Universal just rolled out two new TV promos for Public Enemies, director Michael Mann’s period heist picture about legendary Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger, starring Johnny Depp in the title role and Christian Bale as the hot-headed cop on his tail. Watching Depp ignite the screen as the dapper and gleefully anarchic noble savage that was Dillinger makes me giddy as a little girl on Christmas morning. This is the one picture in this summer’s men-with-guns lineup that I truly can’t wait to lay eyes upon. Why? Not for all the usual reasons entertainment journos whine about during the season of things that go boom. Sure, it looks like Universal mercifully decided to throw a bone to moviegoers hungry for intelligent spectacle. Mann has always been dependable that way. And watching two heavyweights like Depp and Bale go nozzle to nozzle in a smart shoot-em-up is undeniably tantalizing enough to send me sprinting to the ticket booth.
But what makes this movie look like such a relief from everything else splashed up on the big screen this summer is that all the footage we’ve seen so far is infused with a kind of joy and mischief that so often gets lost in the extreme end-of-the-world doomsday scenarios screenwriters and studios seem to think they need to ladle onto action movies to make audiences care. Think: Terminator Salvation and Transformers, for starters. I say this approach has officially played itself out. Is it too much to ask for some kinetic mainstream entertainment that doesn’t take itself so freaking seriously? Movies like Bonnie and Clyde and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are just two examples of the kind of light-on-its-feet action I’m talking about. Heck, even the Lethal Weapon movies were fun, funny, and didn’t take everything down the doom-ageddon well. What about you? Are you fed up with paint-by-numbers earnest end-of-the-world plot devices? And are you as psyched as we are for Public Enemies?
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Yes…and yes. I can’t wait to see Public Enemies. Finally, a summer movie that is made by a real filmmaker unlike the talentless trio of McG, Michael Bay and Stephen Sommers.
Yes! I’m so excited, this will definitely be one of the best movies of the summer! Scratch that, not just the summer, one of the best of the year!
i am so excited about this movie and i only get more excited each time someone writes something about it!! i cannot wait to see my two favorite actors, Christian Bale and Johnny Depp, battle it out, in this soon-to-be amazing movie!!!
It hurts my heart to say that I saw this at a test screening – and it was AWFUL. Just terrible. A movie with so much talent involved has no excuse for turning out so unwatchable. I pray that I saw a bad cut.
This is my most anticipated movie of the year, along with Scorsese’s “Shutter Island” So yes, I am quite psyched!
I saw it at a test screening back in February and it was AWESOME! The story, the acting, the cinematography, the costumes, everything was great! I cannot wait to see it again, and will gladly pay for it!
Just caught the trailer that ran during 30 Rock. The music in that spot (‘Shuffle Your Feet’ by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) is so perfect, and I adore pretty much everything Michael Mann, Johnny Depp, and Christian Bale have ever done. I’m beyond psyched for this one.
I agree with this article completely! I also saw the film at a test screening and enjoyed it immensely. It’s particularly impressive that it is a part of American history and Michael Mann did a fantastic job!
I just got to see one of the TV spots during “Grey’s Anatomy.” This is easily my most hotly anticipated movie of the summer — Depp is my favorite actor, I really like Bale too, the ’30s period detail looks good, and the film itself looks like it’s going to be a helluva lot of fun.
Easy answer to that question. No other movie has the two hottest actors.
Can’t wait to see it!
Ok–A) I love gangster movies. B) Michael Mann is my all-time favorite director. C) It looks AWESOME. There, three reasons why every time I see a poster, trailer, or promo for this thing, I have to change my pants. And I’ve been reading up on it for about 15 months, that’s a lot of pants.
I’m extremely psyched for Public Enemies! It’s a great story to be told and with Bale and Depp in the leads, nothing can go wrong! I think it’s gonna be a mindblower
it looks amazing!
“Are you fed up with paint-by-numbers earnest end-of-the-world plot devices? And are you as psyched as we are for Public Enemies?” – Yes and Yes. I’m hoping this will be wonderful, but people shouldn’t set their expectations as high as Butch Cassidy for a summer movie – and a Michael Mann movie, at that.
I literally couldn’t breathe the first time I saw the Public Enemies trailer on the big screen. It’s going to be the best damn movie this summer, and I CANNOT WAIT.
The trailer for “Public Enemies” is beyond awesome. I can’t wait to see this movie.
I am very excited for the movie to come out, Melvin Purvis was my grandpa! And this is the first movie about him that does not slander him, and that makes me and my family very happy!!