Monday, December 7, 2009
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Monday, December 7, 2009
DVD REVIEW
Public Enemies
1933:When The Depression (And Banks) Were The Enemy
The Universal Pictures release
"Public Enemies" is available tomorrow on both DVD and Blu-Ray in the U.S.
Universal
By
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
Monday, December 7, 2009
"Public Enemies", directed by Michael Mann and released in U.S.
theaters during the heat of last summer, gets a second life on DVD and Blu Ray
beginning tomorow, and audiences will appreciate the film more. Strangely
enough the film plays a little better on the smaller screen than the
disappointing spectacle did on the big screen.
Set in 1933, Mr. Mann's film takes a journey with the notorious John Dillinger,
the Chicago bank robber beloved by millions, a man who kept getting sent to
prison and like Houdini kept escaping. Johnny Depp is somewhat
underwhelming if not miscast in the role of Dillinger, a man hell-bent on making
the system pay and keeping his empire thriving across the U.S.
As in many Michael Mann films there's an equal and opposite force on the other
side of the crime equation and in "Public Enemies" it's Melvin Purvis (Christian
Bale), the Special Field Agent at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led
by J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup). Along for the ride with Mr. Dillinger
is Billie Freschette, played by Oscar winner Marion Cotillard, underutilized in
the role of Dillinger's girlfriend.
"Public Enemies", only available in widescreen, is sharp and vivid on DVD, full
of rich color, including golden brown and orange hues, deep crisp blacks and
clear blues, as one of the early scenes outside a prison illustrates. The
fact the film was shot on HD video for the most part certainly helps Mr. Mann
when viewing on DVD and is further enhanced on Blu Ray.
Christian Bale (left) talks with Michael Mann on the set of "Public Enemies".
Universal Pictures
While like most other Mann efforts "Public Enemies" has a lot of visual pizazz,
it lacks the heartbeat, energy and substance of earlier films like "Heat", from
which this film heavily borrows. There's weak dialogue as well, making the
audience wonder what could have been had the script (by Ronan Bennett, Ann
Biderman and Mr. Mann) been stronger.
The two-disc special edition has numerous extras to compensate for the setbacks
however, with featurettes on John Dillinger and Melvin Purvis as played by Mr.
Depp and Mr. Bale respectively, as well as an always-fascinating and impressive
audio feature commentary by Mr. Mann. Both of these are on disc one.
On disc two there's "Making Public Enemies", featuring the director at work on
the set with the cast during the filming of the movie; "Last of the Legendary
Outlaws", focusing on the real-life John Dillinger and Melvin Purvis, and a
featurette on the locations used for the film shoot. there's also a
digital copy of the film included in the DVD, which can be transferred to your
computer, iPhone or iPod. The digital copy must be downloaded no later
than December 31, 2010.
Blu Ray disc versions have even more extra material on them, which in the long
run not only makes "Public Enemies" look like a better film in context, but also
enhances the incentive to give it another chance on the small screen.
Original "Public Enemies" review:
here
Read more movie reviews and stories from Omar
here.
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