Michael Mann - maestro or maladroit? Discuss. - Blu-ray Forum

kolibri · 02-01-2010, 10:29 PM

So, what do you good people out there make of Mr Mann? Is he a truly great film maker or decidedly overrated?

You may wish to consider the evidence: The Keep, Heat, The Last of the Mohicans, Manhunter, Public Enemies, Miami Vice...

kurtis21 · 02-01-2010, 10:38 PM

I think he is a GOOD director. Not great and not bad either.

DavePS3 · 02-01-2010, 10:41 PM

I really like his stuff. Manhunter is one of my faves. Miami Vice was not great so I'd say that was the only one of his films that has left me a bit flat but all the others... absolutely good.

Tcan21 · 02-01-2010, 10:42 PM

I would say that he is at least in the top 10 of currently working directors

Duffy12 · 02-01-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavePS3

I really like his stuff. Manhunter is one of my faves. Miami Vice was not great so I'd say that was the only one of his films that has left me a bit flat but all the others... absolutely good.

Yep. same here too. I love Manhunter enough to prefer it over Silence of the Lambs.

I like The Keep, Heat and The Last of the Mohicans also.

.

jsummers157@ · 02-01-2010, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurtis21

I think he is a GOOD director. Not great and not bad either.

This sums it up, I think. He's no Scorsese, but many of his movies have been, if nothing else, very entertaining and intriguing for what they are. Heat, Manhunter, Miami Vice and Collateral are good examples. Have not seen Last of the Mohicans, so I can not comment. I thought Public Enemies was good, not great.

supergp17 · 02-01-2010, 11:07 PM

I think he's great. Collateral and The Insider where a couple of my favorites.

I still need to see Kingdom of Heaven.

Sagacious Koreo · 02-02-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supergp17

I think he's great. Collateral and The Insider where a couple of my favorites.

I still need to see Kingdom of Heaven.

Kingdom of Heaven is a Ridley Scott joint, brotha.

Michael Mann is one of my favorite directors working today though. I've loved every film he's ever made so far. Seen them all. He's very meticulous in the details. Always wanting to get everything just right. I just love his style of filmmaking. Heat is in my top 5 favorite films of all time. Thief is a pretty underrated film of his too. Definitely worth watching.

jhiggy23 · 02-02-2010, 12:18 AM

Michael Mann is a GREAT director, although he is a genre director (which means he's great at his respective genre, no more, no less).

Evidence:

Heat (one of the best crime thrillers of all-time, if not the best pure crime thriller)

Last of the Mohicans (excellent action/adventure film)

The Insider (incredible film and vastly underrated, partially due to the year it was released and partially due to the subject matter)

Miami Vice (television show--one of the most influential of all time)

Manhunter (great crime story)

Miami Vice (movie--not great, but stylistic and entertaining)

Collateral (fantastic crime movie with great direction)

How could anyone argue that he isn't a great director???

Fighter · 02-02-2010, 12:24 AM

The only movie that I truly love from Mann is The Last of the Mohicans

The rest of his library ranges from decent to mediocre.

Dr.Zaius · 02-02-2010, 12:27 AM

Love his work. When I see his name attached, I know it's gonna be a quality production all around. Last Of The Mohicans, Heat, Public Enemies...it's a list that goes on. His production on The Kingdom was great, too! And though I may be in the minority, I love what he did with Miami Vice(for reasons that would belong to a seperate discussion). Bottom line for me is, Michael Mann is VERY good director. Imo, he's consistently as good as any of his peers who are considered top directors.

Rizor · 02-02-2010, 12:33 AM

He's a good director and he knows what he wants. I don't think the move to digital has been good for him creatively though.

AKORIS · 02-02-2010, 12:50 AM

I haven't liked all his films but he's done some great stuff--

Heat
Last Of The Mohicans
Manhunter
Collateral

AND Thief (which I don't think has been mentioned yet but it's James
Caan's finest hour!)

zahinn · 02-02-2010, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsummers157@

This sums it up, I think. He's no Scorsese, but many of his movies have been, if nothing else, very entertaining and intriguing for what they are. Heat, Manhunter, Miami Vice and Collateral are good examples. Have not seen Last of the Mohicans, so I can not comment. I thought Public Enemies was good, not great.

Yup...He is not the greatest...but his reputation is very overrated.
I LOVED Heat.
I Liked Colateral.
I liked Last of the Mohicans.
I liked Manhunter

I didnt like Ali or Miami Vice.
I was really disappointed by Public Enemies

Sagacious Koreo · 02-02-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I haven't liked all his films but he's done some great stuff--

Heat
Last Of The Mohicans
Manhunter
Collateral

AND Thief (which I don't think has been mentioned yet but it's James
Caan's finest hour!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagacious Koreo

Kingdom of Heaven is a Ridley Scott joint, brotha.

Michael Mann is one of my favorite directors working today though. I've loved every film he's ever made so far. Seen them all. He's very meticulous in the details. Always wanting to get everything just right. I just love his style of filmmaking. Heat is in my top 5 favorite films of all time. Thief is a pretty underrated film of his too. Definitely worth watching.

Way ahead of you, man. Great film.

Duffy12 · 02-02-2010, 01:05 AM

The Keep (1983) was one weird movie but I kept being drawn to it during its re-runs when HBO was showing it in the 90's.

Yeah. I forgot about 'Thief' too.

.

kolibri · 02-02-2010, 08:29 AM

My own take; when he is at the top of his game Mann makes some truly great films that are up there with the best. I would cite The Last of the Mohicans and Heat as examples of that greatness. I, for one, also loved Public Enemies.

The Keep was beguiling, but I haven't seen it for some time so I have no idea what I'd make of it now.

