As a cat-and-mouse thriller about a cop chasing a notorious bank robber, Michael Mann’s period action epicPublic Enemiesshould’ve been the nextHeat, but it was nowhere near as successful.Heatemerged as one of the most renowned action movies of the 1990s. From meticulously researched criminal operations to the echoes of real gunshots on the streets of downtown L.A.,Heathad an intense, gritty realism that had never been seen in the genre before. In the years since,Heat’s influence has been seen in everything fromThe Dark KnighttoGrand Theft Auto V.
The success ofHeat, still widely considered to be Mann’s best movie, turned Mann from a critically lauded filmmaker to a household name. AfterHeat, Mann branched out into true-crime dramas, sports biopics, and big-budget action blockbusters. But in 2009, he returned to the action subgenre that made him an A-list director. He made another cat-and-mouse thriller about a bank robber and the law enforcement officer on his tail. In theory, it should’ve beenHeat2.0, but it didn’t manage to matchHeat’s level of widespread critical acclaim.
It’s An Action Thriller About Bank Robbers With A Notorious Real-Life Criminal Figure At Its Center
Public Enemiesseemed to have everything going for it to be a worthy successor toHeat. LikeHeat, it’s another action-packed crime epic revolving around bank heists. AndlikeHeat, it’s based on a true story. Mann adaptedPublic Enemiesfrom the non-fiction bookPublic Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34by Bryan Burrough. Set during the Great Depression,Public Enemiesfollows the final years of infamous bank robber John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp, as he’s chased by FBI agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale).
As a cat-and-mouse chase between a notorious bank robber and a diligent lawman,Public Enemiesis essentially a period version ofHeat. Mann even recruited a lot of the same crew he used to makeHeat14 years earlier. It was shot by the same cinematographer, Dante Spinotti, and the music was created by the same composer, Elliot Goldenthal. For all intents and purposes,Public Enemiesshould’ve replicated the success ofHeat. But unlikeHeat, which was universally acclaimed by critics,Public Enemieswas met with a mixed response.
Why Public Enemies' Reviews Were So Mixed
The Movie’s Gripping Source Material & Powerful Performances Don’t Connect Emotionally
While it certainly wasn’t panned by critics,Public Enemieswas nowhere near as universally praised asHeat. It earned a “fresh” critics’ score of 68% and a less favorable “rotten” audience score of 59%.Public Enemieswas lauded for the cast’s performances, particularly Depp’s cold-hearted turn as Dillinger and Billy Crudup’s scene-stealing turn as J. Edgar Hoover, and for the striking visuals that Mann brought to the table. Butit received criticism for focusing on docudrama bullet points over compelling inter-character drama, resulting in a lack of emotional resonance.
Public Enemieswas also criticized for its historical inaccuraciesand for missing certain pieces of context that make Dillinger’s story so legendary. The movie fails to depict the troubled economic landscape that made Dillinger a folk hero. Mann also forgoes the perfect climactic action sequence offered to him by history – the Battle of Barrington – in favor of ending with the anticlimactic showdown at the Biograph Theater.
Michael Mann’s True Heat Sequel Is Finally Happening
Heat 2 Was Officially Announced In 2023
15 years afterPublic Enemiesfailed to be recognized as a spiritual successor toHeat,Mann is working on a true sequel toHeat. In 2022,Mann penned a follow-up toHeatas his debut novel. The book, which Mann co-authored with Meg Gardiner, serves as both a prequel and sequel to the movie. It follows the early years of detective Vincent Hanna and career criminals Neil McCauley and Chris Shiherlis. Whereas the originalHeattakes place entirely in Los Angeles,Heat 2jumps from North America to South America to Southeast Asia and covers three separate decades.
This Scene From Heat Is Used By The Marines In Weapons Training
One intense action sequence from Michael Mann’s classic neo-noir Heat is so realistic that it’s been shown to Marine recruits in weapons training.
In 2023, it was officially announced thatMann is planning to turnHeat 2into a movie for Warner Bros.He’s looking to cast hisFerraristar Adam Driver in the McCauley role, withAustin Butler rumored to be playing Chrisand Ana de Armas rumored to be playing Elisa. Mann is hoping to start shootingHeat 2by the end of 2024 so it can be ready for a 2025 release that will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the original film.Public Enemieswas a spiritual sequel toHeat, butHeat 2will be the real deal.
Public Enemies
Cast
Public Enemies, a 2009 film directed by Michael Mann, stars Johnny Depp as notorious Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger. The film chronicles Dillinger’s rise to infamy, highlighting his confrontations with J. Edgar Hoover and the newly formed FBI, led by dedicated agent Melvin Purvis, portrayed by Christian Bale.
