Line #37 Creator/MichaelMann


1	[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/85b5539aa1a7b9e5dd5d84b42ec88b55.jpg]]
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3	Michael Kenneth Mann (born February 5, 1943) is an acclaimed American filmmaker, writer and producer. He's best known for his work in television (notably ''Series/MiamiVice'') and in the genre of crime drama, often taking place in [[ViceCity cities]] which are explored in loving detail.
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5	He's a major proponent of digital cinematography, having shot ''Film/{{Collateral}}'', ''Film/MiamiVice'' and ''Film/PublicEnemies'' with High-Definition video cameras rather than 35mm film cameras. His visual style and action sequences are equally famous and distinctive.
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7	!! His works include:
8	[[index]]
9	* ''The Jericho Mile'' (TV movie) - 1979
10	* ''Film/{{Thief\|1981}}'' - 1981
11	* ''Film/TheKeep'' - 1983
12	* ''Series/MiamiVice'' (TV series) - 1984
13	* ''Series/CrimeStory'' (TV series) - 1986
14	* ''Film/{{Manhunter}}'' - 1986
15	* ''L.A. Takedown'' - 1989
16	* ''Film/TheLastOfTheMohicans'' - 1992
17	* ''Film/{{Heat}}'' - 1995, a loose remake of ''L.A. Takedown''.
18	* ''Film/TheInsider'' - 1999
19	* ''Film/{{Ali}}'' - 2001
20	* ''Robbery Homicide Division'' (TV series) - 2002
21	* ''Film/{{Collateral}}'' - 2004
22	* ''Film/MiamiVice'' (TheMovie) - 2006
23	* ''Film/PublicEnemies'' - 2009
24	* ''Series/{{Luck\|2011}}'' (TV series) - 2011
25	* ''Film/{{Blackhat}}'' - 2015
26	* ''Series/TokyoVice'' (TV series) - 2022
27	* ''Literature/Heat2'', (Novel) - 2022
28	* ''Film/{{Ferrari}}'' - 2023
29	[[/index]]
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31	!! Tropes common in his work include:
32	* AllThereInTheManual: A lot of character traits are explained in depth on the DVD commentary or in detailed character profiles he writes for the cast.
33	* BadassInANiceSuit: His antagonists generally wear nice suits, with [[Film/TheLastOfTheMohicans Magua]] being an exception.
34	* BittersweetEnding / DownerEnding: Frequently the end of his films.
35	* ByronicHero: Many of his heroes.
36	* CreatorsOddball: ''Film/TheLastOfTheMohicans'' is his only film that does not take place in the 20th or 21st centuries. That doesn't mean there was any less painstaking detail put into the film.
37	* DyeingForYourArt: If a character is supposed to wield a firearm, he makes them go through a full-blown multi-month ''tactical boot camp''. For ''Film/{{Blackhat}}'', he had Creator/ChrisHemsworth take a course on computer programming to make his hacking scenes more realistic. For ''Film/{{Collateral}}'', he had Creator/TomCruise work on being good with disguises. For ''Film/MiamiVice'', Mann had co-stars Creator/JamieFoxx and Creator/ColinFarrell observe real FBI drug busts, and Farrell was unknowingly put through a simulated drug bust to test how well he could act as an undercover Vice officer.
38	* ElectronicMusic: Notably by Music/TangerineDream, and often used as long soundscapes rather than to intensify action.
39	* FilmNoir: Much of his work leans heavily toward Neo Noir in their themes and aesthetic--especially ''Film/MiamiVice'' (TheMovie, more so than the show), ''Series/CrimeStory'', ''Film/{{Heat}}'', ''Film/{{Collateral}}'', and ''Film/PublicEnemies''.
40	* GreyAndGrayMorality[=/=]BlackAndGrayMorality: Only ''Film/{{Collateral}}'' shows a stark difference between the antagonist and protagonist. His other films? Not as much.
41	* OldShame: He infamously does not like to talk about ''Film/TheKeep'', to the degree he's largely responsible for it never being released on DVD or Blu-Ray.
42	* ProductionPosse:
43	** His usual go-to cinematographers are Dante Spinotti and Dion Beebe, while Paul Rubell and William Goldenberg are his usual editors.
44	** Dennis Farina also tended to show up in his films.
45	** Creator/JamieFoxx had a supporting role in ''Film/{{Ali}}'' and starred in both ''Film/{{Collateral}}'' and ''Film/MiamiVice,'' as well as the Mann-produced ''Film/TheKingdom.''
46	* ShownTheirWork: Mann is well-known for his insistence on authenticity, particularly when it comes to the handling of firearms as well as the methods of law enforcement and criminals. According to some sources, Mann is a licensed firearm instructor. ''Film/{{Heat}}'' in particular is very accurate in how the actors handle their firearms, to the point that clips from the film are said to have been used by US Army trainers. ''Film/{{Blackhat}}'' is also notable in this regard, being rather accurate in its portrayal of computer security.
47	* SignatureStyle:
48	** He favours a minimalist composition shape and color, shallow focus and [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience color coding]] to focus the viewer's attention on important elements; for example, he uses water and the color blue to convey calm and melancholy.
49	** Story-wise, he favors [[TheStoic stoic]] characters, characters living [[ByronicHero lives where concerns like family and money are irrelevant]], inducing situations of similarities between the characters (for example, the similarities between [[Creator/RobertDeNiro Neil]] and [[Creator/AlPacino Vincent]] in Film/{{Heat}}), [[TheLostLenore Lost Lenores]], [[BittersweetEnding bittersweet]] or [[DownerEnding downer]] endings, and complex plots.
50	** Ever since ''Film/{{Collateral}}'', he has used digital cameras for his productions (he was one of the first to use them in a major Hollywood production) and prefers keeping the "video look" rather than altering the image in post to look more like film, with some combination of ShakyCam during action sequences.
51	* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Always on the cynical side.
52	* TheStoic: A lot of his characters, if they're not {{byronic hero}}es.
53	* ViceCity: A frequent setting of his work.

Context Creator / MichaelMann