The MICHAEL MANN Appreciation Thread

It ain’t no secret that I consider Michael Mann to be a truly magnificent and truly talented writer/director. I haven’t seen a BAD Mann film yet (though I have not yet seen The Keep (1983)). I’d rank his films like this: (directed only)

1.The Insider (1999) A+
2.Heat (1995) A+
3.Thief (1981) A
4.Collateral (2004) A
5.Ali – The Director’s Cut (2001) B+
6.Miami Vice (2006) B
7.The Last of the Mohicans (1992) B
8.Manhunter (1986) B-


Michael Mann grew up in the working class Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park and in 1960 he graduated from high school and attended the University of Wisconsin, to study English literature (for which he would receive a BA). After college, Mann studied at the London Film School, earning his master’s degree in 1967. While there he worked for an ad agency and toned up his directorial skills on commercials, documentaries and short films.

He moved back to the U.S. in the early 70’s and relocated to Los Angeles. He got work writing for such TV shows as “Starsky & Hutch” and “Police Story”. He also wrote the pilot for “Vega$”. His first directorial effort was The Jericho Mile (1979) for which he won a DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials and he also won an Emmy for co-writing.

In 1981 came his feature film debut with the crime thriller, Theif starring James Caan. It was received well and was filmed on location in Mann’s hometown of Chicago. Real cops and thiefs were used as technical advisors for the film. In fact some real life cops were used as henchmens while former professional thief John Santucci was used as a cop. The great Dennis Farina is one of the cops used as a henchman.

The film was also praised for being very well done, technically speaking. All the tools used by Frank in the film are real and the vault he breaks into was an authentic vault purchased solely for that scene. And the technique used to break into it was real as well. Though the film never took off, Mann was making a mark in Hollywood.

In 1983 he followed up Theif with the critical and commerical disaster, The Keep. The film was based off of the book by the same name and was about a group of Nazi soldiers who are assigned to gaurd a Romanian Citadel. When the soldiers start dieing they call upon a lonely Jewish man to help figure out whats going on. I have never seen The Keep but I have never heard anything good about it. As far as I know it has never officially been released on DVD. At least not in Region 1.

After the disapointment of The Keep Mann moved back to television. He got a hold of a new cop show that would re-shape cops shows for a new generation. The show was called "Miami Vice". He served as executive producer (and wrote some episodes) for the shows entire five year run. "Vice" was a critical and commercial success. The ratings were great and the show was extremely popular. Because of it's use of popular-at-time music, flashy clothes, fast cars, and the slick, colorful style the show was a success with the "MTV Generation". While some feel the show lost it's steam around season three, the ratings were still good and the showed continued until its final episode aired on June 28, 1989 (an un-aired episode was broadcast several months later). Mann would re-visit Miami over 20 years later for big screen re-telling.

During Vice's run, Mann returned to the big screen in 1986 with the adaptation of Thomas Harris's book "Red Dragon" only retitled to Manhunter. It was the first Hannibal Lecktor film made and is the one often forgot about and swept under the rug. Brett Ratner remade or re-imagined this when he made Red Dragon in 2002. Though I do prefer Manhunter over Red Dragon it does suffer from being dated. It was made on a low budget and it easily shows. The film works as a taught little thriller and William Petersen (Gil Grissom on TV's "CSI") really shines as Will Graham. Thomas Noonan plays the Red Dragon, Francis Dollarhyde. Brian Cox was cast as Lecktor and delivers a performance just as good as Anthony Hopkins would do several years later in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

The film also features the beginning of Mann's trademark visual style. The blues are prominent and the slick and stylish camera angles/shots are present. The use of music also adds to Mann's style as his soundtracks are always greatly thought out to help add to the film rather then distract you. While not one of Mann's greatest achievements it's still a nice little film and it does its job when it needs to.

Still during his "Miami Vice" years Mann started up another cop show. This time set in Chicago and starring Mann regular by this point, Dennis Farina. It was caled "Crime Story" and it only lasted about two seasons.

After Vice ended Mann would write and produce two mini-series about drug cartels. In 1990 there was "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story" for which he won another Emmy and in 1992 came "Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel" (1992) for which he recieved an Emmy nomination.


