tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post229435024419187188..comments2022-03-24T16:11:50.124-04:00Comments on The Man From Porlock: Gunned DownCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-76815819049521234132009-07-19T18:39:43.213-04:002009-07-19T18:39:43.213-04:00I've been remiss in touting Steven Santos'...I've been remiss in touting Steven Santos's excellent new blog, <i>The Fine Cut</i>, with a review of "Public Enemies" that's <a href="http://thefinecut.blogspot.com/2009/07/public-enemies-replaying-greatest-hits.html" rel="nofollow">worth checking out.</a>Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-29237473706635180802009-07-18T18:42:25.358-04:002009-07-18T18:42:25.358-04:00It's been a while now, but the low point, I be...<i>It's been a while now, but the low point, I believe, was that moment on the boat where Pacino's character essentially gives Depp's the 'Talk to the hand ...' routine. 'I can't understand you anymore...' blah, blah, blah.</i><br /><br />You're cracking me up! Maybe *I* need to watch it again.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-46106002639141389792009-07-18T18:24:24.138-04:002009-07-18T18:24:24.138-04:00What didn't you like about it?
Pretty much ev...<i>What didn't you like about it?</i><br /><br />Pretty much everything, I'm afraid. The second time around (as in, second viewing ever) I couldn't get into any of it, much as I tried. I stared at the TV confused, saying in my head: "But I'm supposed to like this! You used to be good! What happened?"<br /><br />It's been a while now, but the low point, I believe, was that moment on the boat where Pacino's character essentially gives Depp's the 'Talk to the hand ...' routine. 'I can't understand you anymore...' blah, blah, blah.<br /><br />Hmmm. Maybe I need to give it one more look. I mean, that DVD is just sitting there...Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-9280461359049732392009-07-18T10:34:02.307-04:002009-07-18T10:34:02.307-04:00My memory of Donnie Brasco was similar to yours un...<i>My memory of Donnie Brasco was similar to yours until a year or two ago when I got the DVD for $10 and watched it and discovered it was laugh-out-loud pathetic -- particularly Pacino's performance. If you haven't seen it in a while, might want to give it another look.</i><br /><br />At your suggestion, I just saw this again and think it's great. Pacino plays a character who is pathetic (for a refreshing change), but that's not the same as giving a pathetic performance. Still one of the better mob movies of recent years. What didn't you like about it?Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-35232458648436902102009-07-05T21:40:46.082-04:002009-07-05T21:40:46.082-04:00Good to hear from you, Mary. Mann is in an experim...Good to hear from you, Mary. Mann is in an experimental phase with his digital camerawork, which started with "Collateral," continued thru "Miami Vice" (the movie) and now "Public Enemies." Still getting the kinks out, if you ask me, though I thought the night scenes were evocative. But like you, Lordy, am I getting tired of shaky hand-held cameras. There's something to be said for just planting the mother down and shooting a scene without fuss or muss.<br /><br />"The Girl" is pretty much the female lead in all of Mann's films, with varying degrees of nuance. I don't know much about Cotillard, but I enjoyed watching her. She is, as they say, an interesting camera subject.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-20211902405282445822009-07-05T20:21:31.492-04:002009-07-05T20:21:31.492-04:00The Girl and I just saw this today. Both of us ha...The Girl and I just saw this today. Both of us had issues with the shaky cinematography. A majority of shots just felt too close to the actors, and we were sitting in the back row. I'm a Depp fan, but I agree he didn't really stretch his legs in this role. He has some character traits that show up more in roles like this, particularly the hand in the hair thing. Christian Bale might have been invisible. The Girl questions his acting as this is the first thing she's seen him in. Overall, I enjoyed it, and liked the soundtrack absence during gunfights to give the violence more impact. I'm a sucker for an outlaw flick.Marynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-14852690209267649492009-07-05T11:42:38.517-04:002009-07-05T11:42:38.517-04:00Hokahey -- Sounds like we're on the same page....Hokahey -- Sounds like we're on the same page. I will agree that Cotillard got a lot of mileage out of nothing to work with. I've never seen her in anything before, including her big Oscar win, but she impressed me. She also bears a striking resemblance to Eva Green, at least in that red dress.<br /><br />Jason --<br /><br /><i>I don't know what your problem is with the ladies. Whenever some woman asks me what I'm reading and I say it's a book about metals, she hops on my lap without invitation. Works every time.</i><br /><br />Another time, in another scene directly out of "Last of the Mohicans," I just stood silently and stared directly for a minute or two at a certain lady I knew on a professional basis, because we all know how much they like that. "What are you looking at?" she demanded. "I'm looking at <i>you</i>, miss," I replied in my best Daniel-Day. But Miss Branigan still told me I had to go out to recess and play.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-7986104518190949542009-07-05T09:36:25.869-04:002009-07-05T09:36:25.869-04:00This is a thoughtful (not to mention entertaining)...This is a thoughtful (not to mention entertaining) review. I can really feel the push-pull you feel in <i>wanting</i> to connect with every Mann film but not quite being able to get there.<br /><br />Though I didn't find the first two-thirds snooze-worthy, I do think Mann's chief mistake of this film is developing the Dillinger character in the third act. Too much has happened by then. Early development can carry through an entire picture. Late development doesn't work retroactively. (That said, I plan to see this film a second time, and I figure I'll like the first half more, having already experienced the second half.)<br /><br />A few other comments ...<br /><br />* My memory of <i>Donnie Brasco</i> was similar to yours until a year or two ago when I got the DVD for $10 and watched it and discovered it was laugh-out-loud pathetic -- particularly Pacino's performance. If you haven't seen it in a while, might want to give it another look.<br /><br />* I, too, was relieved to see Bale content to stay in the margins. I had high hopes for him as an actor until two films worth of Batman snarling followed by his crazed meltdown that had me convinced he was on a runaway train heading in the wrong direction. This picture gives me a little hope. But, you're right, he needs to choose his roles well.<br /><br />* Can't say I'd ever connected Cruise's death to <i>Risky Business</i>. That's an interesting thought, though it might just be a lucky allusion.<br /><br />* I don't know what your problem is with the ladies. Whenever some woman asks me what I'm reading and I say it's a book about metals, she hops on my lap without invitation. Works every time.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-34149503519561880802009-07-04T20:15:17.010-04:002009-07-04T20:15:17.010-04:00Well-written. The opener is hilarious. If you care...Well-written. The opener is hilarious. If you care to check out my review over at <a href="http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Little Worlds</a>, you will see that we agree on a lot. I felt detached from most of the movie, and I don't think Mann added anything new to the genre. I agree that Lang was excellent. We probably disagree the most on Cotillard. She drew me more into her character and her experiences than Depp did with Dillinger.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.com