Respectability and what constitutes it in the realm of film has, for much of the American mainstream, been dominated by notions of “subtlety” and rather limited conceptions of what “deep” films are. Films nominated for Academy Awards are typically biopics, self-serious “character pieces” that supposedly explore themes of identity, or some mixture of the two. Films that occupy the genres of science fiction, horror or a combination of the two are scarcely, if ever, nominated for Academy Awards. Of course,…

In a career punctuated by undeniable commercial and critical successes such as Heat, but also more divisive features that would be regarded by most as commercial failures and critical bombs, Michael Mann has always revolved around the periphery of mainstream acclaim rather than in it centre-which is puzzling, considering the fact that his films typically star pairs of guaranteed box-office draws (from Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat to Johnny Depp and Christian Bale in Public Enemies). Sandwiched…