Friday, May 27, 2011

THE CINEMA OF MICHAEL MANN TOLD THROUGH IMAGES & STILLS

You can write about Michael Mann all you want, but without pictures and stills from his films you almost don't get the full effect. He's one of the few directors i know that can totally change a persons prejudged opinions about his work just because of the unique "look" or signature style he has in all of his films. So in this blog entry we're gonna look at some nice images from Mann's films, and hopefully i can convert a few a more fans (thanks to "wilderesque" & matt parks on the mubi.com forum for the majority of these pictures)...
Much like how Stanley Kubrick has his famous "glare" shot (found in films like 'The Shining', or Vincent D'Onofrio's slow progression into insanity in 'Full Metal Jacket', the icon shots of Malcolm Mcdowell in 'A Clockwork Orange' or Tom Cruise in the back of the taxi in 'Eyes Wide Shut') or how Spike Lee has his famous tracking shot (used especially well in '25th Hour' in the scene with Phillip Seymour Hoffman or recently with Denzel Washington in 'The Inside Man'), Michael Mann has own unique way of shooting his actors' faces in key scenes of his films...

Miami Vice
Public Enemies
Ali
Manhunter
Heat

Moving on...If there was ever a book or a class on the connection between film and modern architecture, Michael Mann would definitely be one of the key figures to study. They way he not only shoots buildings & landscapes, but captures the true essence of a city (like Los Angeles or Miami ), is really awesome...

Heat
Miami Vice
Manhunter

And naturally, what would a Mann film be without shots of the beach or just water in general. Michael Mann uses water/the beach in his films, the same way that David Lynch uses fire in his ('wild at heart', 'fire walk with', 'blue velvet', etc)

Miami Vice
Heat
The Insider
Thief
Manhunter

His use of bold colors (which is somewhat reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick) is also another key element in the films of Michael Mann

Heat
Miami Vice
 Collateral
 The Insider

A few more random stills...

Ali
Public Enemies
Manhunter
Miami Vice

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