This Friday, one of Hollywood's coolest living auteurs will drop the eleventh opus in his filmography. Michael Mann, the genius behind some of the greatest crime films of all time, is back—albeit inexplicably in January, the most swagless movie release month on the calendar. The release date is apropos though, because we've seen Blackhat, the Super Hacker vs Mega Hacker tech-thriller starring Thor, and well, it's far from Mike's best.
But despite the downward trend created by this and the lukewarm Public Enemies, how much can a legacy that boasts Heat, Collateral, Thief, Last of the Mohicans, and even the very-much-in-need-of-your-reconsideration Miami Vice, really be tarnished? Like any great filmmaker, Mann's world is recognizable through a series of go-to story tropes and filmmaking techniques that enriches each viewing experience with familiarity. Blackhat has all of the moving parts, but the formula doesn't add up to a satisfying result this time. Here are all the disparate elements that compose some of Mann's finest work.
1. Loners
2. Women who offer the possibility of change for said men.
3. Cool guys in light-gray suits.
4. Men with strict codes of behavior.
5. Law enforcement officials who have a lot in common with their marks.
6. Nighttime drives.
7. Extra-crispy digital cinematography.
8. Awesomely loud gunplay.
Most notably in: Heat, Collateral, Miami Vice, Public Enemies, Blackhat
No such thing as a pea shooter in Mann flicks. The violence is never exploitative, but when the guns get drawn, the phrase "heavy metal" always comes to mind. When Mann's behind the camera, streetsweepers and assault rifles ring off like power drills. The shootouts themselves are realistic and endless—save the calculated precision of Collateral's professional hitter Vincent. There's no fancy choreography, as you'd see in a John Woo movie. Just cannons ringing off until one side wins. Like so:
9.
Or...
And who can forget Collateral's instant-classic club free-for-all: