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Michael Mann

Blackhat – Michael Mann (2015)

Both a Chinese and an American nuclear power plant are attacked by computer hackers. Americans and Chinese work together trying to catch the persons behind the hack and an imprisoned hacker (Chris Hemsworth) is taken aboard the team.

In a descent thriller, hackers are chasing hackers, but of course in the end it are not computer nerds who are after the entire scheme. There are some elements and explanations of which I cannot say if they are credible, but overall “Blackhat” seems like an alright computer thriller. Perhaps the IMdB rating (5.5) that the story and details are not, or no longer, credible.

Collateral – Michael Mann (2004)

A descent crime thriller with a 1980’ies feel.

Max is a taxi driver who picks up what appears to be a business man. Vincent (Tom Cruise) proves to be in the business of hired killing though and the two set out for an unlikely drive through the nightly streets of LA.

The film contains good dialogues, good acting and a story that may perhaps not be too surprising, it is worked out well and works well too.

“Collatoral” may not be a ‘high flyer’, but if you feel like watching an uncomplicated, yet descent film, it could be a title to pick.

Miami Vice * Michael Mann (2006)

It is not like I was a big fan of the series, but this film made it to my watch-list nonetheless. Perhaps it was because Colin Farrell plays Sonny Crockett? Farrell, who looks exactly like he does in “True Detective” by the way.

The film is based on the 1980’ies TV-series. Indeed there are only elements that are used. Of course we have Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs who are hip crime-fighters in Miami, the first of which drives a fast car. Then there are the palm-trees and boats, but these are the only similarities that I remember.

Crockett and Tubbs are hired to infiltrate a big drug-cartel and they decide to be transporters. Even though the film lasts 135 minutes, it looks like the story had to be crammed into the length of a film. In the first half of the film it is a descent action film with a high speed. After a while it seems to be supposed to become more of a thriller with some drama and that worked out a lot less good. I also wonder why the director used so much time for fairly boring sex-scenes.

The result is an average Hollywood action film with a few elements that people who know the series will recognise.

Public Enemies * Michael Mann (2009)

My expectations may have been a little high for a film of the director of the legendary “Mannhunter” (too old to be reviewed here…) with Johhny Depp and Christian Bale, but “Public Enemies” is a descent, but nothing special film. Set in the 1930’ies where a violent group of criminals robs banks and shoots cops, elements of their way of working lead to some kind of romantisised view of the public. Escaping the police by crossing state borders, we witness the founding of the FBI and the cat-and-mouse game of clever criminals and top-notch policemen. Like I said, the film is good, but it is but a Hollywood production.