Aside all his monumental movies MIAMI VICE is just great. Watched it at the cinema and fell in love with it. Just watched it again. Piece of art. Period.
Saw Heat when I was 16 years old. I didn’t move for 3 hours. I was enthralled, I enjoyed the meditative aspects juxtaposed with the exciting shoutouts. Also, this movie, inspired the real North Hollywood shootout.
Beautifully put ! Heat is a truly special film. I didn’t know about that shootout so thank you for letting me know ! It’s crazy to see just how much the film has inspired
@@AidanOswald-Harris Miami Vice is brilliant and so easy to rewatch ! It was nice to see the film included in Indiewire’s top 100 films of the 2000s recently. Its star is only getting brighter as the years roll on. Thank you so much for watching and your kind words ❤️
Mann's foray into digital cinematography and aesthetics is not one of adaptation, or even for an appetite for the new. Rather, Mann's visual acuity is so extraordinary, the limitations that he felt with the analog naturally manifested a feel for digital aesthetics; his intuition truly preceded historical development. One can get can evidence of this by how some shots in Heat were shot behind greenscreen for the background to be edited out and then recomposited at a different frame rate for higher exposure; he is also one of the pioneers of soaked street pavements in Thief and different lighting techniques to allow a greater depth of field for urban landscape. His emphasis on brief, subtle momentary action along with technical uninviting dialogues- all of his obsession heralds a true aesthetics for digital impressionism that's quite unparalleled. Light, unadorned, docu-on the fly narration with scattered moments of hyperrealism. Miami Vice is my favorite movie of all time.
Great video. Michael Mann is one of my favourite directors ever besides Tony Scott, Claire Denis, Wong Kar-Wai and David Lynch. I love that his movies never feel satirical or jokey, but a critical, yet entertaining study of masculinity and its surroundings. My top 5: 1. The Insider 2. Miami Vice 3. Heat 4. Thief 5. Blackhat
@@InterchangeofNight I am extremely excited to see what Mann does for Heat 2 ! I really need to see the Insider, it’s one of a handful of Mann films I am yet to see to round out his filmography. From what I’ve seen so far though I’d go : 1. Heat 2. Thief 3. Blackhat 4. Miami Vice 5. Collateral I love all your top 5’s. Great taste 🔥
Appreciate you brother thank you ☺️ Dude I have so many questions about Heat 2. I’m so curious about how it will be filmed, (digital, 35mm or even imax ?) and I’m also very intrigued by who Mann will cast (Adam Driver and Austin Butler seem likely). I’ve heard the novel is great, so I’ll definitely be reading that prior to the film. Super excited ❤️
@@ink-_- That’s a very tough question ! I’d need to give it a lot of thought before I could give you a definitive answer but I like the sound of Oscar Isaac a lot ! He’s a wonderful actor who can bring the flamboyance needed for Hanna. I’ll throw in a few other names just off the top of my head, I think Andrew Garfield would be superb, or someone like Jake Gyllenhaal. While recasting Al Pacino is a tall order, there are a lot of great actors out there that could bring Hanna to life !
@@AuteurCinemaJeremy Allan White supposedly wants the Hannah part. He could play Hannah or Neil honestly. Oscar Issac too, that's brilliant. I do Not understand Adam Driver as Neil but that is the rumor. Great video btw!
Living in Phoenix and growing up in Phoenix during the 80s I loved watching Miami Vice. Phoenix is also a large warm city but has different colors, different look, different feel and texture. I was about 46 when I visited Miami. One night late, I walked on South Beach. As I stood there with a drink and cigar I looked at the beach and hotels along the beach, the lights, the colors, the ocean. I felt the air and the temperature and texture. It was exactly as Michael Mann had captured it on film. This is not as easy to pull off as one might be tempted to believe.
Thankyou so much for this video....I'm sure it's my entering the period of life where I have more to look back on and less ahead...but you managed to bring a tear of nostalgia, and appreciation....Thank you again....
