10 July 2009
Public Enemies stars Johnny "Sexy Beast" Depp as John Dillinger, Marion Cotillard as his love interest Billie Frechette, and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis who leads the hunt for the infamous bank robber. Directed by Michael Mann, it is refreshing to see a movie that's straight-up gunfights, chases on foot, and car chases without the CGI/special effects moviemakers rely on these days. For viewers like me who have heard of John Dillinger but never knew details of his life, the film is a fascinating look at gangster culture without the extreme violence we've come to expect from mobster films. It made me want to rush home, search for his biography online and find out if the movie is historically accurate. (I did read later on that the screenplay was based on Bryan Burrough's book Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34.)
It also gives us a peek at the beginnings of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, headed by J. Edgar Hoover (played by Billy Crudup), apparently largely viewed at the time as inept. It was interesting to see the merciless techniques the agents used, and how they might be disallowed today. (Or maybe they are still in use, who knows?) The Bureau's tactics do seem like they should necessitate an Internal Affairs investigation, if there is such a thing for the agency.
Without knowing much about the leading crooks and gangsters of that era ( I only knew of Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson) , it did get a bit confusing as to who's who and who's pulling off a heist, who's being arrested and who got killed. It is a stylish, action-packed film, but strangely and quietly morose. While the two leads don't quite match the explosive chemistry that De Niro and Pacino have, it probably means something that I was pulling for Purvis to catch Dillinger, and at the same time hoping our hero-villain somehow gets a reprieve. Or maybe that's only because it's Johnny Depp.
Labels: movies
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He constantly impresses me with his choices! According to an article in Esquire mentioned in this website, Daniel Radcliffe has decided to don ballet shoes and take up ballet!
The quote on the post says:
Daniel Radcliffe has revealed that he is taking ballet classes in an effort to protect his career after his Harry Potter glory days have ended.
The 19-year-old explained to Esquire magazine that he knows he will soon have to compete with other actors his age when they have completed their training in drama schools which have taught them to sing and dance. He told Esquire magazine that he sees ballet as a way to make himself "as viable a choice for any part" as possible.
What a mature and dedicated actor he has become! To this day it sure baffles me why he wasn't nominated for this year's Tonys for Best Male Lead Actor in a Play. Maybe he can get pointers from the current Billies from Billy Elliot and I sure do hope we get to see him in a musical on Broadway one day.
(photo from yahoomovies.com)
Labels: Daniel Radcliffe
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Angela Lansbury and Madame Barkati (Blithe Spirit)
Claude (Hair)
At this year's Broadway Barks, which will be held on July11, they are auctioning off Autographed Hounds of Broadway.
From the press release: Authographed Hounds of Broadway are one-of-a-kind stuffed dogs that are signed by the casts (and in some cases, decorated by the wardrobe departments) of some of Broadway's hottest shows are auctioned to raise money for the Picasso Veterinary Fund of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals.
Just check out the samples from the pictures above! I'm really amused with the Madame Barkati one. For more photos of the stuffed hounds from other shows, please click on the link above.
(photo from AnimalAllianceNYC.org)
Labels: Broadway Barks
