Put Down the Internet and Go See 'Public Enemies'

***Shout-outs to Gloria who went to see it on Saturday!***

Nothing stopped me from going to see Public Enemies this weekend, and good thing too because seeing it allowed me to give you an educated explanation as to why you need to stop whatever it is you are doing now and go see this movie.

I think my feelings can best be expressed in a Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Go See Public Enemies list:

5. I Have Not See Cinematography Like This Since the 2003 Kevin Costner Film 'Open Range.'

I fear I may not have any idea what happened for the first fifteen minutes of Public Enemies because from the moment the movie started, I was overwhelmed with how insanely beautiful every shot of the movie was and I quickly realized that a still of any frame from this picture would be a work of art. This movie would be worth seeing in a theater that had no working speaker system. It is that amazing.

4. Christian Bale in the Role of a Lifetime!

Christian Bale has an ever growing list of film roles under his belt and every single one of them (yes, even Jack Kelly from Newsies) can be described as Bale's "role of a lifetime," meaning that he abused the term "method actor" and put his own mental and physical health on the line to pour everything he had into the character and make his performance closer to perfect than any other actor could have gotten. Bale's biggest acting asset is exactly that: he makes it clear why he was cast for a part by making it impossible to imagine anyone else in his role. And, not to offend American Psycho or Machinist fans out there, but with Public Enemies, it's like he never made any of those other films and that he is, for the first time, squeezing out every ounce of himself into this role. He plays Melvin Purvis perfectly. Not near perfectly or almost or pretty much. Just perfect.

3. I Could Just Substitute Johnny Deppy's Name for the Above.

This is going to be almost the exact same description as what I wrote for Christian Bale above except this is about Johnny Depp playing John Dillinger. I have a friend, you all know her as SWTS reader Krystal, who is a huge Johnny Depp fan. I think she saw Sweeney Todd in theaters 500 times, not sure. Anyway, she loves him in a "his talent is overpowering" kind of a way (which is NOT to be confused with the "oh em gee Johnny Depp is soooOOOOoooo sexy!" way). So, when I got out of the theater yesterday and had time to recover from being back in sunlight, I whipped out my cellular device and texted Krystal to say this: "If you didn't love Johnny Depp enough before, go see Public Enemies. If he doesn't get an Oscar nom, the Academy needs to close up shop*." I am dead serious. I know people praise him for basically every single movie role he has ever played, but this will be moving to the top of the critics' lists for him in no time. I have never felt closer to an armed bank robber in my life.

*Note: That was me being nice and calm in case there is a government agency that reads all of our texts.

2. This is How You Make a 'Based on Real Events' Film.

Michael Mann is the genius who brought us The Last of the Mohicans (he also brought us the 2006 film Miami Vice, but I am trying to get past that). His most notable work according to the critics is the 1995 movie Heat, which starred Al Pacino and Robert De Niro and was written and directed by Mann. Michael Mann makes (typically) amazing films. He is choosy and, judging from his credits, far more interested in making quality films over attaching his name to a large quantity of projects. If someone out there is looking for a good example of how to make a biopic or a film based on real events or even a film adaptation of another work, Michael Mann is the guy to look to for answers. Public Enemies is breathtaking. Where some critics saw a film that sizzles but never quite pops (paraphrasing some nearly forgettable negative review I read of the film last week), I see a film that took a clever, beautiful angle on telling the story of a man who was two different people to an entire country without turning his story into a figment of Hollywood's imagination. This is how you make this kind of a movie.

1. Be a Part of What is Sure To Be the Best Picture of the Year.

I literally just read through an entire list of movies that have been released and movies that are scheduled to be released in 2009, and I can tell you without a doubt that Public Enemies is the only straightforward Best Picture Oscar contender that I see. There are numerous indie/limited release films that will probably garner tons of praise and perhaps some grassroots campaign support for a nomination, but does Sunshine Cleaning deserve the Best Picture of the Year award? Not even a little bit. Go see this amazing movie and be a part of something that is sure to be making waves come award season.


So, there you have it. My little list of reasons why I implore you to go see Michael Mann's Public Enemies as soon as possible. If you have any questions or if you are feeling conflicted or need further guidance, please do not hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email. I am always here for you.

GO SEE PUBLIC ENEMIES!!! Okay, I'm done. For real this time.


*Images: IESB, Cinematical*