Great video--I haven't seen most of Mann's movies, but now I really want to dive in and watch a bunch of these. The Keep and Blackhat seem particularly interesting. Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m so glad I could bring some of these films to your attention ! I haven’t been able to see the Keep just yet but I definitely plan on watching it at some point. It seems to be an outlier in Mann’s filmography, which definitely makes it a film of particular interest. On the other hand I have seen Blackhat 3 times and it’s a film that I absolutely adore. I would love to hear your thoughts on it if you manage to check it out ! Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching ❤️ PS : Nice Nier Profile pic haha 😝
I suggest starting with Miami Vice, Heat and Last of the Mohicans instead. The Keep is a particularly risky watch. I'm a huge Michael Mann fan and Blackhat didn't work for me. If you do start with The Keep and Blackhat and are not impressed, keep watching. It can only get better.
Haha 😂 It felt honest and thematically correct alongside Blackhat with the film being a global story taking place across Hong Kong, China and America. I always aim to subvert expectations ! 😂
Great essay bro!!! Anyone into Blackhat should defo check directors cut, its a huge improvement - much better than the theatrical imo. Same for Miami vice if only for the (new) first scene!
Miami Vice and Blackhat are perfect examples of films that would've an overall better reputation by being made/released years later. If Miami Vice was released, say, around the 2010s (especially post-Drive) and Blackhat was released post-COVID, not only their premises, but their style altogether would've made them instant classics. While I still prefer Miami Vice's theatrical cut, it is undeniable that Blackhat's Director Cut is the way to watch the film. Makes it a so much more cohesive and properly paced story. A genuinely criminally underrated film that needs (alongside Miami Vice) to be reconsidered so it can get its flowers as it should have from the beginning.
@@retro-ronin Completely agree ! On my next watch of Blackhat I will definitely watch the directors cut, as I’ve heard nothing but good things. Justice for Michael Mann 😂😂 Thank you for your comment 💚
Yo so ive seen Ali, Heat, and Miami Vice and didnt like them all. but i just saw blackhat and its genuinely one of my new favorites. Michael Mann is a visionary and Blackhat is a masterpiece that wont be appreciated for 20 more years. This wss a great video man. Subbed
I am so glad to hear you liked Blackhat my friend ! It’s such a wonderful film and I really hope overtime it will become more and more appreciated, not just in Mann’s filmography but on an even wider scale. Thank you for your kind words and your sub, lots of exciting videos to come ☺️
Thank you for writing and producing a great video essay on a truly outstanding cinematic artist and some of his work. My favorite Mann works are (not necessarily in this order): THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, THIEF, MANHUNTER, HEAT and COLLATERAL. I somehow missed BLACKHAT, but now, I will get it on Blu-ray, sight unseen, just based on your essay.
Terrific picks Steve ! I am yet to see The last of the Mohicans, but all the other films you mentioned are terrific ! I really hope you enjoy Blackhat and thank you so much for your kind words and for watching ❤️
Thank you so much for your kind words and your sub my friend, I shall not let you down haha 😂. I love Mann’s works and I believe they definitely deserve more attention and praise 🙏🏼💚
@@AuteurCinema oh the director's cut is awesome dude. The rearrangement of the opening scene, made the story much more sense. plus it has different music cues in certain scenes. like the chase scene in hong kong, I even have that clip uploaded in my channel. it sounds so cool with the different electronic music cue
Really glad this video was suggested to me. Excellent video essay on Mann, one of my favorite filmmakers. I never watched blackhat due to its panning by critics but will give it a watch now.
