I loved this movie! Public Enemies opened today and we sneaked
off to see a matinee this afternoon. Normally, I don't usually enjoy
watching a lot of violence, but this movie is one of my few exceptions.
Johnny Depp is a brilliant John Dillinger (did we expect anything
less?). J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) heads the FBI, led by
Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale). The luscious and talented Marion
Cotillard is excellent as Billie Frechette, Dillinger's love interest.
This is actually a very artistically shot film, with a plethora of
wonderful noir natural light scenes, interspersed with faded rosy
sepia, and the crisp HD fireworks of blazing Tommy guns woven
throughout. The attention to the details of sets and costumes were
spot on, lending a feel of splendid time travel. There were great
vintage cars, a dreamy steam engine scene and even shots of the
fabulous "Tin Goose", a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airliner, used to
transport Dillinger to prison in Michigan City, Indiana. The music
through the film was exceptional, with bits of fancy guitar picking
and a nightclub scene with a cameo appearance of Diana Krall
singing a luminous rendition of "Bye Bye Blackbird".
So, there you have it, my bloggy friends. I thoroughly enjoyed this
movie and give it two "Willow Thumbs" up!
