We called this one ages ago. We wrote a piece called, Did Johnny Depp And Michael Mann Butt Serious Heads On The Set Of ‘Public Enemies‘? based on an interview Depp did with EW where you could basically read between the lines and easily figure out that the actor had reached the end of his tether with the director.
The Daily Beast pretty much confirms the rumors we’ve all heard.
And sources say Mann went about business as usual on the set: Johnny Depp disliked Mann’s chaotic style of filmmaking to the point that he ultimately refused to speak to the director. Universal executive Dylan Clark (who has subsequently resigned to take another position) was forced to act as go-between. (All parties declined to comment) — [ed. the telltale sign]
Shouldn’t stop you from seeing the movie though, which comes out today, July 1. We didn’t love “Public Enemies”, it’s long winded and cold and only roars to life in the last act, but hell, we’d pay you to go see it before you spent more money on “Transformers 2.”
Interestingly enough, Harvey Weinstein is apparently so hard up for cash he’s now writing articles for The Daily Beast. No seriously, and to indicate that he’s a true blue journo he’s written about endorsing “Public Enemies” as the beginning of Oscar season. And it’s not even a Weinstein Company film! (cue: baddadnadah! pratfall sound)
I saw Public Enemies last night and liked it a lot. Whatever happened on set, you can bet a large part of whatever box office this film makes will be from the Midwest, where Depp went out of his way being friendly to the fans during filming. Several critics are hailing his performance as his best yet. But if you want more dirt re Depps v mann, see the "go-between's" interview: http://30ninjas.com/blog/exclusive-interview-public-enemies-producer-g-mac-brown-part-2.
I don't blame him Michael Mann really F'd that movie up.
I knew a bunch of regional actors who had small parts in Mann's The Insider. The stories could fill a book. Or, at least several blog posts!
So no movie with Fincher also!
Perhaps some of you clowns should go and make a feature movie with millions of dollars on your shoulders to get in on time and on budget!..Michael Mann is Michael Mann, he directs with precisional force and has a vision like no other director, so what boo who if he pisses off a couple of actors and or regional actors!.
-Gregg Buchanan. Writer/Filmmaker,
Auckland, New-Zealand.