An Evening with Michael Mann, moderated by critic Bilge Ebiri

Watch the entire conversation between director Michael Mann and New York magazine film critic Bilge Ebiri from our February 11, 2016 event, part of the full-career retrospective Heat & Vice: The Films of Michael Mann.
www.BAM.org/MichaelMann

[@HabAnagarek]

Brilliant. All of his answers are more than a master class in film, but history, racial politics, philosophy, art... a brilliant mind.

[@KermitHitler]

A fiercely intelligent, creative, original and compassionate polymath and a master of his art. Truly a renaissance man.

[@quicksite]

17:48 - "Where did the look of "THIEF" come from?" - Michael Mann so confidently articulates the methods he used to try to portray his character Frank's inner psychology, using external compositional & other tricks. Every interview I see of Michael Mann shows his giant intellect informing every aspect of his film worlds and story thematics.

[@MaybackMusicGroup1]

Greatest Movie Producer. Incredible talented

[@michaelblum4557]

It's insane how articulate he is when talking about his films (or anything?). He doesn't waste words or flower his statements with unnecessary intellectual gestures. Straight to the point, and what a point it is.

[@b.pradhana_ol660]

Just like his films. He is one of the least pretentious person after Howard Hawks..

[@MahmoudOscar98]

Mann is one of the most influential filmmakers to me. He might not be so big on plot but when it comes to the image, tone, and feel, whew! Mann conquers the city nights with his unconventional shooting style and music choice. Love him or hate him, he is a true artist with a vision.

[@kellymulderino7156]

no plots are good too

[@MahmoudOscar98]

@@kellymulderino7156 In some instances, having a plot might be a problem, I agree.

[@thederrickmuhammadshow]

No lies were told here ☝🏿He’s highly underrated and I love his eye, his style ,tone and cool intensity.

[@haoleizhang6758]

especially his STYLE.

[@babylongigolo]

Yeah I like the plots. They’ve a rhythm that I imagine is to be acquired for some people but I’ve never not been engaged by one saving The Keep.

[@mundi352]

Alex Colville was the Canadian painter he referred to as the inspiration for the scene in Heat where Deniro starts out into the ocean from his apartment

[@Elassyahmed]

Gorgeous painting. Named ‘Pacific’

[@quicksite]

I think it'd be cool to have Michael Mann play Noam Chomsky in a biopic by Michael Mann. They've got a similar way of thinking & articulating.

[@simonyricools]

Ha, that would be amazing!

[@WalterDiamond]

Really enjoyed this. Michael Mann is a helluva talent who seems to somewhat slip by the mainstream, as far as directors are concerned. I get absolutely no sense of humor from his films, but I don't say that as a critique. There's something alpha about his work, and I like most of it.

[@Bryan8329]

There is a bit of humor buried beneath most of, if not all his work. It's pretty essential without being immediately noticeable. Collateral is his funniest work. Foxx and Cruise have moments which really ease the tension to such a degree without ever snuffing it out.

[@andrewb439]

Bryan8329 "yo homie, that my briefcase?"

[@jasonparkin9808]

WalterDiamond "But you got your tan in Miami?"

[@DrJones20]

@@Bryan8329 "You killed him?" "No, I shot him. The bullets and the fall killed him"

[@aktimm]

"There's something alpha about his work..." YES!! An astute observation WalterDiamond!

[@adriennf10]

such a fascinating interview. could listen to michael mann forever discussing his films. thanks for giving us your great films esp my fav: heat and the insider.

[@KKK-wd6hr]

Glad to be part of this era..his extraordinary films ..he is such a super human talent impacting viewers and as a person. His approach on character and several levels of depth and intense story and action bringing his vision to screen is truly remarkable. ..Heat and Miami Vice

[@istvantoth7431]

Listening his answers (especially in regards to Heat) I cannot go lower than superlatives. A great mind!

[@kennethlundgren]

a true artist

[@phantom347]

Michael Mann is a genius and the Interviewer is very good, professional and polite.

[@demisialockett8437]

That is for sure A genius.. Great 😃👍 Mind...

[@quicksite]

22:08 - re his choice to use TANGERINE DREAM for score of Thief. Again, Mann articulates with amazing clarity how his desire for Muddy Waters blues would have imposed a regional specificity to the film, where he wanted the film to embody more important themes, thus something more abstract felt better... then suprisingly hearing Tangerine Dream had their roots in blues.

[@aktimm]

Mr. Mann. In regards to your lack of interest in a restored director's cut of "The Keep".....PLEASE RECONSIDER!!

[@SmithFilms2009]

OBEY ME!

[@Largentina.]

He wrote that film off and doesn't own the rights. Even if he did reconsider, it's not entirely up to him.

[@aktimm]

@@Largentina. You are correct on all three points. But if he was approached by a Paramount executive to oversee a restoration funded by the studio, I would hope that he would take advantage of the opportunity. We've seen studio funded restorations of Richard Donner's cut of "Superman 2", Samuel Fuller's "The Big Red One", Robert Wise's edit of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and I believe adding Michael Mann's "The Keep" to that list would prove to be a profitable endeavor for CBS/Viacom.

[@ilpezkato]

Underrated genius...

[@MATTDALOR1AN]

thank you so much for this!

[@icewater091]

Im a big fan of him films

[@jc6594]

Happy 75th Birthday Michael Mann

[@khalitloukili6161]

👍👍

[@mikebrush3266]

When he turns to his left it kinda looks like he has a ponytail

[@nathmurrell]

Great questions thank you ! Only real film people understand who he is and the true skill he possesses!

