Today, I went to the cinema to see the fairly underrated film 'Public Enemies'. Considering it's huge cast, I'm surprised that the only publicity I've seen for the film has been from short adverts on TV. But it was enough to persuade me to see it.
The story is set in 1933, where John Dillinger has been made Public Enemy Number 1 by the FBI. John Dillinger was aged 30 at this time and was an infamous bank robber - along with his crew. JD is played by Johnny Depp - quite a coincidence. Anyway, I haven't seen Johnny Depp play any normal characters in the cinema, ...Jack Sparrow, Willy Wonka, Sweeney Todd, Edward Scissorhands? I guess when I say 'normal', I mean, characters without weird clothing or accents or...hair. So this film would be a new experience for me in a way.
Johnny Depp did a great job. He took the role...and was able to make it his own...and managed to get the audience on his side. He was a notorious thief, who was involved with several serious crimes, including murder. So, usually, you'd want this 'bad guy' to be caught...but not in this film...you want him to beat the FBI. This is where the competition starts...
Christian Bale is Melvin Purvis - a special agent in the FBI. He is head of the Dillinger Squad (historical inaccuracy - but I shall overlook it) - made just to focus on catching, you guessed it, John Dillinger. Christian Bale is magnificent. He plays the FBI agent who, unlike many other FBI agents, isn't afraid of getting his hands dirty...and knows what he wants and will get it. From this description, he may seem like a character that is easy to hate. But...there are some scenes where he seems humble, and gentle. This is what makes it so difficult to pick a side - but that is also what makes the film so good!
These two actors can take on any role any make it their own...to list a few.
Johnny Depp
- Jack Sparrow (pirate)
- Edward Scissorhands (robot)
- Willy Wonka (strange chocolatier)
- JM Barrie (famous writer)
- Roux (Irish river rat)
Christian Bale
- Bruce Wayne (Batman, hero)
- Alfred Borden (magician)
- Laurie (lovable next door neighbour)
- John Connor (continued character, leader of human rebel group)
- Trevor Reznik (anorexic insomniac)
They aren't typecast in anyway, and you don't see the character and say during the film, 'Well Johnny Depp just said this and did that...' You don't see the actor...you see their character which is what makes a great actor.
I loved the film. I definitely recommend it. Along with these two Hollywood giants - you will recognise a lot of the cast - you may need to go home and imdb them...but you'll recognise them! Included are:
David Wenham (Lord of the Rings, Australia, 300)
Giovanni Ribisi (Friends, Lost in Translation, Cold Moutain)
Leelee Sobieski (Joy Ride, Never Been Kissed)
Channing Tatum (Coach Carter, Step Up)
Rory Cochrane (CSI: Miami, A Scanner Darkly)
Emilie de Ravin (Lost)
and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for 'La Vie en Rose' - and in this year's Oscars as she was praising Kate Winslet, it was noticable that French is her mother tongue and her English isn't too good. However, in this film, her English was fantastic and her American accent was unbeatable. Pretty much an unknown actress, yet an Oscar winner...strange combination, but it works wonderfully.
Again, go and see this film - it's a great watch.
