Johnny Depp is the “sexiest man alive.” I know this because it’s what
I’ve been told by People magazine, my wife, all my wife’s
friends, my sister, and that girl I dated in college who used to make
me watch 21 Jump Street before she’d allow me to get her
clothes off.
He’s also the star of Public Enemies, which
comes out on DVD this week.
Public Enemies is roughly the 50th telling of the John
Dillinger saga, and approximately the 9,000th movie with a title that’s
a variation of the word “enemy.” Here are five more.
Enemy Mine (1985)
A young actor (Dennis Quaid) on the cusp of stardom, another (Lou
Gossett, Jr.) just coming off an impressive Oscar win. What better
vehicle for both than a sci-fi version of My Dinner With
Andre? Quaid would go on to do D.O.A. and
Innerspace, while Gossett’s future movie choices would
provide Cuba Gooding, Jr. with his post-Academy Award career
template.
The Public Enemy (1931)
The story — tough guy Tom Powers (James Cagney) rises to power and
distinction after hard upbringing on the mean streets — is a familiar
one, though it still had the cinematic equivalent of new-car smell in
1931 and would provide inspiration for everyone from Martin Scorsese
to Lloyd Kaufman. And while the body count and gore quotient may not
measure up to today’s standards, there’s plenty on hand to offend,
including the infamous “grapefruit scene.” Sure, it’s no
Irreversible, but this was 1931, remember.
Enemy Gold (1993)
The first movie in Andy Sidaris’ “L.E.T.H.A.L. Ladies” series not
directed by Sidaris himself, and the first to star the Amazonian Julie
Strain (as “Jewel Panther”). This is the best sexploitation flick
about a search for missing Confederate gold that you’ll ever see.
Sleeping With the Enemy (1991)
Oh, Laura…if only you’d given a fake name to those ladies in your
swim class then you and that handsome Ben Woodward could have saucily
tried on new hats while listening to Van Morrison music for the rest
of your days.
The Enemy Below (1957)
Well know to Star Trek aficionados as the inspiration for the
TOS episode “Balance of Terror,” and to James Bond fans as one of the
first English-language movies of Curt “Karl Stromberg” Jürgens. And
movie-trivia buffs will also like that this was one of the first movies
where the downbeat ending was switched out with a “happy” one based on
preview reaction. Long live focus groups.
To win a free copy of the Public Enemies DVD, either use the comments section or e-mail hairballscontest@houstonpress.com (Put “Depp DVD” in the header) describing why Johnny Depp is so damn sexy. If you’re a straight male, think outside the box. The three best answers, judged strictly on subjective criteria like how hot/creative/funny/convincing they are, get a DVD. We’ll pick winners on Thursday.
This article appears in Dec 3-9, 2009.
