Public Enemies trailer gets our blood pumping
By The Prodigal Fool, published on 11 March 2009
Michael Mann first caught our attention in 1986 with Manhunter, which – despite the sheer excellence that is The Silence of The Lambs – is, in many ways, still the most interesting of the Thomas Harris, Lecter book adaptations. After Manhunter, he went on to pretty much single-handedly define the quintessential style of the 80s with TV’s Miami Vice. Never before has one show better embodied all of the aspirations of an era. It’s all there: the clothes, the musics, the architecture, the cars, the watches… And its influence was felt worldwide.
He could have called it a day right there but Mann then moved on to produce and direct some of the most visually interesting, action-packed yet thoughtful movies of the last 20 years. From The Last of the Mohicans to Collateral, through such classics as Heat and The Insider, Mann has consistently displayed a Prodigal eye for a good story, beautifully shot and overlayed with an almost perfect sense of style and music.
Yes, let’s not beat around the bush, The Guide is a huge Michael Mann fan. We’re not saying all is perfect. Ali – unbelievably considering the subject matter – was dull and the Miami Vice of 2006 movie seemed to consider plot and acting as ancillary. Having said that, on the whole, we consider any new Mann project something to get very excited about indeed.
Which is why, we’re so looking forward to his latest: Public Enemies.
This puppy has one hell of a cast: Johnny Depp and Christian Bale head up an ensemble that includes Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, and Stephen Dorff. More importantly, the subject matter is one that Mann has already excelled at and now seems to be returning to with a new twist. (What are the Depp and Bale characters if not 1930s verions of Heat’s Al Pacino and Robert De Niro characters?)
We’ll have to wait until July to find out whether it measures up to previous Mann highpoints. In the meantime, Universal Pictures has released the first trailer for the movie.
To our eyes, it looks like classic Mann. Beautifully shot and wonderfully atmospheric (not least through the expertly judged use of music), with strong (albeit mostly male) performances, and punctuated with clever, inventive action sequences.
You can check out the official website here. The trailer, the one that got our blood pumping enough to write this post, is below. Check it out and see if it does the same for you.
Public Enemies trailer gets our blood pumping
Michael Mann first caught our attention in 1986 with Manhunter, which – despite the sheer excellence that is The Silence of The Lambs – is, in many ways, still the most interesting of the Thomas Harris, Lecter book adaptations. After Manhunter, he went on to pretty much single-handedly define the quintessential style of the 80s [...]
A Prodigal 2009 reviewed: Happy New Year to you all « The Prodigal Guide
1 January 2010
[...] February; then sat back and started looking forward to the year’s releases. Inglourious Basterds, Public Enemies, Shutter Island and Mel Gibson’s return in Edge of Darkness were all exciting enough to prompt a [...]