'Public Enemies' is a well-told, violent story that is worth seeing

After weeks of delay, I finally got to see the new Johnny Depp film Public Enemies, and I can recommend it. It does not sniff greatness, but it is a very good film featuring strong performances by Depp as bank robber John Dillinger and Christian Bale as federal agent Melvin Purvis.

Of course, the setting of the film is in the 1930s when robbers like Dillinger were becoming folk heroes during the Great Depression. Purvis was the agent assigned by J. Edgar Hoover to stop him by any means necessary.

The action scenes and cinematography are both first rate. Director Michael Mann effectively uses hand-held cameras to intensify the confusion and fury of the gun-battle scenes. Mann has an impressive resume of films to his credit, including The Last of the Mohicans and Heat. While this film is not in the league of those two, it is substantially better than the disappointing Ali.

If the film has a weakness, it is the lack of character development of Dillinger and Purvis. If we knew more about why they became the men they were, I think it would have added more dramatic tension to the film. Mann opted for a straightforward telling of Purvis' pursuit of Dillinger, and it works. Still, I don't think the film quite became what it could have been.

Depp's portrayal of Dillinger is appropriately ruthless and charismatic. Bale's performance as the stoic lawman is successful as well.

It is rated 'R' for violence and profanity.

For another take on this film, click here.

I know you've heard this a thousand times, but...

The Dark Knight is a great film, and if you are among the 12 people who haven't seen it yet, please do so (click here for a complete review).

Of all the Batman films made over the last couple of decades, I think this one stands head and shoulders above them all. I had always given the edge to Tim Burton's original Batman, but The Dark Knight is much better.

Some critics have carped that it is too long, but I don't feel that way at all. The two-and-a-half hours flew by, and all the actor's performances perfectly matched the tone set by the filmmakers. It's too bad Heath Ledger died, because I would have loved to have seen him play the Joker again.

This film is first rate and worthy of Oscar consideration.

'3:10 to Yuma' is a flick worth seeing

I have always had a soft spot for westerns. They don't make many of them these days, so I was hoping when I went to see '3:10 to Yuma' that it would be really good. After all, the only way Hollywood makes more of a certain type of movie is if one breaks through and is successful.

This film didn't disappoint. Starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, it delivers in just about every way a movie can. It has a suspenseful script, excellent performances by the actors, and was flat-out well made.

I won't bore you with a review because there are a thousand other places a person can visit on the internet that provides more thoughtful movie reviews than I can provide. In my 'Sites Worth Visiting' list on the right hand side of this page, there is a link to Roger Ebert's web site where he provides a review that sums everything up pretty well.

Brad Pitt's new film is also a western and is about the life of Jesse James. I haven't seen it yet, but 'USA Today' gave it four stars in last Friday's paper. Of course, that is just one review, but it might be worth checking out as well.

Westerns could be making a comeback.