Dude it makes me so happy to hear this ! I initially had the exact same thought process before watching, and was shocked when I actually saw the film. I’d love to hear your opinion on Blackhat when you watch it and thank you so much for your comment and kind words ❤️
Good video but no one can convince me Public Enemies is a good movie and it looks ugly as hell. I couldn’t get through Blackhat but have been interested in seeing the directors cut since I heard it was a massive improvement. I heavily disliked Ferrari though
I agree with Public Enemies and I’m definitely not going to make that case haha. I believe it’s one of Mann’s weakest films overall ( I basically skipped over talking about it apart from the thematic similarities it has with his other works ). But even with it being a weaker film of his I definitely admire elements and the overall experimentation involved. Innovation is sometimes very messy. Thank you so much for watching 💚
@@AuteurCinema For sure. The last Mann film I actually enjoyed was Collateral though I get excited for anything he does. Did you see the director's cut for Black Hat? I've been curious to see it but can't find much in the way of reviews
@@CapitalFProductions I do own the directors cut from Arrow, but am yet to watch it. I definitely need to check it out at some point to see the changes and how it effects the overall film
@@alexanderfriel7160 I liked Ferrari too. Not one of Mann’s best, but still a good film. It definitely deserved to perform better at the box office than it did.
@@redonefiftyYou’re correct that even if we love a director you still have to assess their projects from a neutral perspective. For example Lynch is one of my favourite directors of all time, but I can admit that Dune is one of the worst films I’ve ever seen (not all his fault but still.) However I believe Blackhat is an incredible film, and one of my personal favourites from Mann. Thank you for your comment !
@AuteurCinema That's fair. Funny enough, I'm actually with you on Dune. For me personally, I wanted to like Blackhat but too many choices, beats were off, and character depth lacking. Or repetitive of prior Mann characters. Olive branch, I love Vice and appreciate the ambition of Public Enemies, of which many audiences don't care for either. So apologies for coming on too curt.
@redonefifty No need to apologise at all my friend ! We all have different opinions and that’s a great thing (It would be incredibly dull if everyone agreed on everything) 😂. Not every film is made for every person either, but the thing with Mann and many auteurs is, even when you don’t like a project from them, there is always something of value in there (like Public Enemies !). Putting Blackhat aside, when a film is a critical bomb, it does not necessarily mean that the film has nothing of value in it. It’s always important to reassess, and as an audience we should be as open as possible in entertaining some of these films. Thank you once again my friend ❤️
'Blackhat' was terrible. I am yet to watch the director's cut. But, the romance is unrealistic. East Asian women aren't as submissive as they are depicted by white men.
@@cjewe1z Absolutely nothing wrong with not liking a film, however I think it’s problematic to view Tang Wei’s character in Blackhat as Mann’s entire view on East Asian women. She is just one single character in one single film and nothing more. (For example, look at Miami Vice and Gong Li’s character in it, which is vastly different.)
Aside all his monumental movies MIAMI VICE is just great. Watched it at the cinema and fell in love with it. Just watched it again. Piece of art. Period.
@@thomasnihil4878 Completely agree ! Miami vice is pure cinema 🔥
Proud Blackhat fan from Day 1 baybee!
Let’s goooo !
The Blackhat Director's Cut is damn good!
I love the theatrical but for sure need to check the directors cut out !
@AuteurCinema It's only available on the recent Arrow release, but well worth seeking out.
I own the 4K Arrow release actually ! I’m very glad they included it in the set (although it’s a shame that it isn’t also in 4K) 🥲
Wait what!!!! There's a director's cut???? OMG thank you for this comment
What there is a directors cut of blackhat 🤔🤔
Saw Heat when I was 16 years old. I didn’t move for 3 hours. I was enthralled, I enjoyed the meditative aspects juxtaposed with the exciting shoutouts. Also, this movie, inspired the real North Hollywood shootout.
