Noir “Double Indemnity” fizzed in my brain for days after I watched it one rainy Saturday afternoon, which I only did after complaining bitterly that it was ancient and black and white so, in my mind at that time, obviously  crap. How happily wrong I was.

The only problem I have is that I live on a tiny island of volcanic rock situated in the North Sea called the Shetland Isles and at present there is no cinema up here so it is hard for me to get the low down on the latest movies. Hence, if my posts come across as a bit vintage, especially if you are reading from the US, then that is why, but like a fine wine the age of a good subject should not affect the quality unless it all goes horribly wrong.

Right enough rambling, on to to my subject for today which is an upcoming movie that I am very much looking forward to - Public Enemies. I have been excited about this film since it was announced to be in the works due to my affection for period gangster movies, “The Untouchables” being one of my favourite films of all time. This film is based on the true life story of uber-bank robber and prison escapee John Dillinger who became a folk hero in 1930’s depression era America due to his knack for being the smoothest, fastest, smartest and most charming criminal in an era that celebrated anti heroes who flaunted the establishment, even if they did usually ended up as bullet ridden corpses.

These guys and gals, particularly Dillinger, led to the creation of the FBI and raised the public profile of the wildly ambitious and camp J Edgar Hoover who began a very public manhunt for JD making him America’s first Public Enemy No. 1 who, in the process, became more of a national legend in the eyes of the common folk than he probably deserved. Dillinger was brought to justice at one stage, but escaped from jail, leading to another massive search for him. He was eventually shot dead outside a cinema in Chicago after being betrayed by the mysterious ‘Lady In Red’. So from the off the story is all there for the film makers to mine gold from.

In fact it is an oft told tale. Dillinger’s story was most memorably filmed in the early 70s in the form of Peckinpath homage, “Dillinger” starring Warren Oates and, though an enjoyable enough watch, was an obvious attempt to cash in on the counter culture success of Bonnie and Clyde a few years previously.

The shiny new Dillinger story has, judging by the trailer, been given a massive budget with quality dripping from the preview frames, particularly a clip of a plane carrying the captured Dillinger lit by flares and flashbulbs and slow-mo shots of gunfights. This visual quality is not really a surprise considering the film is directed by Michael Mann whose flame of excellence has not shone so brightly lately. Yes “Miami Vice” was visually arresting especially in the shoot out scenes that Mann is so well known for, but lets be honest Jaime Foxx and Colin Farrell were the most unlikeable onscreen cop partners since the guy out of “Weird Science” (Anthony Michael Hall) made “Upworld” partnered with a gnome. Plus Farrell’s alpha male Crocket was ridiculously over played. After that relative failure for Mann, he must be out to prove that when it comes to crime stories he is still the master, so here’s hoping the cool and action filled trailer can fulfill the obvious potential there is.

The real attraction of Dillinger for audiences will be the top drawer cast which includes Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard and Christian Bale, who looks like he is putting in another of his now trademark intense performances as the FBI agent tasked with bringing the ever confident Dillinger down. If Enemies and “Terminator:Salvation” hit big this summer Bale should find his arduous trek to the upper reaches of Hollywood’s A-List complete, barring any more publicity disasters of his own making that the media can grasp on to and paint him as a short tempered diva.

The real Dillinger, a notorious ladies man, actually looked more like the rough featured and jowly Oates, but Depp, in the trailers, seems to have captured the brutal confidence and romanticised outlaw heart that popular myth portrays the man as having and it would be foolish to believe Depp can’t pull it off. He needs another role that captures the populist imagination as fully as Jack Sparrow did to solidify his top dog status and really conquer the Globe. The world really needs a quirky and likable genius such as Depp to be ‘The Biggest Star In The World’ and knock the frankly creepy Mr Cruise off his perch. The question is, Does Depp want that position? I’m sure if it was offered he would not refuse.

The film comes out in July and I have put links to the, not best of quality, YouTube trailers below. If anyone knows who performs the bluesy track that plays in the latter half of the first trailer please let me know. Hope you enjoyed my first post. Any ideas for further ones would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers for now.

Trailer One: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWof6CovHxI

Trailer Two: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpPPb9sdow8&feature=related

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