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PUBLIC ENEMIES

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Billy Crudup, Marion Cotillard, Stephen Graham, Giovanni Ribisi, Bill Camp and Branka Katic

Directed by: Michael Mann

Rated R for gangster violence and some language

Genre: Crime Drama

By John Delia

Bringing a crime legend to the screen takes a good deal of research, good casting and impeccable direction and that all came together for Public Enemies. Director Michael Man not only captures the essence of John Dillinger in his movie, but that of Baby Face Nelson as well. Public Enemies is probably Mann’s best, no in my opinion, it is his best film to date.

In the early thirties when America was still rattling from the Depression, gangsters were on the rise. Just when FBI agent Melvin Purvis took down Pretty Boy Floyd, John Dillenger’s number was elevated to the top of the wanted list. It was an era of crime and a chance for J. Edger Hoover to make his play as the greatest G-Man of all time. At odds with the U.S. Senate over appropriations for the FBI, Hoover had something to prove. Putting Purvis in charge of the Chicago Bureau, Hoover planned to use him to make headlines by capturing Public Enemy Number 1, Dillinger and prove his worth to the government. What occurs during Hoover’s crime offensive coupled with the actions of one of the most famous bank robber of all time, becomes a chronicle in the history of America.

Mann tackles the events leading up to Dillinger’s final days with near accuracy giving the gangster a personality missing in previous attempts by other production companies. Was Dillinger this carring man who became a bank robbing folk hero who only took from the rich or someone that was cold and calculating on a journey down the path of destruction? I found that the film depicted two sides. Showing Dillinger’s soft side in his relationship with Billie Frechette (Cotillard) with dreams of going straight and then shooting it out with the law from a cabin in the woods with no mercy for the law makes a case for both.

There was good acting and then there was standout performances in Public Enemies. Billy Crudup made an excellent J. Edgar Hoover, the devious attention getter who took all the credit for Pervis’s dangerous work. I also liked Cotillard in the role of Billie, Dillinger’s timid lover who turns into a tough moll. Then there is Stephen Graham as the maniacal Baby Face Nelson who loved to show off his automatic weapon by shooting into everything and everyone around him. Graham brings life (and death) to Nelson as he rampages in nearly every scene in which he appears.

But the standout performances come from Branka Katic as Anna Sage the infamous lady in red who points out Dillinger during his final moments. She depicts the emotional roller coaster Anna goes through before she gives up her loyalty to Dillinger so she won’t get deported. But I would be remiss in not pointing out the great job by Johnny Depp who makes Dillinger a real person with a personality. Someone who may have been this nice guy gone bad.

But, the film is not without flaws, although few, they are distracting. Taking some movie magic license, Dillinger is shown walking into the FBI Chicago bureau while agents are huddled around a radio listening to a baseball game. Um, Sure! The film runs about two and a half hours, but I still would have liked to see more of the robberies and the relationship between Dillinger and Billie. I also don’t think Billie was fleshed out enough and especially since she goes from innocent to moll in what seemed a short period of time.

Now don’t think I am getting offbeat here, but the sound guy should get an award. The popping of guns were very realistic, the breaking of glass from the bullets are cringing and the dialogue still understandable, an amazing feet of sound during the shoot out at the cabin in the woods.

Well there you have it. The film will make it to classic and get nominated for many awards. Public Enemies is rated R for gangster violence and language most of which is very realistic and sometimes brutal so young teens make sure your parents are not frightened by all the shooting when you get them to take you along.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Public Enemies is a realistic look at some dastardly criminal times. (4.5 of 5 Palm Trees)

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS

Starring Voices: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Sean William Scott, Josh Peck and Simon Pegg

Directed by: Carlos Saldanha, Michael Thurmeier

Rated PG for mild humor and peril

Genre: Animated/Adventure Comedy

By John Delia

Extremely kid friendly, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs makes its way into theaters providing a fun time for the youngsters. Adults will probably enjoy the film as long as they are accompanying children. If you are over the age of 12 and have already seen Ice Age and its sequel, then you may feel like this one is more of the same.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs continues the saga of the mammoths Ellie (Latifah) and Manny (Romano) as they trek to find a home in which they can settle. This time however, Ellie is pregnant and her time is near for giving birth. The rest of the tribe, Diego (Leary), Sid (Leguizamo) and the possums Crash (Scott) and Eddie (Peck) are content to go along for the ride. But Sid as usual can’t seem to enjoy himself unless he is poking into places he shouldn’t and this time turning up with some Dinosaur eggs that belong to a Tyrannosaurs Rex. Much to the delight of Sid, the eggs hatch and think that he is there mother causing some serious questions on the part of the other members of the tribe. When the real momma lizard comes looking for her children, things get very dicey.

