With a career in the filmmaking world that spans well over four decades,Michael Mannmay not have made as many feature films as you might expect, but what’s important is they are generally of high quality. Additionally, he’s known for executive producing and occasionally writing/directing for TV shows likeMiami Vice,Crime Story, andTokyo Vice, all of which can be described as crime/thriller shows, which are probably the two genres Mann’s filmography gets most often associated with.
But looking through his entire body of work, it becomes apparent that Michael Mann iscapable of much more than just directing stories about criminals and/or police officers. He’s also tried his hand at horror, and has made some biographical/historical dramas that are a little outside his usual wheelhouse, including, most recently,Ferrari. What follows is a ranking of all his feature-length films (including a couple of TV movies), starting with the decent and ending with the all-time classics he’s directed.
14’Blackhat' (2015)
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tang Wei, Viola Davis
Michael Mann has an uncompromising style and a willingness to experiment with new technology that sometimes resonates with viewers, and sometimes alienates large numbers of them.Blackhatstands as perhaps his most divisive and notoriously alienating, though it’s not without its merits and is certainly interesting, at the very least. There could well be a case made thateventually (or perhaps sooner rather than later),it’s worthy of some critical re-evaluation.
It’s one ofChris Hemsworth’smost notable non-Thorleading roles, and sees him playing a hacker who’s released from prison so he can assist authorities in taking down an even more dangerous cybercriminal who’s at large. It’s got an odd look to it, thanks to being shot in an entirely digital way (a look numerous Mann films from throughout the 2000s had), and isn’t super well-paced overall. However, Mann himself said that maybeaspects of it were ahead of their time, and given certain films of his have aged better than expected before, it’s not unreasonable to think thatBlackhatmight be seen in a better light one day in the future.
Watch on Netflix
13’The Keep' (1983)
Starring: Scott Glenn, Jürgen Prochnow, Ian McKellen
When looking at Michael Mann’s filmography in terms of genre, nothing stands out quite as much as one of his earliest and strangest films,The Keep.There are no crime, action, or biographical elements here, as it’sinstead a supernatural horror movieset during World War II, and revolving around an unusual fortress. Nazi soldiers take it over and end up clashing with some kind of ghostly presence inside, which leads to chaos and death.
It’s hard to work out what’s going on a great deal of the time, becauseThe Keepwasunfortunately edited down significantlybefore release, and this results in what sometimes feels like a nonsensical movie. It’s also hard to find it in decent quality, because it’s had limited post-theatrical releases, especially when it comes to home media. It is an interesting and bold-looking movie, and could one day be something great if it was remastered/restored, but for now, it’s mostly just a heavily flawed curiosity.
Rent on Apple TV
12’Public Enemies' (2009)
Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard
Public Enemiesmight be the most high-profile movie about notorious Great Depression-era bank robberJohn Dillinger, but it’s certainly not the best (the underratedDillingerfrom 1945 is arguably superior).Johnny DeppandChristian Baledo their best in the lead roles - the former as Dillinger, and the latter asMelvin Purvis, the agent assigned to take him down - but neither do career-best work here, by any means.
After plenty of contemporary action/crime movies that usually felt slick and modern, the idea of seeing Mann travel decades into the past for a cops vs. robbers story did sound intriguing.Public Enemiesisn’t a total disaster, and delivers a handful of good scenes here and there while also being impressively handled from a production standpoint, in terms of recreating the era.But it does also feel a bit overlong and messy, and doesn’t come together entirely, feeling a little less than the sum of its parts.
Public Enemies
Watch on DirecTV
11’The Jericho Mile' (1979)
Starring: Peter Strauss, Roger E. Mosley, Richard Lawson
Michael Mann’s first film was a TV movie calledThe Jericho Mile,which was notably a sports moviethat largely took place inside a prison setting. It adds authenticity to the proceedings by actually being shot inside Folsom Prison, and has a narrative that revolves around one prisoner who’s there for life, but still aspires to become a world-renowned runner.
He hopes he’ll be able to impress enough inside the prison walls to get a chance at receiving permission to compete at the Olympics, with the film following his life inside the prison, his training, and how he fights to achieve an unlikely dream.The Jericho Milemay have some limitations, owing to its status as a TV movie,but by the standards of films made for television in the 1970s, it’s of very high quality. It may have a reduced scope in some ways, but it clearly signifies Mann’s talents that would be further realized once he began making theatrically released movies.
10’L.A. Takedown' (1989)
Starring: Scott Plank, Alex McArthur, Michael Rooker
IsL.A. Takedowna great crime movie in the traditional sense? Maybe not, butfor a down-and-dirty and gritty TV movie, it more than gets the job done, and will prove undeniably fascinating for fans of Michael Mann’s 1995 crime/action epic,Heat. After all, this is essentially a prototype for that later film, having a drastically reduced runtime yet still being incredibly similar when it comes to the basic narrative, characters, and much of the dialogue.
