Won't Back Down
However Michael Mann's Public Enemies winds up faring commercially and critically, Marion Cotillard's performance as Billie Frechette, the girlfriend of Johnny Depp's John Dillinger, is an award-quality nail-down. No dramatic actress in recent memory has conveyed as much intestinal steel, and it's all in her eyes. In each of her scenes they have a straight-from-the-shoulder, no b.s. quality. Every time you look at those watery French peepers and think, "God she's beautiful," a subsequent thought happens a split second later: "Man, she's tough."
Marion Cotillard in Public Enemies
Even when Cotillard visibly melts at the end when Stephen Lang's G-man character delivers the final line (in what is easily the most moving scene), she does so with remarkable subtlety, like a survivor, like a woman who knows from dignity.
I came to this thought after reading Mark Harris's 6.28 N.Y. Times profile of Mann and the film, and particularly by this passage about Cotillard:
"[Mann's] movies are known for many things, from technological virtuosity to narrative complexity, but prominent roles for women are not among his trademarks. The character of Billie Frechette is something of an exception. Several American actresses wanted the part; Ms. Cotillard won it even though her English was less than rock steady. 'But she's ferocious,' Mr. Mann said. 'She's so focused and artistically ambitious that you knew that come hell or high water she was going to get there.'"
In short, Cotillard looks to me like a lock for Best Supporting Actress contention. Lang's screen time is perhaps a bit too brief to warrant consideration but the way he handles that final scene with Cotillard is nothing short of beautiful. Another supporting standout is Stephen Graham's portrayal of Babyface Nelson -- a screaming tempest, a madman with a tommy gun...."hey!"
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 28, 2009 at 10:04 AM
comment #1
BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
says ...
Stephen Graham is ace. His performance in This Is England should have been nominated for a bunch of awards, but nobody in America saw it so it didn't get noticed at all.
Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
at June 28, 2009 11:13 AM
comment #2
Breedlove
says ...
I don't know anything about the real Frechette. I assume she was French? Because last we heard from Cotillard she had a very heavy accent.
Posted by Breedlove
at June 28, 2009 12:00 PM
comment #3
Jeffrey Wells
says ...
Her inner current absolutely trumps whatever accent issues you might be expecting or perceiving. It's not an issue at all.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells
at June 28, 2009 12:10 PM
comment #4
Imogen
says ...
Actually, she was on Craig Ferguson last week and said she had been working with a dialect coach. She was easier to understand than Ferguson, with his Glaswegian brogue. It was a charming interview, but then Ferguson is by far the best interviewer on late night.
Posted by Imogen
at June 28, 2009 12:21 PM
comment #5
sumo-pop
says ...
The ladies came off pretty well in Heat and Madeleine Stowe was rapturous in Last Of The Mohicans s there are some exceptions.
Posted by sumo-pop
at June 28, 2009 12:46 PM
comment #6
Kristopher Tapley
says ...
AGREED.
Posted by Kristopher Tapley
at June 28, 2009 2:16 PM
comment #7
PRC
says ...
With Public Enemies and Nine, she's definitely making some great post-Oscar decisions.
Women will come to see this movie because they have a crush on Depp, and then they'll end up being moved by Cotillard's performance.
Posted by PRC
at June 28, 2009 2:17 PM
comment #8
Kristopher Tapley
says ...
However, I must say I'm not sold on the film's awards prospects all around. It'll be interesting to see what the critical opinion is on the whole and whether the film will sustain through the end of the year. Depp, I feel, is the film's best shot. Cotillard will have a performance in Nine to amp up the awareness, though.
Posted by Kristopher Tapley
at June 28, 2009 2:18 PM
comment #9
nemo
says ...
"I don't know anything about the real Frechette. I assume she was French? Because last we heard from Cotillard she had a very heavy accent."
French father, Menominee Indian mother. Frechette grew up on the Menominee Indian reservation in northern Wisconsin.
I heard an interview with Cotillard in which her accent sounded almost American, but she was obviously struggling to find her words in English.
Posted by nemo
at June 28, 2009 2:30 PM
comment #10
Glenn Kenny
says ...
I certainly hope she's as good as you and Harris say. It's going to take an awful lot for me to be able to separate her character/performance from the arrogant idiot I encounter in pretty much all of her interviews.
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at June 28, 2009 3:03 PM
comment #11
Imogen
says ...
Spoken like a true card-carrying arrogant idiot.
Posted by Imogen
at June 28, 2009 3:42 PM
comment #12
BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
says ...
Yeah, that's kind of a wet thing to say, Glenn Kenny. No offence. Sean Penn is the biggest twat on the planet but that didn't affect my appreciation of his performance in Milk.
Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
at June 28, 2009 4:37 PM
comment #13
COCO
says ...
She is tough...something about a bed and some cookies comes to mind....but the movie dominates.
Posted by COCO
at June 28, 2009 5:16 PM
comment #14
George Prager
says ...
She's French and she's an actress. How is she supposed to behave? And how is Sean Penn the biggest twat on the planet, Donkyboy? Because he gives you a boner?
Posted by George Prager
at June 28, 2009 5:51 PM
comment #15
BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
says ...
Brilliant.
Posted by BoshBarnetWonkyDonkey
at June 28, 2009 6:06 PM
comment #16
Glenn Kenny
says ...
I frankly admit to an honest human weakness, and this is the thanks I get. Oh, me.
Sorry, but it's true; I do tend to get a little "wet" about 9/11 truthers, I really must work on that. (And please spare me the "they took her out of context" protests.)
Posted by Glenn Kenny
at June 28, 2009 6:29 PM
comment #17
BurmaShave
says ...
Stephen Lang is in this? Stoked.
Posted by BurmaShave
at June 28, 2009 6:47 PM
comment #18
lipranzer
says ...
"The ladies came off pretty well in Heat and Madeleine Stowe was rapturous in Last Of The Mohicans"
Agreed, and I'd also add Joan Allen in MANHUNTER (making the cliched role fresh) and Gong Li in MIAMI VICE (except for her struggle with English at times, she was excellent).
Posted by lipranzer
at June 28, 2009 7:59 PM
comment #19
YRG
says ...
I did like Gong Li in Miami Vice. Prominent roles for women are not among Mann's trademarks?
Posted by YRG
at June 28, 2009 9:11 PM
comment #20
Guillaume
says ...
Tuesday Weld,Alberta Watson,Jodhi May,Amy Brenneman,Jada Pinkett Smith were also excellent in Mann's films.
Posted by Guillaume
at June 29, 2009 9:24 AM
comment #21
StoneFan1
says ...
The women in "Heat"? Oh, my God! You guys must be a bunch of sexist pigs if you think the women came off well in "Heat." How many times have you people been divorced? My God!
Stowe in "The Last of the Mohicans" is the best BY FAR in any of Mann's films. Joan Allen would be second from "Manhunter." Tuesday Weld third from "Thief."
Posted by StoneFan1
at June 29, 2009 9:43 AM
comment #22
Colin
says ...
Just curious does anyone who has seen Public Enemies know how long Leelee Sobieski is in this?
Posted by Colin
at June 29, 2009 3:59 PM
comment #23
McClaneSveUs
says ...
Stephen Lang's performance in the final scene was steely cool, with a hint of life-long regret.....explain to me how his character, so quickly, becomes the film's most compelling.
Posted by McClaneSveUs
at July 1, 2009 2:05 PM
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