In 1992 Mann returned to the big screen with the adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. It was recieved well by audiences and critics and took home an Academy Award for Best Sound. Mann has also gone on record as saying that "Mohicans" is a terrible piece of literature but that it was the story that had interested him in the project.

Mohicans remains one of Mann's most under rated films. Day-Lewis delievers a wonderful performance as Hawkeye and the final 20-30 minutes of the film is what makes it a good film. There's also a scene between Wes Studi and Jodhi May towards the end that helps to elevate the film.

It wasn't until 1995 that Michael Mann truly made a huge mark in the industry. In 1989 he had a made a little seen TV movie called "L.A. Takedown". This TV movie was used as blueprint for what has become known as one of the best police dramas ever made, Heat (which he wrote, produced and directed).

Heat was a critical and commerical success and it also made movie history by pairing two screen icons together for the first time. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. The two had appeared previously in The Godfather Part II (1974) but were never acutally on screen together. Though in the famous "coffee shop scene" in Heat where these two icons meet they never actually appear in the same frame together. It's all over the shoulder shots which led to speculation that Pacino and De Niro were never on set together at the time of filming. This has been proven false.


The "coffee shop scene" was used as the marketing for the film and is what the film is mostly known for (aside from the shoot-out). Both actors deliever here and the dialogue between the two is marvelous.

Heat remains one of the best films ever made. It's truly a masterpiece of the genre and deserved a lot more praise then it got. It was shunned at the Academy Awards and only made about $68 million domestically. Mann's painstakingly accurate eye for detail helps propell this movie above all others of the same genre. The sounds of the guns are the real sounds those guns make. The cast went through exstensive fire arms training to prepare for what is known as the best shoot-out in cinema history.


The sound of the shoot-out is just absolutley jaw dropping. Hearing the guns echo through-out the streets of L.A. is just glorious to hear. Hearing the bullets tear through the metal of the police cruiser and shatters the windows it just makes you wonder why this film didn't win Best sound at the Oscars. It's truly a travesty that this thing picked up nothing.

Heat is one Mann's best efforts, a truly wonderfull blend of everything he's known for in his films. Great, well written characters, nice slick style, great performances and truly talented cast that included: Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Amy Brenneman, Natalie Portman, Danny Trejo, Tone Loc, Henry Rollins and Jeremy Piven, Wes Studi and Tom Noonan.

One of the more ballsy moves Mann pulled with Heat was that he let the shoot-out happen around the middle of the film. Any other director probably would have had the shoot-out at the end and have Hanna take McCauley down then. But Mann takes his time with these characters. He's still developing them all the way to the end. He even has a knack for making throw away characters important and memorable.

After the succes of Heat Mann reteamed with Pacino for the Academy Award nominated, (and my favourite Mann film) The Insider (1999).


To me The Insider is Mann's best work. It's his masterpiece and a film that should have taken home Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Actor at the 2000 Academy Awards (though it was nominated for seven in total). This a truly breathtaking film and for me, there's absolutley nothing wrong with it. It's an amazing film from beginning to end and despite it's near three hour run time and the fact it's all just talking heads it's an interesting film which will keep your attention throughout.

The film tells the story of Jeffery Wigand, a former employee of Brown & Williamson tobacco company, who despite signing a non-disclosure agreement broke his silence and blew the whistle on the tobacco industry. Russell Crowe gives the performance of his career here as Wigand and deserved that Oscar which was bought by Kevin Spacey. Some believe (as I do) that is why Crowe won a year later for Gladiator.

The Insider is a film which truly changed my life both in a film viewing way, film making way and life changing way. It helped me appreciate the dramatic side of films more and the technical qaultiy of the film was amazing. This is truly the must-see of Mann's filmography.

There's a scene in the film that completley sold it for me:



Pacino delivers this perfectly. He doesn't yell at the top of his lungs or anything like that. He just acts. Pacino deserves alot of praise for his performance as well.


