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Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
'Jackie Brown,' and Other Glaring Mistakes on the LA Times's Top 25 Films List

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alorsenfants
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
It's Time to Play -- Agree To Disagree!

My side:

"Collateral" was Ruined by Tom Cruise (as per usual), along with a manipulative script, which (note) Michael Mann is not credited for.

"The Insider" and "Ali" fail to employ M. Mann in the ways that he really excels at.

Why doesn't anyone else care about "Thief"? Not perfect -- but very sharp, in many places?

Anyone with complaints about "Heat"... (except those who weren't happy with the actress playing Pacino's wife [who?]) ... I'll forgive you guys. What[?] Was she sleeping with someone fundamentally responsible for the project?

Well yes: if you did not revere "Heat" -- then back to Judd Apatow and Michael Bay you may go!

Sorry to be a bitch.

Oh (now you'll laugh) -- once upon a time I read scripts/manuscripts for Jerry Weintraub. When they handed me the typewritten copy of "The Silence of the Lambs", I concluded: 'No. It's Too gross'.

Silly me. Still think so though!
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DaveCrabtree
07/02/09

@alorsenfants: Well, I'd love to disagree, and I think I disagree with most of your post (other than loving Heat), but I can't understand enough of what you're saying to be sure.
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Wrapitup
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
There'll be two things that could keep Public Enemies from being another empty exercise in fancy lighting and hip soundtracking: Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. However, Depp and Bale are not warm performers. They have a certain remoteness and while lady-pleasing, come off as inaccessible. If the script is lacking in a strong human factor, the combination could leave the audience cold and kinda bored.

But really, look at all the great nineties directors. How many of them have managed to deliver anything of enduring quality after 2000? Steven Spielberg? Michael Bay ?(Yeah The Rock was dumb as, well, a box of rocks but its entertainment value holds up fantastically well after more than a decade) Andrew Davis? John Woo? Even Martin Scorcese. The fact is that a lot of big name directors suck major ass today, but the studios still revere them and audiences haven't realized that their best work was a whole decade ago. How many script-writers can write a good solid action flick today? When was the last time you saw a truly satisfying action movie that didn't leave you feeling like you drank a whole gallon of Diet Pepsi?
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BaconCat
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
Heat pissed me off to no end. Talk about a brilliant movie with a terrible ending. All he had to do to make it perfect is have Neil look at all the cops in the hotel and get on the goddamned plane! He can come back in 6 months when the 'heat' is off and whack Wayne Groh at his leisure. It's a flawless movie if Pacino does not get what he wants. He's so much better as the guy who does the job of protecting us even though he can't catch the really badass guys.
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mina324
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
That's why I avoid reading reviews of movies I want to see. If I'm on the fence about it, I'll read them. Or if it was universally panned and I want a laugh, I'll read them. Otherwise, I'd rather see for myself.
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Colander
07/01/09

@mina324: Yeah, I soak up reviews once I've seen it, but I hold out 'til then. (Except for 'blockbusters,' since the reviews are usually hilarious.)
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resipsaloquacious
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
Miami Vice (the movie) has grown on me after a few watches. If you get past Sonny's mustache, mullet, silly, meandering accent and face/body bloat, he's not bad in the part.

I think Mann also directed the premier episode(s) of Miami Vice the show, and that still stands as some good freaking TV.
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DaveCrabtree
07/01/09

@resipsaloquacious: No, he didn't, but he was the executive producer of the series, and the look of that show definitely had his imprint. Same with Crime Story, a great-looking crime drama starring Dennis Farina that ran about the same time. Rent the two-hour pilot episode, directed by Abel Ferrara. Television never looked so good.
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Sproing
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
I liked Collateral. Rather a lot. Also, The Insider.
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mslewis
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
I know nothing about how directors direct or how characters character . . . I only know that "Heat" and "Last of the Mohicans" were two of the best movies I have ever seen!! And "Manhunter" . . . well, it was amazing. I also know that "Ali" was the worse movie I've ever seen. I still can't believe the same man directed these movies. I flatly refused to see "Miami Vice" because I didn't want to continue to spoil my image of Michael Mann. I won't see this one either. I just want to remember him when he was brilliant.

