Articles from July 2009



New photos of Johnny Depp as he leaves Paris hotel

The photo at left shows Johnny Depp leaving the Plaza Athenee hotel in Paris on Saturday, July 4th . . . this marked the end of his whirlwind Public Enemies promotional tour, and now his time is his own. Johnny’s attire reflects his liminal state, on the threshold between his public and private worlds: his white-and-blue striped shirt and dark pinstriped vest have been seen at Public Enemies premieres, but the well-ventilated jeans with the blue bandana hanging out of the back pocket are much more casual. To see a larger version of the photo of Johnny, CLICK HERE, and to see another photo of Johnny accompanied by security chief Jerry Judge, CLICK HERE. The Zone thanks Emma and Carasun for sharing the photos! –Part-Time Poet

ONBC begins its discussion of DILLINGER: THE UNTOLD STORY today!

Have you seen Johnny Depp in Public Enemies, and now you’re curious about John Dillinger? Stop by Oprah Noodlemantra’s Book Club, as ONBC begins its discussion of Dillinger: The Untold Story by G. Russell Girardin and William J. Helmer. Dillinger: The Untold Story has a fascinating history–Publishers Weekly calls it “one of the most unusual books in the annals of modern true-crime writing, for the bulk of the text was written 60 years ago and never before published. In 1933, Girardin, a Chicago ad man, persuaded Louis Piquett, who had served as John Dillinger’s lawyer, to collaborate on a series of newspaper articles, which were syndicated in the Hearst newspapers, and on a book-length biography of Dillinger [. . . ]. In 1989, Playboy contributing editor Helmer met Girardin and together they reworked the unpublished biography, until Girardin died in 1990. [. . .] The book constitutes a significant addition to Americana.”

Liz and DeppintheHeartofTexas will be interviewing co-author William J. Helmer, posing questions suggested by the Noodlemantras–wow! Going right to the source–well done, Liz and DITHOT. Please visit the ONBC forum to share in what is sure to be a very lively discussion. The more, the merrier! (Fedora optional.) –Part-Time Poet

PUBLIC ENEMIES rakes in $41 million at the box office

Michael Mann’s Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp as Depression bank robber and folk hero John Dillinger, posted a solid box-office performance in its first 5 days, earning $41 million domestically and an additional $5.3 million from 5 markets overseas. The gangster epic placed a strong third in the box-office race, and “served as solid counterprogramming” to popcorn movies Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Ice Age 3, notes Pamela McLintock in Variety. “Universal was pleased with Public Enemies, which overcame concerns that a more serious drama wouldn’t play in summer.”

Universal’s president of worldwide marketing and distribution, Adam Fogelson, said, “Everyone questioned whether this film would do good business. It turned out to be a great holiday weekend for fans of adult titles.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, Public Enemies is showing broad appeal: “Opening audiences skewed 53% male and were evenly divided between patrons younger and older than 25.”

“Fans of the adult film can rejoice,” declared Adam Fogelson. “In the midst of all this lovely, wonderful pure popcorn fare, there is an audience for what is not only an entertaining movie but also has higher artistic aspirations.”

Variety notes that Public Enemies posted the best opening box office ever for a Michael Mann film. That “is a testament to Depp’s appeal,” says Variety, “proving he can open a pic even when not dressed as a pirate.”

The Zone thanks Sleepy and Theresa for box-office updates; you can read more on the Zone’s News & Views forum. For the Variety article, CLICK HERE, and for the Hollywood Reporter article, CLICK HERE. –Part-Time Poet

"A real genius"–Johnny Depp eulogizes Michael Jackson

Johnny Depp’s appearance at the London premiere of Public Enemies on June 29th was the first opportunity reporters had to ask for his reaction to Michael Jackson’s untimely death. “Well, obviously hearing about the sad passing of Michael Jackson, for anyone–for all of us–it’s very, very tragic,” Johnny said. “Some children lost a father; some parents lost a child; some brothers and sisters lost a sibling; so that’s obviously very sad. I had great respect for what he’s done, his work over the years,” Johnny added. “He’s a real genius.”

And what about the rumors that claim Johnny Depp may play Michael Jackson in a future motion picture? They have no credence. “As far as playing him in a movie, it’s such an obtuse rumor that I never had the pleasure of cultivating,” Johnny replied. “That’s not my idea, anyway.”

