Customer Reviews

Michael Mann (Taschen Film)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being an avid fan of Michael Mann's work, I had been waiting eagerly for this book to arrive ever since I first heard about it some months ago. Now that I have had a chance to digest it, I find it an excellent analysis of his work. This is - first and foremost - what the book sets out to do. It does include biographical information on Mann, but it is by no means a biography. F.X Feeney breaks down each of Mann's films from his earliest documentary ("17 Days Down the Line") up through "Collateral," and devotes generous space to Mann's two major television credits, "Miami Vice" and "Crime Story." For fans of film analysis (as opposed to criticism), this book should deliver in a big way.

The book includes dozens of gorgeous photos from all of the projects Feeney analyzes, a section on editor and Mann collaborator Dov Hoenig where Hoenig offer his insights into Mann and Mann's methods, a brief timeline on Mann, and a complete Mann filmography. The overall package is just as gorgeous as a Mann film, with a sleek slipcover featuring a still from "Heat." I did spot a few typos here and there, which I find slightly annoying in this day and age.

The book does assume that the reader has a bit of working knowledge of each film under analysis, though it does an efficient job summarizing the plots prior to analysis. It is still very accessible for those less familiar with Mann or with his earlier works (such as "The Keep"), but bear in mind that this book is about film analysis, and as such, no plot detail avoids scrutiny. In other words, expect major spoilers.

Personally, I love film analysis, film criticism, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. From that standpoint, I would have loved to find more of the latter one in the book, given the high level of talent that Mann attracts to his films. But that's hardly a strike against this book. As its presentation and content indicate, this book is very much like Mann's work: straightforward, no-nonsense, intelligent, and fascinating. By letting us into Mann's thought processes and meticulous methods, this book serves as a vindication of sorts for his work. Mann, in my opinion, is a vastly underrated and underappreciated filmmaker, and I hope that enough people will read this book to gain more insight into his films, and perhaps to see his films in a different light.

As a fan, it was a pleasure to get some insight into the work. The photography behind the scenes was revealing, but the shortage of the gorgeous movie shots was also a disappointment. A very good, must read for anyone who has wondered, "What's with all the glass and water?" A great companion to my DVD collection.

Michael Mann still remains one of my favourite writer /director / producers of film in the modern cinema. Mann probably has the deepenst most detailed character analysis of any given characters in any of his films and that is definitely not by accident. If there is one lesson any would-be filmmaker or film enthusiast can take away it is his level of obsession toward detail and integrity to his art. Taschen's offering on Michael Mann and his work is a wonderful overview of his body of work. There are stunningly gorgeous photographs throughout as well as key rundowns of each projects, some of the interesting points and ideas that the filmmaker had in mind when he did particular scenes in any of his films.

What I found particularly revealing were the photographs of Mann in the process of getting the film done. Adding that bit more blood to a scene, a detail here and there that makes the scene that much palpable. I also loved seeing copies of the markups of his directing scripts. Though some of us would kill or die to be allowed onto one of his sets just to watch and observe the man in action those are the kinds of insights that are vital to students of film studies and to die-hard fans of a director's works.

The book is beautifully photographed and presented in a way that Taschen books is famous for. I have absolutely no complaint about the visuals. The only reason I did not give the book five stars is that I wanted even more in-depth information about Michael Mann's thought process when he is mapping out his films and in the post production and final assembly of his films. The book was made prior to the filming of "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp and so it is not included in this particular work. This is definitely understandable when you are writing about a very active filmmmaker / director who has multiple projects done at any given time. My hope is that Public Enemies will be included in later versions of this book.

Beautifully presented coffee table book containing detailed information and photographs of Michael Mann's films.
I highly recommend this book to fans of Michael Mann and movie buffs alike!

Mann is a genuinely gifted director, and certainly a polarising one, those who think he's a genius and those who think he's an overrated pretentious artisan. That aside this book asserts he hasn't really made a terrible film which is ludicrous. 'Miami Vice' was one of last years absolute worst films, his 'Ali' bio was an amazing bore considering the subject matter. His last hit was the Tom Cruise starrer 'Collateral' which was seen as a moderate success considering it's star.

Mann has delivered some stunning cinema, it's his combinations of sound and vision that show a true original at work: 'Heat' is one of the best films of the 90's and his adaptation of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon' re-titled 'Manhunter' is vastly influential 80's thriller, far more viscerally in tune with the novel than the more faithful (and prosaic) Brett Ratner movie. 'Last of the Mohicans' is a rousing epic among others. Then there's his curio and perrenial "When will it be on DVD?" cult fave 'The Keep'- eye popping visuals, eerie soundtrack and plot incoherence, he managed to turn F.Paul Wilson's classic gothic horror adventure into a jumbled surreal mess.

This book is typical Taschen quality, with excellent photo's-pity it's so one eyed and toadying to it's subject.