The MICHAEL MANN Appreciation Thread - Page 9

Not major news, http://www.craveonline.com/film/articles/169799-laff-news-on-captain-america-luck-and-more

Pretty cool that Noyce is coming to work on Luck.

Spike, I can't wait for you to see The Insider.  I'm generally hesitant to make lists with movies, but The Insider will ALWAYS have a place on top of mine.

Pacino is subdued some in the film, but he's still got the big righteous moments.  And Russell Crowe is so damned good.  Mmmm... Bruce McGill...

Finally saw "The Insider". I think this is Mann's masterpiece. It's the equal of "Heat" and even more mature. Reminds me of '70s classics like "All the President's Men" and "Network" with its insights about the news media, riveting performances, and brilliantly articulate dialog. It's one of the few movies that's made me cheer because of the eloquence and passion of dialog delivery rather than big jokes or action set pieces. 

The movie also has what are now my favourite performances by Russell Crowe and Christopher Plummer and one of my favourites by Pacino, which is saying a lot since he's my favourite actor. He got to do some of his famous Pacino yelling, but for most of the movie I felt he gave one of his most effective more low-key performances.

It was great to see Plummer cut loose with some Pacino-esque rage as well, and Bruce McGill's outburst in court was a magnificent spectacle. The conviction of all the actors in their roles was so absorbing, it really dug into me emotionally. I don't think I've ever feared for a movie character's life as much I did for Crowe's in this. I must have spent a good 45 minutes worried that he was going to get shot. The way his life gets fucked was just heartbreaking. Before the credits came up, I was so relieved to read that the man Crowe played had success later in life.

I can't think of many criticisms except the music annoyed me at times and I was disappointed by the use of Gina Gershon. I was excited to see her name in the opening credits, but she didn't show up till late in the movie for little more than a cameo. Also, her natural beauty was undermined by the gross "corporate" make-up she was made to wear. Ugh. At least it was fun to watch Christopher Plummer tell her off.

I was amused by Diane Venora's character, first because her accent was a little silly, and second because it seemed clear that Mann cast her as the whiny girlfriend because he remembered how well she played almost the exact same stock role in "Heat". I think the fact that the only things bothering me about the movie were so trivial further proves what a superb piece it is.

Now I'm a little annoyed that "The Insider" got shut out at the Oscars. I thought Crowe was a lot better here than he was in "Gladiator", which wasn't a bad performance, but didn't get me nearly as emotionally involved in his character as his work here. I'm disappointed that Plummer didn't get a nomination that year either. Despite being absent for large chunks of the film, he really shined towards the end, but competition was really fierce that year. I think this movie makes "American Beauty" look pretty childish and obvious by comparison, though. It's definitely at a much more sophisticated level.

I have to agree, Michael Mann is one of the best drectors of his generation. And i cant believe he hasn't recieved more accolades than he has.

In my awards he has been nominated for Best Director for every film he has made, inluding The Keep in 1983. And he won in 1992 for Last of the Mohicans.

Thief  -  8 out of 10

The Keep  -  6 out of 10

Manhnter  -  7 out of 10

Last of the Mohicans  -  10 out of 10

Heat  -  10 out of 10

The Insider  -  9 out of 10

Ali  -  10 out of 10

Collateral  -  9 out of 10

Miami Vice  -  9 out of 10

Public Enemies  -  8 out of 10

An absolutely amazing talent.

I have to agree, Michael Mann is one of the best drectors of his generation. And i cant believe he hasn't recieved more accolades than he has.

In my awards he has been nominated for Best Director for every film he has made, inluding The Keep in 1983. And he won in 1992 for Last of the Mohicans.

Thief  -  8 out of 10

The Keep  -  6 out of 10

Manhnter  -  7 out of 10

Last of the Mohicans  -  10 out of 10

Heat  -  10 out of 10

The Insider  -  9 out of 10

Ali  -  10 out of 10

Collateral  -  9 out of 10

Miami Vice  -  9 out of 10

Public Enemies  -  8 out of 10

An absolutely amazing talent.

Recent interview

http://www.dga.org/Craft/DGAQ/All-Articles/1201-Winter-2012/DGA-Interview-Michael-Mann.aspx

Another interview, this one more a precis of his career in TV

http://watching-tv.ew.com/2012/01/21/michael-mann-interview-luck-hbo/

Part 2

http://watching-tv.ew.com/2012/01/28/michael-mann-crime-story-robbery-homicide-division-luck/

Glad they spend a bit of time on Drug Wars: The Camarena Story, which was an excellent TV movie and could've served as a plotline for MV.  It's definitely worth the pick-up from a DVD bin.  Good acting and great writing.  Those who have read Don Winslow's The Power of the Dog will recognize the source material.  Hopefully the RHD mention plants a bug in someone's ear that a DVD release is far overdue.

I think I remember some of it being trimmed; still worth watching, though.  I had the full fucking thing on VHS and would've had it on DVD but it got tossed during a move some years ago.  Lost the full Brotherhood of the Rose along with it - ugh. 

Interesting interview with one of his regular collaborators

http://designingsound.org/2012/01/elliott-koretz-special-exclusive-%E2%80%93-the-michael-mann-collaboration/

Also - long interview with Tavis Smiley for Luck

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/interviews/david-milch-michael-mann/