Comanche (Michael Mann)

[Aclea]

For years this - told from the point of view of Quanah Parker - was one of John Milius' dream projects (he talks about the story in A Turning of the Earth). Ford did a fictionaized version in Two Rode Together.

[craigbarr2003]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Mann talked about the project at a Los Angeles announcement event this week:

All of Mann's films are expensive (It's his trademark) and it's an even more difficult film to get off of the ground because it's Michael Mann, not necessarily the subject matter.

[Aclea]

His boast justifying the $90m price tag of The Insider as "the price of being in business with me" has certainly come back to haunt him after a run of overpriced flops (Collateral and Mohicans are still his only real box-office hits). A combination of subject matter and his inability to keep to a budget are enough to scare off investors even if he had a better track record.

[chrisandy007]

Originally Posted by Aclea

His boast justifying the $90m price tag of The Insider as "the price of being in business with me" has certainly come back to haunt him after a run of overpriced flops (Collateral and Mohicans are still his only real box-office hits). A combination of subject matter and his inability to keep to a budget are enough to scare off investors even if he had a better track record.

Where’d you hear him say that?

[klauswhereareyou]

It's too bad that digital cameras have improved immensely since the days of Miami Vice (2006), but Mann's only made one feature film in the last 10 years. His reputation probably did take a hit when he was making Miami Vice and it cost a lot to make, but it looked like a movie that cost much less.

[ShortRound]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

It's too bad that digital cameras have improved immensely since the days of Miami Vice (2006), but Mann's only made one feature film in the last 10 years. His reputation probably did take a hit when he was making Miami Vice and it cost a lot to make, but it looked like a movie that cost much less.

His reputation definitely took a hit after the Miami Vice movie, but not because of video technology limitations. It was because the movie is among the worst of its era, due to a flat, uninteresting, clumsily written script and laughably poor performances by just about everyone involved. I have yet to talk to anyone about it who didn't hate it.

Public Enemies and Blackhat, while lacklustre offerings, seem far better than they are when compared to the Miami Vice feature.

Mann really needs to get his act together, before the bulk of his already waning fanbase wash their hands of him.

[Cremildo]

Originally Posted by ShortRound

It was because the movie is among the worst of its era, due to a flat, uninteresting, clumsily written script and laughably poor performances by just about everyone involved. I have yet to talk to anyone about it who didn't hate it.

Instead of reaching conclusions from talking to just one or two people, try reading people's reviews online, there are thousands of them. Many do love the movie, which is nowhere near the worst of anything.

[kwisatzhaderach]

Originally Posted by ShortRound

His reputation definitely took a hit after the Miami Vice movie, but not because of video technology limitations. It was because the movie is among the worst of its era, due to a flat, uninteresting, clumsily written script and laughably poor performances by just about everyone involved. I have yet to talk to anyone about it who didn't hate it.

Public Enemies and Blackhat, while lacklustre offerings, seem far better than they are when compared to the Miami Vice feature.

Mann really needs to get his act together, before the bulk of his already waning fanbase wash their hands of him.

Ah, the internet.

[ShortRound]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Instead of reaching conclusions from talking to just one or two people, try reading people's reviews online, there are thousands of them. Many do love the movie, which is nowhere near the worst of anything.

Yeah, I reached my own conclusion based on seeing the movie, both the theatrical and director's cuts. It's utterly awful. I've also read many online reviews from people who regard the movie highly. They're amusing, but ultimately empty, as there's absolutely nothing praise-worthy about the movie. I struggled to find one moment that I liked, and at the halfway point I switched gears and hunted for a moment that wasn't a complete failure. I came up empty-handed in both regards. Mann should be appropriately embarrassed, as should the movie's fans.

