Public Enemies – Beautiful Cinematography
July 3, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
| Movie: Public Enemies * Trailer * 6 Clips * Images * Official Site | In Theaters: July 1, 2009 |
| Runtime: 140 minutes | Directed by: Michael Mann |
| MPAA Rating: R for gangster violence and some language |
I wondered if "Public Enemies" would romanticize the gangster life, and it sort of does. But it also gives the other side of the story – the blood, violence, and nastiness.
Still, this movie mostly romanticizes it, mainly because Johnny Depp is just so darn cute. What girl could resist his charms, gangster or not? Plus, I think he’s actually getting better looking as he gets older. But enough of my crush…
In "Public Enemies," Depp plays notorious gangster John Dillinger in the 1930s. It’s not a life story or anything; the movie actually picks up with him getting out of prison after something like nine years. Apparently, he’s learned nothing in there, because he’s right back at it, gathering the gang back together and planning their next bank robbery.
We really don’t see a lot of the other gangsters – it’s mostly about Dillinger – but on the sidelines is Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham), Pretty Boy Floyd (Channing Tatum) and others. In a nightclub, Depp spots the beautiful Billie Frechette (Marion Cotillard) and goes over to introduce himself. He wastes no time and not only strikes up a romance right away, but also tells her who he is and what he does. "I’m John Dillinger, and I rob banks." She resists his charms at first, but they’re soon involved in a torrid affair.
Rob Pattinson: Watching myself on screen makes me feel sick!
July 1, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
Much of the population might think that vampire Edward Cullen and his human alter-ego Robert Pattinson is cuter than cute. But he doesn’t share that feeling, and says that not only did he almost back out of auditioning for the role, but seeing himself on screen makes him sick!
For the rest of us, we’ll get to see Pattinson as the sultry vampire again on Nov. 20, 2009, when "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" hits theaters.
The Brothers Bloom Review – Brody, Ruffalo shine in quirky flick
June 29, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
| Movie: The Brothers Bloom * Trailer * 2-minute clip * Official Site | In Theaters: May 29, 2009 |
| Runtime: 113 minutes | Directed by: Rian Johnson |
| MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, some sensuality and brief strong language |
“The Brothers Bloom” is a funny little movie, the sort of movie you might watch at an arthouse or indie theater, then walk away going, “Yeah, that was an interesting movie with great acting.”
It stars Mark Ruffalo as Stephen, and Adrien Brody as his younger brother Bloom. These two brothers have been con artists since they were kids, with Stephen orchestrating intricate stories for each swindle and Bloom playing the main character.
They work on their own except for the mysterious and silent Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi), a Japanese woman who showed up one day and has a penchant for blowing things up. She feels that once you’ve used something, you might as well blow it up.
Johnny Depp: "Outlaws took matters into their own hands" – 4 Clips from Public Enemies premiere
June 27, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
I’m giddy over the release of "Public Enemies" next Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Here are a few clips of the premiere, with Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard and Leelee Sobieski talking tommy guns, cars and fedoras.
Thanks to MTV for the videos, and check out all of Film Gecko’s "Public Enemies" coverage!
Johnny Depp: What motivates an outlaw?
Read more
Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe in Daybreakers Trailer
June 27, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
Here’s the trailer for "Daybreakers," the vampire movie starring Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe. It’s the year 2019, and Hawke plays a researcher investigating a plague that’s transforming people into vampires. Check out the poster here. The movie hits theaters Jan. 8, 2010. Nice way to start the year!
Johnny Depp: Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy a big yacht
June 25, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
There’s a great story on Johnny Depp in the July issue of Vanity Fair. Here’s an excerpt from writer Douglas Brinkley, who joined the 46-year-old star on his 156-foot yacht in the Caribbean:
"I am, as it happens, a guest on the private island of Johnny Depp. For reasons that surely once made sense, this 45-acre Bahamian dollop appears on maps as Little Hall’s Pond Cay. And this idyllic stretch of sand has been re-christened by the actor as Lily Rose Beach, after his 10-year-old daughter. We are surrounded by silver buttonwood, mangrove thickets, flowering plants, and a huge coconut tree about to drop its fruit. Tiki torches flicker in the shadows."
So begins the journey on which Depp talks about his John Dillinger film "Public Enemies" (in theaters July 1), his new film "The Rum Diaries," barracudas, friend Marlon Brando and much more.
"Money doesn’t buy you happiness," says Depp. "But it buys you a big enough yacht to sail right up to it." Read the full story here, and below, watch a video of Depp and Christian Bale (who plays Melvin Purvis) at the L.A. premiere of "Public Enemies."
New clip from Blood: The Last Vampire
June 25, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
I’ve got a new clip for "Blood: The Last Vampire," which arrives in theaters July 10, 2009. It’s a live-action version of the original Japanese anime feature film from one of the producers of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
Saya (played by Gianna Jun) is a 400-year-old demon-hunting vampire slayer working undercover in Japan for a secret organization, on a mission in the Vietnam War era. It sounds like a little like a Japanese "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Check out stills, preview and the trailer here.
Sexy, Cute and Funny - The Girl From Monaco Poster and Trailer
June 23, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
This looks like a cute, sexy, funny movie; a subtitled French film you might see at a film festival or arthouse theater.
"The Girl From Monaco" is about a high-priced Parisian lawyer named Bertrand (Fabrice Luchini) who travels to Monaco to defend a wealthy woman accused of murder. He discovers that his bodyguard, the scowling Christophe (Roschdy Zem), can be useful in a variety of ways. But then they run into a stunning – and dangerous - TV weathergirl, played Louise Bourgoin.
Directed by Anne Fontaine, it’s rated R for some sexual content and language. Arrives in theaters July 3, 2009.
After the jump, check out the trailer…
Six Clips from Public Enemies with Johnny Depp
June 23, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
The release date for “Public Enemies” is fast approaching – July 1, 2009! – and I’ve got a few new clips below. Also check out 9 images, official site info, trailers here and here, and a 30-second clip.
Directed by Michael Mann, the movie tells the story of charismatic gangster John Dillinger (Johnny Depp), whose bank raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) and his fledgling FBI, including agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale).
The story also delves into Dillinger’s girlfriend Bill Frechette (Marion Cotillard), and his gang, including Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi). Hoover made Dillinger America’s first “Public Enemy Number One” and sent in Purvis, the dashing "Clark Gable of the FBI.’’
Dillinger reassures Billy at the racetrack:
Columbia pulls plug on Brad Pitt’s Moneyball
June 21, 2009 by Jane Boursaw
I bet Steven Soderbergh had a HECK of a weekend. It must be crazy nerve-wracking to have a studio balk at a movie project just days away from the start of filming.
That’s what happened with “Moneyball” a baseball drama being directed by Soderbergh and starring Brad Pitt (pictured, at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009).
The cast and crew were prepped to start shooting this week, but Columbia pulled the plug; co-chair Amy Pascal says she wasn’t comfortable with the script, which has changed a lot since the project was greenlit.
You have to wonder just what major changes were made to the script that Columbia would shut it down. The screenplay, adapted from Michael Lewis’ nonfiction book, follows the Oakland Athletics and their general manager Billy Beane, who assembled a contending ballclub despite a payroll much lower than most teams.
Pitt and comedian Demetri Martin had been cast, with other roles going to actual baseball players David Justice, Darryl Strawberry, Lenny Dykstra and others.
So what will happen now? Over the weekend, Soderbergh shopped the project to Warner Bros. and Paramount. If neither bites, it could go back to Columbia with some major overhauls.
Image: INF






