Public Enemies II

A looong time ago I wrote a review about the movie with Johnny, and now I finally translated it into english, so all my international readers can read my opinion about that movie too!
Enjoy! :)


[Originally wrote on Thursday, February 4, 2010]
Yes, I watched it today. Finally. But I'm less excited, even though my future ex husband & Christian Bale star in it. They don't save it. Johnny looks incredibly good in the movie but he has no chance to show us his acting talent. Almost every other actor could have played the role, the movie wouldn't have gotten better or worse. Apparently Michael Mann took too much in his hands, when he planned to go into detail from the view of the police department as well as from the view of the gangster. No side really has a chance and additionally you can't keep track of all characters. Too many are involved in the game and appear here and there for two minutes. I can only mention the two protagonists by name and also among the characters it ends there.
It should be added that this movie has the worst dialogues I've ever heard. Can only be topped by porn movies.
You also shouldn't expect any tension. First: You already know the end before you start watching. Second: You know the whole story. Third: Well, it just didn't happen to establish it. Probably because of too much content what results in lacking space or rather lacking minutes.
The dimmed light all through the movie is annoying. They obviously tried to adapt it to old movies from that time which are always very dark what makes us believe the world was darker back then, but the scenes at night are way too low-key. Especially because you already have problems with identifying all persons and who belongs to who, so when they run around by night all you can see are hats and you can only guess who's dead and who's not. That's probably because the movie was filmed fully digital.
For the rest we have many many gunfights as it is proper in a gangster movie. Sometimes it may look like too much, because as I already said, both sides don't get a real chance and then they "waste" much time on shootings, but it's easy to take.
What else to say? The lovestory is actually not worth mentioning. Theatrical treated. For the story itself it's of course inevitable. It's just all very unlovingly. The interactions between Johnny and Marion Cotillard appear very cold, stingy and insincere. They just had to put it into the movie....
But besides that, Johnny as well as Christian do look very good in their roles. By that I don't mean their shape, but the character. Christian Bale plays a very withdrawn and thoughtful detective and that's what we already know from American Psycho & Equilibrium. Johnny Depp cuts quite a figure as a stony-faced macho gangster.
There's one scene in the prison, at John Dillingers second detention, in which the two protagonists meet. For me, personally, the best scene of the movie because we have a connection between the two sides and Johnny for once has the opportunity to show us his unique talent. Sadly too short. (He has to break out again what requires much time.)
I can't say very much to the music because I didn't notice any except when they're in a bar and dance. But I know there is music!
Apart from that there's nothing more to say. I wouldn't entrust this movie to anyone, except you're keen on a very very good looking Johnny Depp. If you want to watch a good gangster movie you should choose "The Untouchables" or "Hoodlum". Although Hoodlum isn't that good, but has so many incredible actors in it.
And the moral of the story: