"The Incredible Mr. Limpet" – Producers are interested in Depp for the title role of Kevin Lima’s remake, but he hasn’t signed on and production won’t begin until next year.

"Pirates of the Caribbean 4" – With Gore Verbinski no longer in the director’s chair, this project has slowed to a crawl. Disney is looking for a new director, and with a smaller budget, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom likely won’t be back.

"The Lone Ranger" – Depp is attached to play Tonto, but the title role still needs to be cast, and no director has signed on yet.

"Dark Shadows" – This Depp-Tim Burton collaboration is back-burnered while Burton finishes work on "Alice in Wonderland," which opens in March, 2010. 

Depp is also starring in the Hunter S. Thompson adaptation of "The Rum Diary" and has a supporting role in "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." Both are scheduled for a U.S. release sometime in 2010.

Still, it will be a while before we see Johnny Depp on screen again. That’s a sad thought. Then again, he could probably use some time off to chill on his boat in the Caribbean.

Image: Bauer-Griffin; Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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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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It’s all about the Feds trying to take down notorious gangsters during the gritty crime wave of the 1930s. Check out the 30-Second Clip and first trailer. The movie hits theaters July 1, 2009.

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Such was the case for Channing Tatum, who says he’s seriously bummed that he didn’t get to play Gambit in the upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” due to scheduling conflicts. Instead, the part went to Taylor Kitsch, whom I’m sure will do a fantastic job in the role.

Tatum will be in theaters this summer in “Fighting,” “Public Enemies,” and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” But the comic-book fan says Gambit has always been near and dear to his heart.

“Man, I was dying to play [Gambit],” Tatum told MTV News. “My dad’s from Louisiana, and I think I’ve always just gravitated towards Gambit, in general. He’s just cooler than anything to me.”

Tatum nearly got the chance when he was almost cast as Gambit’s alter ego, Remy LeBeau, in Brett Ratner’s “X-Men: The Last Stand.” The character was dropped at the last minute.

When the role surfaced again for “Wolverine,” Tatum couldn’t work it out with his packed schedule. He says of Taylor Kitsch: “I’m really interested to see how the guy plays him, because I have a pretty clear version of Gambit in my head. I’m sure the guy is going to be great, though.”

Who do you think would make a better Gambit – Channing Tatum or Taylor Kitsch? Share your thoughts below.

Photo Credit: Copyright © 2009 by PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORPORATION. All Rights Reserved

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