Forward Pass (USA): 6

Public Enemies (2009), an American biographical crime drama film directed by Michael Mann, follows notorious criminal John Dillinger as he attempts to evade the law and continue his life of crime in 1933. With a screenplay co-written by Ronan Bennett and Ann Biderman, the movie begins with Dillinger’s daring escape from the Indiana State Penitentiary alongside his crew. Tragically, his mentor Walter Dietrich is killed during the jailbreak. After changing their clothes and finding refuge at a safe house on Chicago’s east side, Dillinger and his accomplices carry out a series of bank robberies while FBI agent ...

Hancock (2008), a satirical superhero film directed by Peter Berg and written by Vince Gilligan and Vy Vincent Ngo, follows the story of an alcoholic, reckless superhuman named John Hancock. Gifted with flight, invulnerability, and super-strength, Hancock operates as a haphazard and unrefined superhero in Los Angeles. However, his drunken and careless crime-fighting methods, as well as his rude and unpleasant demeanor, often lead to public ridicule and hate. One day, while causing unnecessary destruction during a rescue ...

The movie Miami Vice (2006) was written, directed, and co-produced by Michael Mann. Based on the hit TV show from the 1980s, for which Mann served as executive producer. While undercover at a club to arrest a pimp named Neptune, Miami-Dade detectives James ‘Sonny’ Crockett and Ricardo ‘Rico’ Tubbs receive an urgent call from their former informant Alonzo Stevens. Worried for his wife’s safety, Stevens reveals he is leaving town and asks Rico to check on her. It turns out that Stevens had been working as an FBI informant but has now been compromised. The detectives quickly contact FBI ...

The Aviator (2004), a biographical drama directed by Martin Scorsese and written by John Logan, tells the story of young Howard Hughes. In 1913, his mother teaches him to spell ‘quarantine’ while giving him a bath in Houston, warning about a cholera outbreak. Fourteen years later, he begins directing Hell’s Angels and hires Noah Dietrich to manage his business affairs. However, after seeing the success of The Jazz Singer, Hughes becomes determined to make his film as realistic as possible and converts it to a talking movie. While the film is ...

Michael Mann’s biographical sports drama film Ali (2001) follows the journey of boxer Cassius Clay Jr. leading up to his first championship match against heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Clay taunts Liston and initially dominates the fight, but midway through he experiences a burning sensation in his eyes, causing him to briefly believe Liston has cheated. With encouragement from trainer/manager Angelo Dundee, Clay regains his vision and ultimately wins the match, becoming the second-youngest heavyweight champion at that time. Along the way, he meets with Malcolm X and is eventually given the name Muhammad Ali ...

Heat (1995) is an American crime film written and directed by Michael Mann. It stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro among an ensemble cast. The movie follows the story of Neil McCauley, a skilled thief operating in Los Angeles. Along with his crew – including Chris Shiherlis, Michael Cheritto, Gilbert Trejo, and new recruit Waingro – they successfully pull off a heist of $1.6 million in bearer bonds from an armored car. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when Waingro impulsively kills one of the guards, forcing ...