Beautifully put ! Heat is a truly special film. I didn’t know about that shootout so thank you for letting me know ! It’s crazy to see just how much the film has inspired
Been saying this for years , finally someone that gets it, way ahead of it's time.... Blackhat is so good my balls tingle
Haha 😂 Such a wonderful film ❤️
This was me for Miami Vice
@@TonySoprano08 word
About as perfect as a video essay on Mann’s work can get! Love his films so dearly! I’ve probably seen Miami Vice 10 times in the last three years 😅
@@AidanOswald-Harris Miami Vice is brilliant and so easy to rewatch ! It was nice to see the film included in Indiewire’s top 100 films of the 2000s recently. Its star is only getting brighter as the years roll on. Thank you so much for watching and your kind words ❤️
Mann's foray into digital cinematography and aesthetics is not one of adaptation, or even for an appetite for the new. Rather, Mann's visual acuity is so extraordinary, the limitations that he felt with the analog naturally manifested a feel for digital aesthetics; his intuition truly preceded historical development. One can get can evidence of this by how some shots in Heat were shot behind greenscreen for the background to be edited out and then recomposited at a different frame rate for higher exposure; he is also one of the pioneers of soaked street pavements in Thief and different lighting techniques to allow a greater depth of field for urban landscape. His emphasis on brief, subtle momentary action along with technical uninviting dialogues- all of his obsession heralds a true aesthetics for digital impressionism that's quite unparalleled. Light, unadorned, docu-on the fly narration with scattered moments of hyperrealism. Miami Vice is my favorite movie of all time.
@@PukuBuffet Beautifully put ! I love Miami Vice as well, definitely one of Mann’s best 🔥
Miami Vice was poetry on film
An outstanding achievement in filmmaking !
Great video. Michael Mann is one of my favourite directors ever besides Tony Scott, Claire Denis, Wong Kar-Wai and David Lynch. I love that his movies never feel satirical or jokey, but a critical, yet entertaining study of masculinity and its surroundings.
My top 5:
1. The Insider
2. Miami Vice
3. Heat
4. Thief
5. Blackhat
@@InterchangeofNight I am extremely excited to see what Mann does for Heat 2 ! I really need to see the Insider, it’s one of a handful of Mann films I am yet to see to round out his filmography. From what I’ve seen so far though I’d go :
1. Heat
2. Thief
3. Blackhat
4. Miami Vice
5. Collateral
I love all your top 5’s. Great taste 🔥
HEAT 2 in production and I can't wait! Love your work bro! 👍🏼
Appreciate you brother thank you ☺️ Dude I have so many questions about Heat 2. I’m so curious about how it will be filmed, (digital, 35mm or even imax ?) and I’m also very intrigued by who Mann will cast (Adam Driver and Austin Butler seem likely). I’ve heard the novel is great, so I’ll definitely be reading that prior to the film. Super excited ❤️
@@AuteurCinema Who would you want for Pacino's character? My personal dream casting would either be Oscar Isaac or Robert Pattinson
@@ink-_- That’s a very tough question ! I’d need to give it a lot of thought before I could give you a definitive answer but I like the sound of Oscar Isaac a lot ! He’s a wonderful actor who can bring the flamboyance needed for Hanna. I’ll throw in a few other names just off the top of my head, I think Andrew Garfield would be superb, or someone like Jake Gyllenhaal. While recasting Al Pacino is a tall order, there are a lot of great actors out there that could bring Hanna to life !
Loved the Heat 2 novel. Continues from Heat. Great character development and tension.
@@AuteurCinemaJeremy Allan White supposedly wants the Hannah part. He could play Hannah or Neil honestly. Oscar Issac too, that's brilliant.
I do Not understand Adam Driver as Neil but that is the rumor.
Great video btw!
Living in Phoenix and growing up in Phoenix during the 80s I loved watching Miami Vice. Phoenix is also a large warm city but has different colors, different look, different feel and texture. I was about 46 when I visited Miami. One night late, I walked on South Beach. As I stood there with a drink and cigar I looked at the beach and hotels along the beach, the lights, the colors, the ocean. I felt the air and the temperature and texture. It was exactly as Michael Mann had captured it on film. This is not as easy to pull off as one might be tempted to believe.
Thankyou so much for this video....I'm sure it's my entering the period of life where I have more to look back on and less ahead...but you managed to bring a tear of nostalgia, and appreciation....Thank you again....
@@tx3851 Time is luck ❤️ Best wishes and thank you for watching !
Amazing well edited, well thought out video keep up the good work
Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching ❤️
Great video--I haven't seen most of Mann's movies, but now I really want to dive in and watch a bunch of these. The Keep and Blackhat seem particularly interesting. Thanks for the recommendations!