The Telegraph brought up the old false claim that Johnny’s performance as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was based on Michael Jackson–a rumor that Johnny debunked repeatedly in interviews at the time of the film’s release in 2005, and publicly refuted again on Monday. “He was not the inspiration for Willy Wonka,” Johnny said. “I wish I could say that I was inspired by him for the role.” However, there is no connection between Johnny’s portrayal of Roald Dahl’s candymaker and the King of Pop.

The Zone thanks Emma for the news articles from London and Marthamartha for the video clip from ITN News. To see the video, CLICK HERE. Warning–this video loads very slowly. To see a larger version of the photo of Johnny Depp at the London premiere of Public Enemies, CLICK HERE. –Part-Time Poet

BREAKING NEWS–Johnny Depp attends the Paris premiere of PUBLIC ENEMIES; new photos!

That photo of Johnny Depp casting his shadow across the Chicago landscape (actually an oversized Public Enemies poster) was taken inside the UGC Normandie in Paris, where Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, and Michael Mann appeared to present Public Enemies on the opening day of the Festival Paris Cinema. Today’s event was the last scheduled Public Enemies premiere (although Japanese Zoners are hoping that Johnny and Michael Mann will come to Tokyo for a premiere there in December; alas, they have a long time to wait for what we are already enjoying). To see a larger version of the photo of Johnny, CLICK HERE, and to see a photo of Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard, and Michael Mann on stage together inside the theater,
CLICK HERE.

Johnny did give media interviews and sign autographs for well-wishers outside the theater in Paris today; to see a photo of Johnny talking with a bevy of French journalists, CLICK HERE. Thanks to everyone who has shared pictures from Paris, including In-too-Depp, Kan10, and Carasun; you can find Zoner accounts of the Paris premiere on the Porch forum. –Part-Time Poet

Today's the day–PUBLIC ENEMIES opens in movie theaters across North America

One year and one day after it wrapped principal photography in California, Michael Mann’s Public Enemies debuts on the big screen–actually 3,334 big screens across North America–today. A tense and gripping inspection of the criminal career of superstar bank robber John Dillinger, Mann’s Public Enemies also shows us a way of life that was vanishing even as its characters lived it: the film is elegaic in more ways than one. Public Enemies stars Johnny Depp as the doomed gangster, Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard as Billie Frechette, and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent heading the Dillinger investigation.

Public Enemies has earned many outstanding reviews from some of the country’s toughest critics. Manohla Dargis, writing in The New York Times, calls Public Enemies “a grave and beautiful work of art” that “looks and plays like no other American gangster film I can think of.” Indeed, to call it a “gangster film” is almost too reductive: Public Enemies is an American tragedy, and it will haunt you long after you leave the theater. –Part-Time Poet

Londoners show love for Johnny Depp at the PUBLIC ENEMIES premiere

“Johnny Depp made plenty of friends at the Public Enemies premiere tonight,” reports Alison Maloney of The Sun. “The Hollywood superstar made an early appearance on the red carpet and greeted waiting fans outside the Empire Leicester Square with a shy grin and a wave before signing autographs for nearly an hour. Thousands had waited all day to see Johnny and co-star Marion Cotillard.” She’s right–dozens of Zoners were among those thousands of well-wishers, and you can read their encounter (or in some cases, just-missed-the-encounter) stories on the Zone’s Porch forum. To see a photo of Johnny signing autographs in Leicester Square, CLICK HERE.

Speaking of his role as the charismatic bank robber John Dillinger, Johnny told The Telegraph that he found Dillinger an intriguing character: “I had a sort of fascination, not so much that he was a criminal . . . that this guy took up arms against the establishment and he did it with a smile. There was a sort of twinkle in his eye which I find interesting.”

When the reporter asked if he had ever done anything rebellious himself, Johnny replied–no doubt with a twinkle in his own eye–“No, not once in my life.”

He did enjoy filming the gunplay in Public Enemies, though. “I enjoyed firing machine guns,” he told The Telegraph. He added, “I did not actually shoot anyone.”

The Zone thanks Emma for the articles from the British press; you can read more on the News & Views forum. We also thank all the intrepid Zoners who trekked to Leicester Square and have shared their stories with us on the Porch. Well done! –Part-Time Poet