The animated comedy has several different storylines going all at once including Scrat (Chris Wedge) meeting Scratte (Karen Disner) a female squirrel who takes him for a heavenly ride. This is where I perked up. The two are very funny with Scrat doing his Willey Coyote impression as he has in the previous two films. This time we are invited to see a little different romance in the scraggly squirrel.

Another sequence introduces you to Buck (Pegg), a one-eyed weasel who has been hunting the great white Dinosaur that has been terrorizing the land. To me it was the funniest part of the film and Simon Pegg’s voice coupled with some great animation save the film from being just another sequel.

The film was reviewed in the 3D format that really doesn’t add much to the production. So if the movie isn’t available in 3D at your local theater, you aren’t missing much. The movie should be fun for the kiddies and although you may snooze a little as I did through scenes with Ray Romano’s character, Sid, Scrat and Buck should save your day.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A fun film for kiddies. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)

FOOD INC.

Directed by: Robert Kenner

Rated:

Genre: Documentary

By John Delia

Move over Michael Moore, there’s a new moviemaker on the scene and he’s pulling no punches in the food game. Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner takes shots at the people who put the food on your table and he’s telling it like it is. But if you are timid, are picky about the food you eat, are squeamish when it comes to the slaughter of animals, you may want to think twice about seeing Food Inc. On the other hand, it’s about time we found out how that egg you eat arrives at your table, how meat gets to your local supermarket and what is being done to make sure it is edible.

Robert Kenner investigated the food industry that he says has often put profit ahead of consumer health, put the livelihoods of American farmers in jeopardy and has damaged our environment. In his expose he says that although our food appears the same (a tomato still looks like a tomato) it has been radically transformed. Tomatoes are bred to be shipped without bruising and to stay edible for months. With the use of animation and compelling actual film footage, viewers are shown some very disturbing growing methods that include a special soybean that is insecticide resistant.

And that is only the half of it as Kenner reveals how a handful of corporations control our nation’s food supply. He says that though the companies try to maintain the myth that our food still comes from farms with red barns and white picket fences, our food is actually raised on massive factory like farms and processed in mega industrial plants. His film states that animals grow fatter faster and are designed to fit the machines that slaughter them.

Although the film does make some good points, I found that it was somewhat one sided. Getting the other side of the coin is no easy task as Kenner depicts that most all those he tried to talk to that ran the factory farms, resisted an interview.

According to Kenner the outlook looks bleak and that the government should be able to control the way our food is produced. He lays out a string of facts that are hard to dispute including In 1998, the USDA implemented microbial testing for salmonella and E.coli 0157h7 so that if meat processed repeatedly failed these tests, the USDA could shut down the plant. After being taken to court by the meat and poultry associations, the USDA no longer has that power. In the 1970s, there were thousands of slaughterhouses producing the majority of beef sold. Today, we have only 13.

The film does contain some very disturbing scenes involving animals and facts that may cause you to limit your intake of certain meats, so take this into consideration before choosing to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: An interesting and eye opening look at food and the future of farming. (4.5 of 5 Palm Trees) For more information about FOOD, INC.

http://www.takepart.com/foodinc/

TAKING OF PELHAM 123

Starring: John Travolta, Denzel Washington, John Turturro, Luis Guzman, Michael Rispoli and James Gandolfini

Directed by: Tony Scott

Rated: R for violence and pervasive language

Genre: Action/Drama

By John Delia

Take some A list stars, lets say Denzel Washington and John Travolta. Throw them into a storyline where they are at odds with each other. Make one of them a recently demoted subway station dispatcher and the other a very scary criminal mastermind. Then mix it all up using one of the best dramatic thrill directors Tony Scott and what you get is a recipe for a winner.

