Micheal Mann Says ‘Ford Vs. Ferrari’ Should Have Had A “Real Ending” & ‘Miami Vice’ Is Missing Its Proper Finale

With “Ferrari” fresh off its Fall festival circuit run, Michael Mann is on the press circuit himself to plug his latest feature and talk about previous films. But in a new interview with Vulture, the director spoke about another recent movie that featured legendary automobile mogul Enzo Ferrari: James Mangold‘s “Ford v Ferrari” from 2019. Mann was once attached to direct the racing pic before abandoning the project. But if he were to direct it, Mann would’ve opted for a different finale; or, in his words, “a real ending.”

READ MORE: ‘Heat 2’: Michael Mann Eying Adam Driver To Star & Says It’ll Be His Next Film

I developed a script with Jez Butterworth,” Mann said of “Ford v Ferrari.” “I would’ve had a real ending. The film ends with Ken Miles’s death during a test drive. It’s shot from a distance without explaining why he crashed. which I think would be either figuratively or actually showing Ken Miles commit suicide. My theory is he drove into the wall. But I thought the film was good.” Of course, those who’ve seen Mangold’s film know the scene Mann references isn’t the actual denouement of “Ford v Ferrari.” In a moving moment, Matt Damon‘s Carroll Shelby passes on Ken Miles’ wrench to Miles’ son, a symbol of their shared pursuit in both auto racing and life. But Mann isn’t one for that kind of sentiment, so obviously his ending for the film would have focused on the masculine drive for ambition differently.

Think Mann’s comments on Mangold’s movies are harsh? Well, it’s not like Mann isn’t tough on his own films either. Later in the interview, Mann, in typical curt fashion panned the end of his 2006 film “Miami Vice” for not having a “proper ending.” But Mann explained that the film’s abrupt ending came from compromises he had to make due to budget and scheduling.

Oh, no, I loved the movie,” Mann said of “Miami Vice.” “I’m just talking about the reaction. I would make the movie all over again. It doesn’t have its proper ending.” In Mann’s original conception, “Miami Vice” ended with a massive battle in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. “Owing to production issues, the finished film ends with a less elaborate shootout in Miami,” the director continued. “Because we weren’t able to shoot those last three weeks in Ciudad del Este. We shot for three days. And so there’s a very different ending that belonged on that film. But no, there are parts of it — the whole Cuba interlude was fabulous.

It’s worth noting that Mann’s novel from last year, “Heat 2,” has a storyline that features Ciudad del Este heavily, ending with a massive shootout in a warehouse outside the city. If “Heat 2” is indeed what Mann shoots next, maybe he’ll get to do the “proper ending” from “Miami Heat” almost two decades later, albeit as the ending for another film.

Mann’s “Ferrari,” with Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz, hits theaters everywhere this Christmas.