[Zivouhr]

1981 Thief United Artists
1983 The Keep Paramount Pictures
1986 Manhunter De Laurentiis Entertainment Group
1992 The Last of the Mohicans 20th Century Fox / Warner Bros.
1995 Heat Warner Bros.
1999 The Insider Buena Vista Pictures
2001 Ali Sony Picture Releasing / Initial Entertainment Group
2004 Collateral DreamWorks Pictures / Paramount Pictures
2006 Miami Vice Universal Pictures
2009 Public Enemies
2015 Blackhat

2015. That's been awhile since his last film over 7 years ago, so he's probably taking a long break. With Ferrari planned soon.
A new prequel Heat novel. They'd have to have a whole new cast as that was a 1996 film.

At any rate, this film is probably in development hell if it was about to get started in 2017... Safe to say this isn't happening.
Western era films are tough to sell in theaters these days, and in general, don't earn a lot of money at the box office with rare exceptions.
Harrison Ford, Cowboys vs Aliens tanked years ago in 2011. The Lone Ranger tanked. Wild Wild West tanked at the box office. And 2007's 3:10 To Yuma with Russell Crowe didn't even earn back its budget in the US. Barely making over the budget worldwide, which is considered a loss.

This is more of a history based film I guess, like Dances with Wolves? I'd have to look more into it to be sure. But it's not happening is my bet.

[Gacivory]

Was hoping this got bumped for info about the production of this moving forward.

[chrisandy007]

Both Eric Roth and Michael Mann have brought this up while on their awards circuit. They basically both really want to get the film made but Roth seems doubtful with Mann about to embark on Heat 2. The hindrance has been the budget, with Mann saying it would be a $100 million film (he said the same thing about Ferrari which is why it took so long to happen). Apparently it came close to happening in the early aughts with Russell Crowe in one of the roles.

[Mr. Chaverria]

Cynthia Ann Parker, I'll have to read up on her more thoroughly.

Sounds like a fascinating history. Taken from her family, raised as Comanche to the point she was fully integrated. Later found and brought back to her biological family, with her daughter. The kid dies. Then she doesn't eat or drink to where she dies.

Not to sound like a dick but she wasn't exactly a pretty woman. Even for those times. They'll need to cast someone and rough her up a bit.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by chrisandy007

Both Eric Roth and Michael Mann have brought this up while on their awards circuit. They basically both really want to get the film made but Roth seems doubtful with Mann about to embark on Heat 2. The hindrance has been the budget, with Mann saying it would be a $100 million film (he said the same thing about Ferrari which is why it took so long to happen). Apparently it came close to happening in the early aughts with Russell Crowe in one of the roles.

Heat 2 would have to do gangbusters for them to green light Comanche. Mann no longer commands high budgets easily, like he used to. Blackhat messed him up big time in the graces of Hollywood.

Ferrari was unremarkable.

I mean, he's got that whole archive thing going for $65 a pop, so we'll see if that props him up a bit.

[BluBonnet]

So, he's 81 and he plans to do Heat 2, the Veteran remake, and then this? Okaaaaaaaay.

[cheez avenger]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

So, he's 81 and he plans to do Heat 2, the Veteran remake, and then this? Okaaaaaaaay.

Mann gets too anal about his "research," which is why he's never really been prolific enough. You have Ridley Scott pushing 90 and he's been cranking them out 1-2 per year for several years already. It was almost 10 years between Blackhat and Ferrari.

[Zivouhr]

Heat is Mann's best movie IMO. I've seen a number of his other films and they're okay, but can't compare to Heat IMO.

He definitely tries to make something different each time, so credit to him for trying new ideas.

[Monterey Jack]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

So, he's 81 and he plans to do Heat 2, the Veteran remake, and then this? Okaaaaaaaay.

Ridley Scott's 86, and he's made eight movies in the last decade.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Ridley Scott's 86, and he's made eight movies in the last decade.

Mann hasn't

[chrisandy007]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

So, he's 81 and he plans to do Heat 2, the Veteran remake, and then this? Okaaaaaaaay.

Don't forget his long gestating sci-fi project and Hue 1968 as a film, both of which predate Veteran