Henry and Kristl discovered Public Enemies(2009)

Rating: Null/10 (15 May 2014)

"It is hard to say no to a movie with Johnny Depp in it, isn't it?," Kristl said, "I have to see it, regardless."
"And Public Enemies, a title that catches the attention and Michael Mann as director. The man of stylish movies: slick, downplayed violence and blurred borders of morality," Henry said. He folded his hands behind his head while leaning backwards in the front row seats of their garage turned movie theater. He inspected his surroundings. It was a place He was continuously working on. He had found and bought the seats and installed them each and every one. Perhaps he had been a bit too enthusiastic, for there were far more seats than they ever would need. But it was the mood that counted. The experience of a 'real' theater, but at home.
Maybe we ought to open the place once in a while for the public or invite guests? I could even ask a little bit of money, just to cover the expenses. Henry twiddle as hairs on his chin, the hairs were part of his short beard, that covered only his chin, and started planning. The beard had made Kristl burst out in spontaneous laughter. He had just smirked back at her. He was on the ball with current trends and styles - he had just bought a Nexus with 32 Gb- while Kristl was stuck in a past so impossibly backward that they had not even known mobile phones, let alone handhelds. How did they survive! Kristl had proudly announced that she still used her Samsung X620. Which she had shown to him to proof she wasn't making things up. Henry had gasped. Like that was from 2005 or something. With her communism, her pink eighties look and old mobile, Kristl was already a relic of a bygone age.
"Kristl, we're living in the 21st century now.. when are you going to catch up?" Henry had exclaimed.
"I like collateral. I think it's one of his best movies. With Tom Cruise as that sharp dressed killer. I like that movie," Kristl said, "A role that fits him like a hand does a glove."
"I missed that a bit in this movie. That Mann thing. As if he isn't able to play work that out in a movie that is not set in the here and now, like most of his movies. "
"It still has these touches. Like it is hard to see what the difference is between the cops and the robbers in methods and, well, collateral damage," Kristl said.
"There is a lot of shooting. Mann likes those choppers. Tatatatatatata."
"And violence in general. There is even a woman being beaten up. You don't see that much in movies." "It was an entertaining movie, with a lot of violence, a small romantic side story, but little else."
"The strange thing is that the whole story is mostly made up. It's not the real story of John Dillinger."
"And that is strange?"
"No, it is not strange to divert from history, but usually it is because the 'real' story needs to be turned into a movie, sometimes because it wasn't that interesting or the 'real' story just doesn't fit well into a movie. But the fact is that that the real Dillinger story seem interestingly enough, so why make up your own story? For instance the role of his family is downplayed by this movie, to the point of not being important at all. And the movie suggest he an one important love interest, while he seems to have many loves. Again the question pops up: At what point becomes the 'real' story so distorted that calling it Dillinger seems pointless. I mean, why not make it: a movie based on a true story, instead of suggesting it is the true story?"
"Perhaps because that sells better?" Henry laughed.
"No doubt. It is the bottom line isn't it?"
"The real test would be the portrayal of the characters involved. Dillinger and his adversary Purvis. Or his love interest Betty. I felt I never got a grasp on them. You never quite got an idea of what they were about."
"Like in collateral? I mean with only two characters Mann had time to develop them, and given that Fox and Cruise, even Cruise, can act well, the story works. For me." Kristl said.
"Despite Johnny Depp? If you look at Dillinger in the documentaries you see that he is a good looking man who has kind of charm. A catchy smile. Depp plays him as brooding dark figure. No fun at all. It is a pity he did. And the actor playing Purvis, Dillingers adversary, doesn't make much of that character either."
"It's a nice movie, the kind you look at to be entertain and then forget, it is not one of Mann's best and has nothing much to add. No doubt there will be a new Dillinger movie as this movie isn't actually a Dillinger movie."
"Maybe they remake that other movie and call that one Dillinger.. the one with Clark Cable," Henry mused.
"You mean Manhattan Melodrama?"
"Now how do you know that?"
"Looked it up. Maybe we should have a look at that one, some day."
"You mean.. a black and white movie from way back?" Henry said.
"Yes?"
"No way..Let's wait for a remake."
"If there will be any."
"Then we look at something else."
"Pity, guess that will rule out the Third Man as well," Kristl said.
"Well, I make an exception on occasion. Because it's your favorite."
"Thanks.. you're a sweetie."
"Uhmm."
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