Public Enemies Movie Trailer #2

public enemies poster top

Universal Pictures has released a second movie trailer for Michael Mann’s Public Enemies on MSN. The film tells the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Johnny Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public.

A lot of people were complaining about the video-look of the film when the first trailer was released. I’ve found a lot less noticeable on my computer screen, especially in this second trailer. I’m under the belief that audiences could watch a film shot on 8mm film. If it was compelling enough, audiences could easily forget the weaknesses of the medium. And I think this second trailer does a lot with mood, tone and story which makes me forget about the digital look of the sequences presented in the trailer. Watch the trailer after the jump, and tell me what you think in the comments below.

Right now this is the highest quality trailer available. We’ll update the story when we get something better.

Official Plot Synopsis: In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp)—the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public.No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone—from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.

But while the adventures of Dillinger’s gang—later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi)—thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.’’ However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals—from the infamous “Lady in Red’’ to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti—were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.

Public Enemies hits theaters on July 1st 2009.

  • Can't wait to see this movie looks awesome.
  • This is a fantastic trailer! I was interested in seeing it based on the first trailer released, but this one really did it for me, and now I'm really excited for July to get here.
  • amazing. And I never thought the 1st trailer looked too "video-ish" whatever thats supposed to mean.
  • RW44
    I think this will be a damn fine movie. Great cast!
  • luke_test
    I don't mind movies shot on digital cameras however handheld + digtal = cheap looking.
  • i think Mann had the choice to make the digital camera look more like film, but instead made his 'artistic' choice to make it look more like a camcorder. It's cool to a point, but I don't want this to be the norm.
  • I like that people in 2009 would still complain about a format that is superior to film.

    Digital is different, yes, but guess what? It's BETTER.
  • I'm not too sure if it's better visually; it's more practical and cheaper but that's it. People outside of the industry don't care. The only thing that I do notice that that digital prints looks kinda cold and artificial (if that makes sense) even if it looks like film. (IE Benjamin Button)
  • I'm not too sure if it's better visually; it's more practical and cheaper but that's it. People outside of the industry don't care.

    The only thing that I do notice that that digital prints looks kinda cold and artificial (if that makes sense) even if it looks like film. (IE Benjamin Button)
  • I think whether or not it work depends on the director and the reason why they go digital. Mann made an artistic choice to use digital on Collateral because he would not have been able to achive those same visuals of the LA streets at night using film. I guess Benjamin Button used it because it would have been much more difcult to pull off those efects on film. On the other hand Get Smart seem to use it for no other reason then it was cheaper. I never have a problem with digital when it his in the hands of a good director.
  • Better how? It depends what you're shooting and going for. Celluloid still has a much higher resolution and richer capture of color detail. Digital is getting there. But it has a different feel and look to it.

    Personally, I like how PE looks. Same goes for Collateral. The more I see it the more I'm glad Mann didn't go with Celluloid. I've seen enough films in that time period using that look so it's nice he's going for a stylized digital feel here.
  • I wouldn't say it's better. Film and Digital are probably equal in their pro's and cons. Personally, I much prefer the look and 'feel' of film.
  • Yeah this is probably the film I'm most excited for over the summer, I cant wait. Looks amazing!
  • Chris
    I think that's from The 25th Hour
  • Exctied to see this. It was shot 2 miles from where I live in Milwaukee!
  • This movie looks awesome. Deep and Bale together is amazing. Maybe a foreshadow of the newt batman film, but i doubt that. I can't wait for this to come out.
  • kevin
    i really can't stand digital when it comes to feature films.
    Sure it's cheaper, but do you think a movie directed my Michael Mann, starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale really has to worry about that.

    It distracts me, I'm sure this isn't the case for a more casual viewer though.
  • This style of 'digital' lacks the richness of film, that's for sure.

    I think the only benefit of Mann's digital look (man you, digital can look like film ala Benjamin Button) is that it's somewhat surreal.
  • I've seen some wonderful films shot digitally. The Che movies, for two.
  • marion cotillard needs to be catwoman. she's worked with christian bale, she's working with nolan on inception, she's won an oscar and she's hotter than hell - who's with me?
  • halle
    halle berry should reprise the role
  • Even though I am sure you are joking, do not ever joke about something like that.
  • I'm with you. I agree with everything you've said about her. She's an established actress and would be a fine choice for the role.
  • bart
    It's not the quality of the trailer it's the type of video that Michael Mann uses. Miami Vice and Collateral also looked like this.
  • vincent
    collateral was shot on digital and was cold looking and i liked that style very much. my favorite tom cruise and michael mann movie.
  • That look worked extremely well on Collateral and from the trailer I saw in the theater it looked very good for this stuff too. And besides the movie being awful, I didn't think the look worked so well for Miami Vice. I for one am pretty excited about this flick.
  • That's possibly the only thing that I'm worried about. Like you said, it looked great for Collateral but I still don't know about it being used for this film. I think I'll be able to get passed it long enough to enjoy the film if it looks terrible.
  • Patrick
    Cool.
  • dangerman
    I was really excited for this film until I saw the first trailer. It was making me want to rip my eyes out. For some reason when films are done on digital I see a trail being left behind the onscreen motion. It ruined Benjamin Button for me and it looks like it's going to ruin this for me aswell. Still, atleast this trailer was better than the first.
  • Roderick Maymes
    "ruined Benjamin Button"?! I'm all for differing opinions when it comes to plot pacing, narrative structure and characterisation, but come on - BB is so beautiful that I nearly cried!
  • This movie looks so fucking badass
  • Looks incredible. Maybe Depp will finally get an Oscar that he deserves from this movie.
  • I HONESTLY don't see what's so good about this! I mean, why is everyone saying it looks badass or amazing? It looks like any other movie to me! NO JOKE!
  • shadow
    Completely agree, no standout lines or portrayal, no agle covered for this genre of film the hasn't been covered before.
  • I know right? What is so special this time around?
  • It's from Michael Mann, which is kind of like a seal of quality.
  • Yeah but do you remember Miami Vice? Yea.....
  • No, i erased it from my memories.
  • still, a michael mann film
  • Jerry
    It's not that this film was just shot on digital--it was shot with a 1/24 shutter speed, opposed to the typical 1/48 shutter speed commonly used. Every digital film you have seen from Mann (Collateral, Miami Vice) was done with 1/48, this was 1/24, which reduces motion blur, something real film has quite a bit of. The effect is this very consumerish video style quality, akin to something you may see on television.
  • a shutter speed of 1/24 would increase motion blur quite a bit. where did you get your information?
  • Dylan
    Am I the only person who thinks the digital cinematography looks like a refreshing, interesting and fantastic contrast to other gangster films such as The Untouchables?

    Amazing trailer.
  • I hate the glorification of criminals in cinema.
  • lol
  • Looks pretty good if you ask me. This trailer is alot better than the first one.
  • liked this trailers much more than the first.
  • Yep
    Just like Miami vice and Collateral all action scenes were shot on film as video cannot register certain motion like film
  • Jerry
    That's entirely false. The entire film was shot on the Sony F23.
  • Fir3Wolf
    I enjoyed the first trailer a bit more then this one, but either way I am really looking forward to seeing this. I don't mind the digital look of his movies, except with Miami Vice because it didn't seem to work as well like with Collateral.
  • No, i erased it from my memory.
blog comments powered by Disqus