In 2002 Mann followed up the brilliant The Insider with another biopic, Ali. It was recieved to a luke warm buzz by the critics and the audiences came but it never made much of an impact. The film picked up two Academy Award nominations, one for Best Actor for Will Smith and one for Best Supporting Actor for Jon Voight.

Mann never much appreciated the cut of the film that was released into theatres so that was why he made a Director's Cut DVD which adds in six more minutes of footage. The film all around is good but ultimately just plays out as a run of the mill biopic. The Director's Cut is the recommended version since it has more alone time with Ali as he runs through Africa before his battle with Foreman.

Will Smith gained close to 40 pounds for the role of Ali and went through exstensive training. Again this is where Mann's knack for accurate detail comes into play. Smith's transformation is something that should really be appreciated.

Also in 2002 Mann headed back to the small screen with the short lived "Robbery Homicide Division" starring Mann-regular, Tom Sizemore. The show only lasted one season.

In 2003 Mann produced Baadasssss! (2003), Mario Van Peebles film about his fathers, Melvin Van Peebles, quest to make Sweet Sweetback's Baad Asssss Song (1971). It was a surpringly good little film and Peebles was actually very impressive both in front and behind the camera. Mann got on board with this film after having worked with Van Peebles during Ali, where Peebles portrayed Malcolm X.

Also in 2003 Mann was going to begin production on The Aviator. He ultimately decided to bow out since he didn't want to do a third biopic in a row and so he offered the film to Martin Scorsese and he accepted. Mann remained on as a producer and in 2004 the film was released to commericial and critical success. It picked up 11 Academy Award nominations (winning five) including a Best Picture nomination for Mann.


Also in 2004 the box office hit Collateral was released to great reviews and a good opening weekend. This is a truly solid film. Again, much like Heat, the gunshots are authentic and the cast went through exstensive fireamrs training. Tom Cruise gave a solid performance in a role that we're not accustomed to seeing himin The film also brought Jamie Foxx into the spotlight.

The action was well shot and the cinematography is some of the best in all of Mann's films. The soundtrack is top notch and is probably the best soundtrack for any Mann film. The film picked up two Academy Nominations: Best Editing and a Best Supporting Actor nod for Jamie Foxx in his role of Max, the cabbie who has to put up with Cruise's antics through the night. The National Board of Review presented Mann with the Best Director honors for 2004 as well.

In 2006 Mann released his big screen re-telling Miami Vice. The film didn't feature any of the stereotypical 80's nuances the show had. It had the fast cars, fast women, action and music that the show had but for a more contemporary audience. The film starred Colin Farrell as Det. Sonny Crockett and Jamie Foxx as Ricardo Tubbs. It opened on July 25, 2006 to mixed reviews and a semi-weak box office. The still featured Manns signature style for camera work, lighting and music but unfortunatly the overall characters and story were not on par with his previous. While still a good film it wasn't as great as Heat or The Insider.


On Mann's slate for upcoming projects he has Arms and the Man (2006), The Few (2006) and Damage Control (2007) with Jamie Foxx. As well as Tonight, He Comes (2006 and The Kingdom (2006 on the producing side of things.

Sometimes during shooting Mann will also operate the camera. He did a lot of camera on Heat, some on The Insider and a lot of the boxing shots were done by Mann for Ali. So aside from writing, producing and directing he also operates the camera.

So hopefully this has given you a better understanding of my favourite director and hopefully you'll go out and see some of these movies if you haven't already.

EDIT: I apoligize for any and all spelling/grammar mistakes.

Thanks for compliments and repsonses folks! I too would love to The Jericho Mile and L.A. Takedown. I heard The Keep was coming out on DVD sometime but I guess those plans went away? I didn't know "Crime Story" was hitting DVD soon, so I'll have to rent that and check it out.

Oh and sorry for all the spelling and grammar mistakes. It took quite awhile to type up and it was late.

I should add that to my thread above. That scene is great and it's part of the reason why I love The Insider so much. Pacino delivered all that excellently.

I bought the Heat soundtrack just for that closing credits theme alone. The whole soundtrack on it's own is a real piece of work. Amazing. The Insider soundtrack is awsome as well. Mann is probably one of a very few directors today who can produce one hell of a soundtrack for their films.