I haven’t seen it yet, and absolutely can’t wait. Look for it to expand on Christmas Day. Marshall previously directed “Chicago” and will helm the next “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, hitting theaters in 2011. 

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Not many details are known about “Inception,” but it’s being called “a contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind." I’ve also heard that it’s about a businessman who becomes involved in a blackmailing scheme. Perfect DiCaprio vehicle, because he does these types of movies really well. 

Christopher Nolan is directing the flick, scheduled for a July 16, 2010 release. The all-star cast also includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt,Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Tom Berenger, Lukas Haas, and Ken Watanabe.

Image: Fame Pictures

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Early info is calling the movie a "contemporary sci-fi actioner set within the architecture of the mind." That really spells it out, doesn’t it? I’ve also read that it’s about a businessman who becomes involved in a blackmailing scheme, which sounds like the sort of movie DiCaprio has been making the past few years.

The all-star cast also includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Michael Caine, Tom Berenger, Lukas Haas, and Ken Watanabe.

Image: Bauer-Griffin

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Vera writes that she’s "never sure whether to be amused or perplexed when bad guys become tourist attractions." I quite agree!

She goes on to say: "And now we have the reckless, not-too-bright, ruthless John Dillinger indirectly doing good for his home state of Indiana, his hideaway state of Wisconsin and Chicago, home of hoods. Wisconsin, particularly, betting the movie Public Enemies will be a smash hit, launched a tourism campaign that stops just short of calling Dillinger “Wisconsin’s Favorite Son.” “See bullet holes from the 1934 shoot out” at Little Bohemia (now a restaurant rather than a lodge). “Go ‘on the lam’ in Wisconsin,” the tourism touts recommend on a web site listing Wisconsin tours.

You know, I pondered in my review of "Public Enemies" whether the film romanticizes the gangster life. And it really does. I didn’t realize this before, but scenes from the movie exactly mirror scenes from the real life of John Dillinger, particularly of him leaning on that guy like he’s a long lost buddy, as he’s being dragged off for incarceration.

So what do you think? Is it good to romanticize the gangster life and create tourism campaigns around it? 

Image: © Universal Pictures

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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	Gecko Rating:

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.

I don’t know enough about Dillinger to know if everything in the movie is factual, but it sure plays well on screen. The romance, the bank robberies, the hiding out, the cat-and-mouse games with G-Man Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale) and FBI director J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) … it’s all good. But what I really love about the movie is the fantastic cinematography. If it doesn’t win some awards, then something is seriously wrong with the world.

The camera work vacillates between traditional shots like you’d see in any commercial movie and old news footage-type shots. I don’t know the technical terms, but it’s very clear and concise, and almost bathed in a sepia toned sheath. I kept thinking about the footage of Lee Harvey Oswald being gunned down as he was being transferred from one place to another, because it reminded me of that. Other scenes looked like they were shot with a hand-held home movie camera. It gives you the feeling of being right there at that time and place.

The original music by Elliot Goldenthal — a guitarsy-cross between folk and jazz – is also really impressive. I could have just listened to the music all day. And all of the vintage stuff – the cars, guns, clothing, and interior designs – was all spot-on.

"Public Enemies" didn’t have enough bank robberies to impress my teenaged son, but if you’re a fan of Johnny Depp or gangster movies, or if you just want to see a really well-made film, then go check this one out.

NOTE TO PARENTS: The R rating is mainly for violence; there are quite a few scenes of people being gunned down, heads getting banged, people bleeding to death, that sort of thing. There’s a little bit of sex, but nothing explicit. You just see Dillinger and Frechette in bed together. I’d say it’s ok for kids 16 and older who don’t mind violence.

Images: © Universal Pictures

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Thanks to MTV for the videos, and check out all of Film Gecko’s "Public Enemies" coverage!

Johnny Depp: What motivates an outlaw? 

Christian Bale: The gangster mythology:

Leelee Sobieski’s crush on Johnny Depp:

Marion Cotillard: Why are women attracted to bad boys?

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"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."

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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:

Purvis confronts Dillinger:

Dillinger at the Biograph Theatre:

Assault on the Little Bohemia Lodge:

Dillinger tells Billie he robs banks:

Billie tells Dillinger she wants to go away with him:

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Directed by Michael Mann, it 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.’’ 

If it seems like an old West shootout, you’re not far off. Purvis brought in a crew of Western ex-lawmen and orchestrated multiple betrayals, from the infamous “Lady in Red’’ to Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti.

Are you looking forward to this movie as much as I am?

More pics after the jump…

Images: © Universal Pictures

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The gangster flick stars Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard and Billy Crudup, and is directed by Michael Mann. I’m a big fan of his dating back to his “Crime Story” days. Also check out the “Public Enemies” Facebook Page and follow Universal Pictures on Twitter.

On the Web site:

• Michael Mann’s Insights & Images:  Learn more about acclaimed director, co-writer, and producer Michael Mann
• Crimewave: The Life of John Dillinger:  COMING SOON!
• Gangsters and G-men:  View the character profiles of John Dillinger, his partners in crime, and the men who sought to bring them down.
• Interactive Map: Navigate the interactive map that pinpoints all of John Dillinger’s bank heists and escapades!
• Landscapes:  Scroll through an amazing extended gallery of downloadable images from the film
• Filmmakers:  Learn about the great minds who worked behind the scenes to create this visionary tale
• Video:  Check out the PUBLIC ENEMIES trailer and TV spots
• Gallery:  Browse through on-set photos of the cast
• Downloads: Get FREE desktop and buddy icon downloads

Image: © Universal Pictures

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