I kind of disagree that it was the fault of the actors that "Colleteral" and "Ali" were failures. These actors know how to act and it's up to the director to get the best out of them. At least that's what I thought a director's job was. I could be wrong. I'm not a movie buff. I only know what I like. I can't vocalize why.
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resipsaloquacious
07/01/09

@mslewis:

Mohicans is awesome. So many great shots. My favorite is where they are running up the side of the mountain to save the sister. Magic. I think they shot in North Carolina.
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SinisterRouge
07/01/09

@resipsaloquacious: That is my favorite scene in LOTM. Just gorgeous. Yes, it was North Carolina. What a perfect movie...action, romance, history (kinda!).
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DavidWatts
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
I would just like to say that Manhola Dargis writes movie reviews like a 21-year-old film studies major. They are useless and worthless. I mean, who is she communicating with? My favorite is when they send her to like review a "normal" movie, like when she reviewed "Observe and Report." AS IF SHE HAS EVER LAUGHED.
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Lymed
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
I sat through Astronaut's Wife to watch Johnny Depp. Enough said.
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Sproing
07/01/09

@Lymed: Did you notice the director's fetish for Charlize Theron's feet?
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anxiousart
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
Heat, of course, is a masterpiece. Also, I truly believe that The Insider is also in that category. Often overlooked outside of Russel Crowe, but I think Mann's style works brilliantly with a subject (the tabacco industry vs. a bunch of lawyers) that could be really dry. Here, his techniques work well, as in Heat. So, I'm hoping that at some point he'll take another crack at real-world, real-issue kinds of subject matter.

Also, he keeps using all that gloomy, weird Einsturzende Neubauten music. Kinda dig it, but it's the same piece...
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Xylo
07/01/09

@anxiousart: I loved The Insider; I could watch it on a continuous loop. Russell Crowe's acting talent provided the character heat in that film, he is very good at showing slowly burning rage.

I saw Public Enemies at an 11:45 am showing today in Toronto and I'm left a bit cold, there isn't very much character development, not even with Depp's Dillinger. Lots of shootouts, sigh. There's something odd about the effect of digital film in this movie, the daylight hours seemed very dull and I think most of the film was shot at night. It seemed very claustrophobic, I don't know what was going on there. I'm still processing it.
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Richard Petty Bourgeoisie
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
I think his stinkers (Collateral, Ali, Miami Vice) stink because the actors in them stink (Cruise, Smith, Farrell). Mann puts so much time and effort into technical proficiency he has to trust his actors to bring spirit and marrow to his films. When he worked with Pacino, DeNiro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Brian Cox and Russell Crowe, the product was great. When he works with closeted space aliens or a bloated Dubliner going through withdrawal, his films suck.

So, yes, I do care. I don't really think his stinkers even stink too badly (other than Ali).
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SinisterRouge
07/01/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: Spot on. Except I disagree about Collateral . I thought Cruise was pretty great in that movie, though the Tom-is-weird meme was already out at that point. But I agree on the other points totally. I mean the man made Last of the Mohicans for Chrissake!
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DaveCrabtree
07/01/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: I think it may have to do with the kind of actor as opposed to his quality. Actors who are more internal (like De Niro or Day-Lewis or Crowe) do very well in his movies, while the scenery-chewers don't. Perhaps it's because Mann's movies are so static that the actors need to be as well (but they still have to act, of course), and too much attention-drawing or demonstrative acting feels off. Heat is an awesome movie, but I thought that Pacino was the weakest link in the cast.
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Airvault
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
I've always kept Michael Mann at a distance. Like you said he's only good for a few tricks. "Look! It's Al and Robert! In the same shot!!" That's about it. There's a real lack of movement in his characters. You never get a true sense they're uncovering any real sense of themselves. It's funny that the most ardent supporters of digital film making are usually the one's least at ease with uncovering the human psyche. Digital gives you the look of reality. Film gives you the feeling.
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SinisterRouge
07/01/09

@airvault: Apparently a large distance if you think that's all Michael Mann's films are made of. He's a superb director. Odd you should bring up Heat as the example of how his characters don't "uncover themselves" being that that is exactly what the film does for all four of the main characters (you know there were some fabulous wonderful ladies in that film as well as Richard pointed out).
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homoviper
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
Well, it's probably not Heat-great, but judging from the reviews it's better than both Collateral and Miami Vice so is probably worth a look.
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depardoo
07/01/09

In reply to Will Public Enemies Be Just Another Hollow Michael Mann Movie?
"a technical wizard who ignores everything else" - this is how Mrs. Depardoo describes my sexual prowess.
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