Some would say watching it might be redundant, now thatHeatexists and is better in every way, but seeing the rough outline of what would one day be realized as a classic is fascinating. It’s also admirable for TV movie standards, even if the characters aren’t fully rounded and there are some iffy performances here and there. What is worthy of praise, however, is the big heist sequence/action scene, which is the highlight ofL.A. Takedownmuch as the equivalent sequence in Heat is that film’s high point.
9’Ali' (2001)
Starring: Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight
In some ways,Alidoes feel like a fairlyconventional biopic, albeit a well-acted onethat also does a reasonably good job of capturing the life of its central figure. Said figure is the charismatic and sometimes controversial boxer bornCassius Clay, but known asMuhammad Ali, which he changed his name to shortly after establishing himself as a boxer to be reckoned with.
Will Smithgives one of the best performances of his career in the titular role, and the film captures a crucial decade in Ali’s life (approximately 1964 to 1974) very well. At over 2.5 hours long, it can feel a little drawn out at points, and the script might not be quite as tight or exciting as some other Michael Mann movies… yet it’s his assured touch as a director and the compelling performances from Smith and the supporting cast that end up makingAliworth watching.
Watch on Starz
8’Ferrari' (2023)
Starring: Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley
Michael Mann’s latest film is another biopic with a one-word title about a famous 20th-century figure:Enzo Ferrari.FerraristarsAdam Driverin the titular role (the “Driver” jokes write themselves), and the film is relatively contained timeframe-wise for a biopic, being set in 1957, which was a particularly eventful year for the titular automotive mogul for a number of reasons.
It doesn’t redefine the biopic by any means,butdoes provide some interesting twists and insightsinto a series of events that have already happened, and will likely be known by a good many viewers ahead of time. Funnily enough, Mann was also involved with the last high-profile Hollywood movie to feature Enzo Ferrari in some capacity:James Mangold’sFord v Ferrari, which Michael Mann was an executive producer for.
7’Miami Vice' (2006)
Starring: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li
Another once-divisive Michael Mann movie that’s been generally received better some years on from its release,Miami Vicetakes the distinctively 1980s TV series of the same name and updates it for the 21st century. Where the TV show could be charmingly 1980s and quite in-your-face about it stylistically (particularly when watched today), 2006’sMiami Vicenow, more than ever, feels similarly time capsule-esque, but for the 2000s as a decade.
It’s about two vice detectives, their personal bond, and the way they navigate both their personal lives and the stressful, high-octane nature of their chosen profession. It’s not quitea top-tier Michael Mann action/crime movie, but it scratches the same itch as his best ones do, and will likelysatisfy anyone looking for a uniquely presented, stylish, and singular cop movie, with an interesting spin being put on a well-worn genre here.
Miami Vice
6’Collateral' (2004)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith
The only thing better thanTom Cruiseplaying a typical Tom Cruise kind of character is when Tom Cruise goes out of his comfort(or danger) zoneand does something unexpected. He did it twice in 1999, playing non-heroic and flawed characters in bothEyes Wide ShutandMagnolia, and then he did it againin 2004, playing a rare villainous rolein another Michael Mann crime/thriller:Collateral.
Here, Cruise plays a ruthless hitman, whileJamie Foxxplays a cab driver who ends up having a hellish night when this hitman gets him to drive him from job to job, all in quick succession.Collateralworks as a slow-burn thriller, and also proves tremendously atmospheric, thanks to the undeniably effective way Michael Mann shoots night scenes. It’s an enjoyably tense watch from start to finish, and benefits from having two great lead performances at its center.
Collateral
Watch on Paramount+
5’Manhunter' (1986)
Starring: William Petersen, Joan Allen, Brian Cox
Though it’s not quite as famous as acertain Best Picture-winning movie featuring the character of Hannibal Lecter,Manhunterdoes still contain a great depiction of him, courtesy ofBrian Cox. It’s an adaptation ofRed Dragon, an entry in an overall series that also includesThe Silence of the Lambs, withManhuntercentering on an uneasy alliance between FBI Agent Will Graham and Lecter, with the former getting the latter’s help with tracking down another killer at large.
It might be the closest thing to a horror movie Michael Mann’s made besidesThe Keep, asManhuntercan get surprisingly unsettling and intense at times. Elsewhere, it sees Mann exercising his strengths as a crime/thriller filmmaker, and the entire thing proves to be exciting to watch throughout. It’s slick and well-made, andforeshadows the sorts of great movies Mann would make in the following decade, when he was arguably at his peak as a director.