I’m so glad I could bring some of these films to your attention ! I haven’t been able to see the Keep just yet but I definitely plan on watching it at some point. It seems to be an outlier in Mann’s filmography, which definitely makes it a film of particular interest. On the other hand I have seen Blackhat 3 times and it’s a film that I absolutely adore. I would love to hear your thoughts on it if you manage to check it out ! Thank you so much for your kind words and for watching ❤️
PS : Nice Nier Profile pic haha 😝
I suggest starting with Miami Vice, Heat and Last of the Mohicans instead. The Keep is a particularly risky watch. I'm a huge Michael Mann fan and Blackhat didn't work for me. If you do start with The Keep and Blackhat and are not impressed, keep watching. It can only get better.
Did NOT expect to see Pierre Berton interviewing Bruce Lee in this!..
Haha 😂 It felt honest and thematically correct alongside Blackhat with the film being a global story taking place across Hong Kong, China and America. I always aim to subvert expectations ! 😂
Great essay bro!!! Anyone into Blackhat should defo check directors cut, its a huge improvement - much better than the theatrical imo. Same for Miami vice if only for the (new) first scene!
Thank you my friend ! I love the theatrical versions of both but will definitely check both Directors cuts out too ❤️
Miami Vice and Blackhat are perfect examples of films that would've an overall better reputation by being made/released years later. If Miami Vice was released, say, around the 2010s (especially post-Drive) and Blackhat was released post-COVID, not only their premises, but their style altogether would've made them instant classics. While I still prefer Miami Vice's theatrical cut, it is undeniable that Blackhat's Director Cut is the way to watch the film. Makes it a so much more cohesive and properly paced story. A genuinely criminally underrated film that needs (alongside Miami Vice) to be reconsidered so it can get its flowers as it should have from the beginning.
@@retro-ronin Completely agree ! On my next watch of Blackhat I will definitely watch the directors cut, as I’ve heard nothing but good things. Justice for Michael Mann 😂😂 Thank you for your comment 💚
Yo so ive seen Ali, Heat, and Miami Vice and didnt like them all. but i just saw blackhat and its genuinely one of my new favorites. Michael Mann is a visionary and Blackhat is a masterpiece that wont be appreciated for 20 more years.
This wss a great video man. Subbed
I am so glad to hear you liked Blackhat my friend ! It’s such a wonderful film and I really hope overtime it will become more and more appreciated, not just in Mann’s filmography but on an even wider scale. Thank you for your kind words and your sub, lots of exciting videos to come ☺️
Thank you for writing and producing a great video essay on a truly outstanding cinematic artist and some of his work. My favorite Mann works are (not necessarily in this order): THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, THIEF, MANHUNTER, HEAT and COLLATERAL. I somehow missed BLACKHAT, but now, I will get it on Blu-ray, sight unseen, just based on your essay.
Terrific picks Steve ! I am yet to see The last of the Mohicans, but all the other films you mentioned are terrific ! I really hope you enjoy Blackhat and thank you so much for your kind words and for watching ❤️
Awesome thanks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
@@dougmann66 Thank you for watching ❤️
So good someone seeying Mann's work like this
Subs the channel right now. Thanks for this beautiful essay
Thank you so much for your kind words and your sub my friend, I shall not let you down haha 😂. I love Mann’s works and I believe they definitely deserve more attention and praise 🙏🏼💚
Glad to see Blackhat has gotten a revisonism now. that director's cut definitely improved the film
@@v-trigger6137 I haven’t seen the directors cut yet, but I love the theatrical cut ! I hope more and more people give Blackhat a chance 🙏🏼
@@AuteurCinema oh the director's cut is awesome dude. The rearrangement of the opening scene, made the story much more sense. plus it has different music cues in certain scenes. like the chase scene in hong kong, I even have that clip uploaded in my channel. it sounds so cool with the different electronic music cue
@@v-trigger6137 I actually have the arrow 4K which includes the directors cut on Blu Ray, so I’ll definitely check it out when I can !
