The curious case of Heat 2 appears to have found some resolution. After years of speculation surrounding the plot, casting, financing, and filming of Michael Mann‘s adaptation of his sequel novel to his beloved crime epic, cast member Christian Bale confirmed that shooting will begin soon. While the rest of the details remain unknown, Heat 2 looks to be a showdown between Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio, a worthy parallel to the original film’s double-billing of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. One of the finest actors of his generation, Bale previously worked with Mann on one of the director’s less renowned films, Public Enemies. The 2009 ambitious crime drama, also starring Johnny Depp and Marion Cotillard, is carried by a sensational Bale as the taciturn FBI agent Melvin Purvis. His performance captures all the essential Mann hallmarks, proving that he is ready to take on the weight of Heat‘s legacy.
Christian Bale Gives a Brilliantly Subtle Performance in ‘Public Enemies’
When news first broke that Michael Mann would be directing another cops vs. criminals saga about the birth of the FBI and pursuit of John Dillinger (Depp) set in the Great Depression, everyone likely expected Heat 2.0. Rather than a guns-blazing, immaculately crafted, and operatic crime epic, audiences received Mann’s most off-kilter film, one that was slow, internalized, and experimental. At the very least, you could’ve counted on a gorgeous re-creation of the American Midwest in the ’30s, but instead, Mann opted for high-definition digital photography that washed out most of the color and beauty of the period architecture.
In most gangster movies, filmmakers are drawn towards the perverse charm of the outlaws evading and disrupting law enforcement. Going back to Manhunter, Mann has shown equal, if not more, interest in the side of justice, particularly addled men who share more commonalities with the crook than one would like to imagine. Notorious bank robber John Dillinger’s story would be a solid basis for generic crime dramas, but Mann’s account of this vulnerable period in America is a two-hander with Melvin Purvis and the FBI. Depp’s performance is effective, imbuing the prodigious figure with the striking presence of a modern-day legend, but the real star of Public Enemies is Bale, who gave a remarkably unshowy performance in a year in between the releases of The Dark Knight and his Oscar win for The Fighter.
Christian Bale Perfected the Michael Mann Character Archetype in ‘Public Enemies’
Known for his intense screen presence and committed method acting, Christian Bale is perfect for Michael Mann, but not in the way that you might suspect. The most unheralded aspects of Bale’s versatility are embedded in Public Enemies. The disjointed nature of the film is a product of actors seemingly operating in other movies, as is often the case for Depp and Cotillard. Bale, however, understands the heart of the story and Mann’s deconstruction of cops versus crooks narratives. Purvis is devoid of any notion of traditional heroism, as he appears to be driven by an ineffable source beyond his duties as an officer of the law. He is transfixed by shutting down Dillinger’s bootlegging as a means to preserve his worth and masculine excellence, one of Mann’s defining character traits. With the dawn of the FBI emerged a wave of new advanced technology like wire-tapping and fingerprint catalogs, and Purvis deploys these tactics to push his field into the future, similar to Mann’s groundbreaking formalism on the screen.
Despite being on the right side of the law, Purvis resembles the mission of Mann’s notable criminal figures, such as Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) from Heat and Vincent (Tom Cruise) in Collateral. His resolute nature towards a single objective and stripping out all distractions in life clouds his virtuous service to his country as something more sinister. It wouldn’t be a Mann film if the protagonist and antagonist didn’t have a kinship, as Dillinger and Purvis echo the dynamic between Neil and Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) in Heat, who treat their cat-and-mouse chase as an athletic competition. They should loathe each other, but deep down, there is a mutual reverence between Mann’s heroes and villains, with both sides blurring the line between good and evil. Purvis’ use of torture during interrogation and Dillinger’s charm and Robin Hood glorification by the public make you question what exactly defines a hero.
Christian Bale has already outlined the blueprint for the ideal Michael Mann character in Public Enemies, even if the film itself didn’t always support his superb work. No matter what side of the law Bale will occupy in the highly anticipated Heat 2, his body of work proves that his preternatural skills as an austere actor are destined to make the sequel stand on its own.
Public Enemies is available to rent or buy on VOD services.
- Release Date
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July 1, 2009
- Runtime
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140 minutes
- Director
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Michael Mann
