Flickering Myth presents a detailed look at the work of the acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann…
Whether it is a Native Indian raised trapper caught in crossfire of the colonial wars between Britain and France or an investigative journalist undermined by corporate interests, Michael Mann has the remarkable ability to explore the nuances of human behavior within an epic environment. To commemorate the 69th birthday of the Chicago born filmmaker, Flickering Myth has assembled a career overview which contains various insider insights detailing the making of his ten feature films starting with Thief (1981) and concluding with Public Enemies (2009)…
Articles
Mann Handled: A Michael Mann Profile
Trevor Hogg profiles the career of director Michael Mann in a two-part article from 2009.
Exclusive Interviews
Inside Mann: William Goldenberg talks about Heat
Inside Mann: William Goldenberg talks about The Insider
Inside Mann: William Goldenberg talks about Ali & Miami Vice
Thief, 1981.
Written and Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring James Caan, Tuesday Weld, James Belushi, Dennis Farina, William Petersen and Robert Prosky.
SYNOPSIS:
A professional safecracker’s plan for going straight spirals out-of-control when he becomes indebted to a crime boss.
The Keep, 1983.
Written and Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Scott Glenn, Gabriel Byrne, Jürgen Prochnow, Ian McKellen, Alberta Watson, Robert Prosky, Morgan Sheppard, Royston Tickner, Michael Carter and Bruce Payne.
SYNOPSIS:
A detachment of the German army is sent to guard a mysterious and strategically important Romanian citadel. When they start turning up dead, the S.S. is sent in to investigate.
Manhunter, 1986.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring William Petersen, Brian Cox, Kim Greist, Joan Allen, Dennis Farina, Tom Noonan, Stephen Lang, David Seaman and Benjamin Hendrickson.
SYNOPSIS:
A mentally fragile FBI profiler is drawn out of retirement to catch a serial killer known as The Tooth Fairy.
The Last of the Mohicans, 1992.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Wes Studi, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Steven Waddington, Pete Postlethwaite, Colm Meaney and Jodhi May.
SYNOPSIS:
In 1757, North America is the battleground of the colonial powers of Britain and France. Midst the escalating conflict, three trappers from a nearly extinct Native Indian tribe protect the daughters of a British Colonel.
Heat, 1995.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman, Danny Trejo and Jeremy Piven.
SYNOPSIS:
A professional thief is hunted by an unrelenting detective in the streets of Los Angeles.
The Insider, 1999.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Al Pacino, Russell Crowe, Christopher Plummer, Diane Venora, Roger Bart, Rip Torn, Bruce McGill, Michael Gambon, Gina Gershon, Philip Baker Hall and Paul Perri.
SYNOPSIS:
The airing of an exclusive 60 Minutes interview with a tobacco industry insider is cancelled because of corporate pressure.
Ali, 2001.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Will Smith, Jon Voight, Jamie Foxx, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Jada Pinkett Smith and Mykelti Williamson.
SYNOPSIS:
The movie depicts a decade in the life of Muhammad Ali, beginning with the legendary athlete’s defeat of Sonny Liston in 1964 and concluding with his 1974 ‘Rumble in Jungle’ comeback fight against George Foreman.
Collateral, 2004.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Mark Ruffalo, Jada Pinkett Smith, Javier Bardem, Bruce McGill, Irma P. Hall, Peter Berg and Jason Statham.
SYNOPSIS:
A Los Angeles cab driver unwittingly becomes the chauffer for a hired assassin.
Miami Vice, 2006.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Li Gong, Naomie Harris, Ciarán Hinds, Justin Theroux, Barry Shabaka Henley, Luis Tosar, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Eddie Marsan and John Ortiz.
SYNOPSIS:
Two Miami Vice detectives go undercover to bring down drug traffickers.
Public Enemies, 2009.
Directed by Michael Mann.
Starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Cudrup, Stephen Dorff, Stephen Lang, Stephen Graham, Carey Mulligan, Giovanni Ribisi and Channing Tatum.
SYNOPSIS:
Infamous American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd are targeted in a “war on crime” campaign by the fledgling FBI during the 1930s.
Trevor Hogg is a freelance video editor and writer who currently resides in Canada.
Originally published February 5, 2012. Updated April 13, 2018.