This is some of the best film content I’ve seen on TH-cam recently. You have earned a new subscriber sir!
You are too kind my friend ! Thank you so much for your support ❤️
Really glad this video was suggested to me. Excellent video essay on Mann, one of my favorite filmmakers. I never watched blackhat due to its panning by critics but will give it a watch now.
Dude it makes me so happy to hear this ! I initially had the exact same thought process before watching, and was shocked when I actually saw the film. I’d love to hear your opinion on Blackhat when you watch it and thank you so much for your comment and kind words ❤️
Great point !
@randywhite3947 haha yes ! Apologies my reply didn’t seem to tag you 😂
great video mann
You’re too kind my friend ! Thank you 💚
Love his films.
One of the goats for sure 🔥
The Mann-verse
Haha 😂
Where did all the comments discussing heat 2 and casting go?
The thread should still be there, I’ll reply to you in that section !
I just replied there now
Good video but no one can convince me Public Enemies is a good movie and it looks ugly as hell. I couldn’t get through Blackhat but have been interested in seeing the directors cut since I heard it was a massive improvement. I heavily disliked Ferrari though
I agree with Public Enemies and I’m definitely not going to make that case haha. I believe it’s one of Mann’s weakest films overall ( I basically skipped over talking about it apart from the thematic similarities it has with his other works ). But even with it being a weaker film of his I definitely admire elements and the overall experimentation involved. Innovation is sometimes very messy. Thank you so much for watching 💚
@@AuteurCinema For sure. The last Mann film I actually enjoyed was Collateral though I get excited for anything he does. Did you see the director's cut for Black Hat? I've been curious to see it but can't find much in the way of reviews
@@CapitalFProductions I do own the directors cut from Arrow, but am yet to watch it. I definitely need to check it out at some point to see the changes and how it effects the overall film
Disliked ferrari. Midwit filtered. Begone
Ferrari was ok i liked the movie
@@alexanderfriel7160 I liked Ferrari too. Not one of Mann’s best, but still a good film. It definitely deserved to perform better at the box office than it did.
@@AuteurCinema agree ferrari should earned a lot at box office
Too sycophantic. You have to give tough love when our favs trip up. Even if their esthetic gifts and themes are in the failures. Ala, Blackhat.
@@redonefiftyYou’re correct that even if we love a director you still have to assess their projects from a neutral perspective. For example Lynch is one of my favourite directors of all time, but I can admit that Dune is one of the worst films I’ve ever seen (not all his fault but still.) However I believe Blackhat is an incredible film, and one of my personal favourites from Mann. Thank you for your comment !
@AuteurCinema That's fair. Funny enough, I'm actually with you on Dune. For me personally, I wanted to like Blackhat but too many choices, beats were off, and character depth lacking. Or repetitive of prior Mann characters. Olive branch, I love Vice and appreciate the ambition of Public Enemies, of which many audiences don't care for either. So apologies for coming on too curt.
@redonefifty No need to apologise at all my friend ! We all have different opinions and that’s a great thing (It would be incredibly dull if everyone agreed on everything) 😂. Not every film is made for every person either, but the thing with Mann and many auteurs is, even when you don’t like a project from them, there is always something of value in there (like Public Enemies !). Putting Blackhat aside, when a film is a critical bomb, it does not necessarily mean that the film has nothing of value in it. It’s always important to reassess, and as an audience we should be as open as possible in entertaining some of these films. Thank you once again my friend ❤️
'Blackhat' was terrible. I am yet to watch the director's cut. But, the romance is unrealistic. East Asian women aren't as submissive as they are depicted by white men.
@@cjewe1z Absolutely nothing wrong with not liking a film, however I think it’s problematic to view Tang Wei’s character in Blackhat as Mann’s entire view on East Asian women. She is just one single character in one single film and nothing more. (For example, look at Miami Vice and Gong Li’s character in it, which is vastly different.)
@@AuteurCinema No. The commenter is right. Gong Li is a terrible example. Because she is worse.