Michael Mann (Taschen Film) (Hardcover)

~ F X Feeney (Editor), Paul Duncan (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review

??Michael Mann is one of America's major filmmakers. The combination of Thief, Heat, and Collateral alone would get him to auteur heaven, and there's not a lot wrong with Manhunter or The Last of the Mohicans, either. TASCHEN has published Michael Mann, by F.X. Sweeney, and it's a very good analysis of Mann's films, especially notable for the stunning layout of the stills, as edited by Paul Duncan.? Director's Guild of America Quarterly, Beverly Hills

Product Description

Over the course of the eight feature films he has directed since 1971 (not to mention the several features he has made for television), Michael Mann has shown himself, time and again, to be a rigorous, honest dramatist, a maker of solid worlds. So much so that in America, at least, he tends to be underrated. The most respectful of his critics often define him (a bit too simply) as a "realist." Certainly, whether the subject is thievery (The Jericho Mile, Thief, Heat), killers (Manhunter, Collateral), frontier life (The Last of the Mohicans), the nuanced struggle between the news media and corporate money (The Insider), or that of a celebrated athlete looking to find his life’s meaning in a world of bigotry (Ali), Mann seeks authenticity above all. Whatever suspense, entertainment value, and emotional or philosophical insight his work may yield rises from a truthfully imagined, painstakingly observed set of human beings and their warring intentions.

Made with full access to Michael Mann’s archives!

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Taschen (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822831417
• ISBN-13: 978-3822831410
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #586,039 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A rock-solid analysis of a truly underappreciated filmmaker., October 16, 2006

By	K. Emroll (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Tribute to the directing career of Michael Mann!, April 28, 2009

By	Gift Cardholder "James Rosevear" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Hide the data, February 9, 2010

By	Dmitri Ulinov (California, USA) - See all my reviews

I thought this film would be about hockey, melting ice caps and drowning polar bears. At the very minimum I expected a thrilling drama about electronic espionage and hiding temperature data that doesn't fit your theory, but that wasn't the case.