Kryptonic · 02-02-2010, 09:08 AM

My favorite movies of his are Thief and Insider. Everything else I find tedious. Definitely not a fan.

Mahatma · 02-02-2010, 11:22 AM

The only movie I like by Mann is Collateral really.Think the reason I like collateral is that it is so well photographed+Cruise's performance.Haven't seen all his movies ,only collateral,heat and miami vice I think....Think Heat is HUGELY overrated.To put it bluntly:He's all style and little substance IMO.

Crimson King · 02-02-2010, 12:17 PM

Don't forget "Crime Story" (tv series)

02-01-2010, 10:29 PM	#1
kolibri Active Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Somewhere near Arkham Asylum Blu-ray collection:134	Michael Mann - maestro or maladroit? Discuss. So, what do you good people out there make of Mr Mann? Is he a truly great film maker or decidedly overrated? You may wish to consider the evidence: The Keep, Heat, The Last of the Mohicans, Manhunter, Public Enemies, Miami Vice...

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02-01-2010, 10:38 PM	#2
kurtis21 Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Southern NJ Home Theater Gallery:44 4K collection:197 Blu-ray collection:785 iTunes collection:1	I think he is a GOOD director. Not great and not bad either.

02-01-2010, 10:41 PM	#3
DavePS3 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Toronto Home Theater Gallery:56 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:1	I really like his stuff. Manhunter is one of my faves. Miami Vice was not great so I'd say that was the only one of his films that has left me a bit flat but all the others... absolutely good.

02-01-2010, 10:42 PM	#4
Tcan21 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Carrollton, Texas Blu-ray reviews: 4 Trading Score:353	I would say that he is at least in the top 10 of currently working directors

02-01-2010, 11:07 PM	#7
supergp17 Active Member Member since:Jun 2007	I think he's great. Collateral and The Insider where a couple of my favorites. I still need to see Kingdom of Heaven.

02-02-2010, 12:18 AM	#9
jhiggy23 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Club Loop 4K collection:73 Blu-ray collection:630 Blu-ray reviews:6 Trading Score:13	Michael Mann is a GREAT director, although he is a genre director (which means he's great at his respective genre, no more, no less). Evidence: Heat (one of the best crime thrillers of all-time, if not the best pure crime thriller) Last of the Mohicans (excellent action/adventure film) The Insider (incredible film and vastly underrated, partially due to the year it was released and partially due to the subject matter) Miami Vice (television show--one of the most influential of all time) Manhunter (great crime story) Miami Vice (movie--not great, but stylistic and entertaining) Collateral (fantastic crime movie with great direction) How could anyone argue that he isn't a great director???

02-02-2010, 12:24 AM	#10
Fighter Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2009 Location:☣☣☣☣☣ Blu-ray collection:14	The only movie that I truly love from Mann is The Last of the Mohicans The rest of his library ranges from decent to mediocre.

02-02-2010, 12:27 AM	#11
Dr.Zaius Member Member since:Jun 2009 Location:New York 4K collection:53 Blu-ray collection:507 Blu-ray reviews:6	Love his work. When I see his name attached, I know it's gonna be a quality production all around. Last Of The Mohicans, Heat, Public Enemies...it's a list that goes on. His production on The Kingdom was great, too! And though I may be in the minority, I love what he did with Miami Vice(for reasons that would belong to a seperate discussion). Bottom line for me is, Michael Mann is VERY good director. Imo, he's consistently as good as any of his peers who are considered top directors.

02-02-2010, 12:33 AM	#12
Rizor Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Jun 2008 Location:NJ, USA 4K collection:1602 Blu-ray collection:6185 DVD collection:192 MA collection:73 Digital collection:51 iTunes collection:29 Prime collection:7 Blu-ray reviews: 32 Trading Score:159	He's a good director and he knows what he wants. I don't think the move to digital has been good for him creatively though.

02-02-2010, 12:50 AM	#13
AKORIS Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Beautiful Pacific Northwest 4K collection:662 Blu-ray collection:3655 Blu-ray reviews:19	I haven't liked all his films but he's done some great stuff-- Heat Last Of The Mohicans Manhunter Collateral AND Thief (which I don't think has been mentioned yet but it's James Caan's finest hour!)

02-02-2010, 01:05 AM	#16
Duffy12 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2009 Location:Among the Tuatha’an 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:272	The Keep (1983) was one weird movie but I kept being drawn to it during its re-runs when HBO was showing it in the 90's. Yeah. I forgot about 'Thief' too. .

02-02-2010, 08:29 AM	#17
kolibri Active Member Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Somewhere near Arkham Asylum Blu-ray collection:134	My own take; when he is at the top of his game Mann makes some truly great films that are up there with the best. I would cite The Last of the Mohicans and Heat as examples of that greatness. I, for one, also loved Public Enemies. The Keep was beguiling, but I haven't seen it for some time so I have no idea what I'd make of it now.

02-02-2010, 09:08 AM	#18
Kryptonic Suspended Member since:Jul 2009 Trading Score:45	My favorite movies of his are Thief and Insider. Everything else I find tedious. Definitely not a fan.

02-02-2010, 11:22 AM	#19
Mahatma Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2009 Location:A bit off... Home Theater Gallery:5 Blu-ray collection:247 Blu-ray reviews:8	The only movie I like by Mann is Collateral really.Think the reason I like collateral is that it is so well photographed+Cruise's performance.Haven't seen all his movies ,only collateral,heat and miami vice I think....Think Heat is HUGELY overrated.To put it bluntly:He's all style and little substance IMO.

02-02-2010, 12:17 PM	#20
Crimson King Blu-ray Prince Member since:Oct 2009 Blu-ray reviews: 19 Trading Score:683	Don't forget "Crime Story" (tv series)

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