The film sets up quick with the hijacking of a subway train in New York City by Ryder (Travolta) and three of his heavily armed fellow ex-cons. His intent is to ransom the hostages for 10 Million dollars and he has no fear of shooting them one by one if the delivery is late. Making contact with Walter (Washington) a subway dispatcher, the two become linked in the drama and the confrontations that follow.

If you like your thrill with some excellent drama, then there is no one better than director Tony Scott to provide a big helping. Having assisted a lot of A list acting careers with his excitement, dramatic style of delivering the story and box office success, Scott hardly ever deviates from his captivating formula. In The Taking of Pelham 123 he pits a cool and calm character played by Washington against Travolta, as a man whose about to explode. The two go head to head with Travolta being the prime antagonist much like he was in Swordfish, but edgier. He has a 10 million dollar goal and a murderous mentality. Scott takes the two to new heights as he plays the game of right versus might.

Scott knows Washington real well having directed him in many of his more popular roles like; Crimson Tide, Man on Fire and Déjà Vu, but here in Pelham he takes the tough guy attitude and calms it down creating a character that you don’t often see for Washington in an action film. I loved his dowdy character and the way Scott delivered him to the screen, making the scenes believable and enjoyable to watch.

Travolta provides an emotionally scary Ryder who deals in carnage and expresses his demands in menacing terms. Playing an over the top ex-con who desires to get even with the system that put him in jail, he’ll stop at nothing to obtain his goal.

I will make mention that the film is a remake, but only the basic storyline gets resurrected. This edition makes the script more modern, inserts a bevy of excellent actors, adds some twists and makes use of a lot of very cringing special effects.

The film is rated R for violence and pervasive language. But lets be clear on this, there are some startling killings and strong face-to-face anger displayed in the film so take this into consideration when deciding to let immature children see the movie. Also as a word of caution, the movie trailer gives away too much so please avoid watching it prior to going to see the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: Dramatic action junkies this is one top-notch thrill ride. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)

IMAGINE THAT

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Yari Shahidi, Thomas Haden Church, Nicole Ari Parker, Vanessa Williams, Ronnie Cox and Martin Sheen

Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick

Rated PG for some mild language and brief questionable behavior

Genre: Comedy

By John Delia

Eddie Murphy goes back to his comedic roots and comes out a winner in the loveable and laughable Imagine That. Expecting a so-so and ho-hum movie after seeing the trailer I was amazingly surprised by a sweet film that had some great moments, including a delightful performance by Yari Shahidi. If you want your heart warmed with a lot of chuckles along the way, then Imagine That is a must see.

The movie centers on Evan Danielson (Murphy) a genius when it comes to predicting the right companies to fill financial portfolios. He’s on top of the world at his company until his boss gets hoodwinked into swaying his trust to his rival Johnny Whitefeather (Church) who has won him over with mystical Native American powers. Sold on Johnny, Evan has to win his boss back.

On one particular day, Evan’s elementary school age daughter Olivia (Shahidi) has drawn pictures all over his notes just minutes before an important presentation. Having no choice bit to give in to his frustrations over the artistic mess but, he uses the drawings to explain his position on financial choices and amazingly comes up with winners. When Olivia explains that her imaginary friends under her blanket gave her the visions, Evan enlists her help in getting back to the top.

After the flop Meet Dave, I was wondering if Murphy could muster up a good performance and make me laugh like he did in the 48 Hrs, Shrek and Beverly Hills Cop series. There he was this guy (or Donkey) who was all into himself and made me laugh with his co-stars getting the butt of his antics. Well in Imagine That he proves he still has the mojo and opposite Shahidi, his charming little co-star, the two giggle up the screen.

Directing plays a big part in the film as keeping the freewheeling comedic plot on track really takes talent. And especially when you are dealing with Eddie Murphy. I liked the way Kirkpatrick deals with the relationships throughout, never discrediting the other characters, just putting them in a comical light. Church’s Johnny Whitefeather is a good example of this showing his goofy ideas of how he comes up with predictions on choosing the right stock portfolios. We see him as a crackpot, but Eddie’s character is really no different.

Imagine That is rated PG but fun for the whole family and projects some important values such as communicating with your children. The film contains some mild language and brief questionable behavior so be cautioned of this before attending.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film for the whole family. Now, imagine that! (3.5 of 5 Palm Trees)