Soulstation1 Posted July 11, 2009 Report Posted July 11, 2009 IMO This movie looks good!! Anyone see it yet? IMO Quote
sal Posted July 11, 2009 Report Posted July 11, 2009 I'm leaving in 20 minutes to go see it. Will post thoughts later. Quote
Larry Kart Posted July 11, 2009 Report Posted July 11, 2009 Lots of self-consciously stylish touches in terms of camera position and movement (many oddly angled close-ups), but for my taste there just was not much "story" there; the facts of Dillinger's life were draped over a semi-void. In particular, much was made of his ties to his main squeeze Billie Frechette -- a scene between her and the G-Man who killed Dillinger concludes the movie -- but while neither the actress who played Billie nor Depp were at all off-key in their roles, the movie gave me no idea as to why Dillinger supposedly thought she was that important to him. It just felt like one of those hooks a screenwriter comes up with because he needs some hook. Christian Bale as G-Man Melvin Purvis was kind of annoying, so closed off and clenched, though I suppose that was the concept. The John Milius "Dillinger" from 1973 with Warren Oates as Dillinger and Ben Johnson as Purvis is worth tracking down; Johnson is just incredible, a force of nature, and the relationship between him and Oates is elemental, a whole plot in itself. Interesting how a guy like Johnson, who was then age 55, seems much older (as in more grown up -- albeit in fairly dark and mean ways), than any actor now on this planet. Oh, maybe Jack Nicholson or Clint Eastwood, but there's nothing charming or old-coot-like about Johnson; it's like he could dig the Panama Canal with his bare hands or bite off a chunk of the moon. Quote
BruceH Posted July 11, 2009 Report Posted July 11, 2009 Yes, I remember seeing the 1973 Dillinger some years ago on TV. (In fact, it might have been on the old AMC, back when that channel was actually for people interested in movies.) A remarkable film, from that brief period of artistic revival in the American film biz (1967-77 roughly) when Hollywood regularly made films for grownups. In addition to Johnson, Warren Oates is also pretty amazing. Such a feeling of reality, of lived life, to his portrayal. Quote
jazzbo Posted July 11, 2009 Report Posted July 11, 2009 I feel about the film about the way that Larry does. It was a nice cool diversion as an afternoon matinee. But it lacked Depp-th. Quote
Patrick Posted July 11, 2009 Report Posted July 11, 2009 Saw this at a matinee on Fourth of July. At various points duing the film, I was wondering why there didn't seem to be much of a story. Big shootouts, some quiet time, some more shootouts. And were the feds really as dufus-like as they are portrayed in this movie? If so, no wonder Dillinger ran wild for so long. Depp was excellent with his material, but definitely a flick you can catch on dvd or matinee. Quote
BruceH Posted July 12, 2009 Report Posted July 12, 2009 Did Mann pull that "revolving-camera" stunt? That has become the bane of my contemporary-movie existence. Quote
sal Posted July 12, 2009 Report Posted July 12, 2009 Did Mann pull that "revolving-camera" stunt? That has become the bane of my contemporary-movie existence. If we're thinking about the same thing, I think you may be thinking about Michael Bay? Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding you. Anyways, I saw the film and it was enjoyable enough, if not profound. Technically excellent with lots of good gunfights and a nice performance by Depp, as well as by the luminous Marion Cotillard. She's quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses. And the sound was incredible. At the same time, the film didn't have much of an emotional core. Quote
BillF Posted July 12, 2009 Report Posted July 12, 2009 (edited) Saw it on Friday 3rd July. Unusually, it seems to have been released here no later than in the U.S. Was very impressed with it, though I will now hire the 1973 Dillinger as recommended. EDIT: Lovefilm have put me on a reserve list, as Dillinger's "not currently released". Edited July 12, 2009 by BillF Quote
BruceH Posted July 18, 2009 Report Posted July 18, 2009 My older son saw the film last night. When I asked him how it was, all he would say was "It was long!" There you have it. Quote
Tom Storer Posted July 26, 2009 Report Posted July 26, 2009 I saw it. It was terrible. A gangster movie retread, completely uninspired in all ways. Quote
Soulstation1 Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Posted October 9, 2009 Saw it today The last possible showing on the big screen in town The copy they had was crappy, a green line showing up on the screen for about 30 minutes in various spots through out the movie Quote
king ubu Posted October 9, 2009 Report Posted October 9, 2009 Not a great film... very stilish, but in the end cold and with no real narration, just more like a bunch of episodes stitched together. The one scene that was really cool was the red light when they escape... how time gets stretched there, and how that short moment gets heavily overstated, that was great! Quote
BruceH Posted October 9, 2009 Report Posted October 9, 2009 Not a great film... very stilish, but in the end cold and with no real narration, just more like a bunch of episodes stitched together. I think that would describe several Mann films. Quote
P.L.M Posted October 9, 2009 Report Posted October 9, 2009 A great film if you like cinéma. Funny the criticism about the "no narration" of the film. Seems that most of you lost the point. Quote
BillF Posted October 9, 2009 Report Posted October 9, 2009 A great film if you like cinéma. Funny the criticism about the "no narration" of the film. Seems that most of you lost the point. So it's swinging back to my liking it, is it? Quote
RDK Posted October 9, 2009 Report Posted October 9, 2009 A great film if you like cinéma. Funny the criticism about the "no narration" of the film. Seems that most of you lost the point. Hardly a "great film;" just barely a good film imo. And I like cinema. Quote
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