[@allamaraine8066]

Great questions and some really informative answers. I could listen to Mann talking all day. He's fascinating as a filmmaker, and I'd say he's an equally fascinating dude minus the impact he's had with those films. Thanks to whoever posted this for us.

[@opencarrydrift6308]

Blackhat is amazing

[@nevergiveupmann]

My GF asked me ,How much I love her ? I said Pls watch 'HEAT' by Michael Mann She did , but ..... I said I'm a Filmmaker and Movies is the only thing I cannot walk away in 30 secs !!(When De Niro meets Pacino in Coffee shop) She said You are crazy ! Me ,Yes I'm crazy for Movies and for You !! We r getting married this April

[@CinemacrestStudios]

That's awesome and beautiful.

[@SIGHBOY6]

When does he talk about The Keep?

[@bgwinn]

1 hour 12 minutes

[@vaughnmild4467]

SIGHBOY6 He's written that film off (so I've read). Too much studio interference. I just noticed someone made a documentary about that film called A World War II Fairy Tail: The Making of Michael Mann's "The Keep" (2018)

[@lancegoodthrust546]

I really wish there was more talk about The Keep. I've been wondering about that movie ever since I first saw it as a kid on our local TV station. It's very rare to see to surrealism mixed with a WWII setting. And even though it's not a perfect film there was a lot there I liked.

[@vaughnmild4467]

Lance Goodthrust A new documentary about the making of tbe Keep was just put out call A World War II Fairy Tail

[@Largentina.]

From what I read, Mann's written that movie off so it doesn't surprise me that he doesn't talk about it too much here.

[@jeffreyb6165]

This guy is so unassuming and isn't a spotlight seeker. You could put him in a lineup of top movie makers and he'd be the one that would be the least recognizable my most, but everyone would certainly recognize his body of work. He'll never admit it, but he was burned so badly by Jamie Foxx while filming Miami Vice that I personally think it stifled his desire to be more active in the film industry. How many movies has he put out since Miami Vice? 2....3 tops? Gotta hand it to the film critic doing the interview. His questions are deep and he clearly did his homework before sitting down with Michael although the F-bomb caught me by surprise. It came outta nowhere! 😄

[@daneoman1000]

Legend!

[@khalitloukili6161]

God

[@10FRANKTV]

48:30 brilliant screenwriting tip.

[@Mario-gf5un]

Mann the best director of the world

[@seriouslyyoujest1771]

When you find the perfect actor, and great actors for different parts and bringing them together often it looks like chemistry, I would think?

[@michaszeremeta4745]

I like his movies very much. I could watch Collateral over and over and over again. And never get tired of them.

[@kennethlundgren]

collateral

[@mattcastellanos2178]

Man hunter is an excellent film, ahead of its time with an outstanding performance by W. Peterson.

[@demisialockett8437]

God Bless Michael Mann Brotherhood keep up the 👌👍 excellent beautiful works keep it coming Good 👍😊 Luck 🤞 from Me and my son's Terry Lee Harris Roman numeral 1 senior and JAYLEN Michael Lucienne Harris my babies 34 and 14 year's old 🗝️ and their 2 Father's Bless Up...

[@Elassyahmed]

The amount of thought he puts in his movies that seem to regular audience as simple and basic action movies

[@JimiJames]

I was at this live. My friends surprised me with tickets for my birthday the night of.

[@Wolshanze]

God dam it release “The Keep” on 4K Mann

[@Largentina.]

He wrote that film off and he doesn't own the rights. Even if he wanted to do it, it's not even up to him.

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Aww, come on! Release your original cut of The Keep! It is time!!!

[@Largentina.]

He doesn't own the rights. It's not possible to do without the studio's permission, plus Mann wrote that film off so I doubt we'd see a director's cut regardless.

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

@@Largentina. Yeah, my cries are hopeless. But I'll keep hope alive!

[@robinhooduk8255]

there is one thing that pisses me off is how many films he does with an LA location. collateral was meant to be in new york, although the film is great he always tries to bring in LA when its a very boring place.

[@Tylerson]

Eh. It doesn't really matter, does it? The city it's in doesn't really serve as anything other than a backdrop.

[@RohitSonawane]

Miami Vice - 24:38

[@vavedern8860]

Thank you so much

[@aquariumlife2929]

Really amazing...77 minutes with Michael f*cking Mann ( the man himself ) seating there in front of you and not even a minute about the MV series, the change of a decade's culture ?! Waw...i cannot believe the interviewer's fetish with the last of the mohicans...waw...i guess any questions about MV series wasn't intelectually enough to the interviewer's ego i guess.

[@irissolow1342]

What brand is that jacket Mann is wearing?

[@SmithFilms2009]

For those who want to hear mann discuss The Keep, jump to 1:12 ;)

[@mantra3000]

"Chicoago"...

[@fernandoperezbarreto7699]

What an Inspiring fucking genius

[@raiden6156]

They said nothing on Miami Vice (2006). Disappointing.

[@sebastianfainbinda653]

What's the name of the killer he mentions as an inspiration for Dolarhyde? I don't get the middle name

[@AstonishingSodApe]

Dennis Wyn Wallace? 30:23

[@sebastianfainbinda653]

@@AstonishingSodApe Thank you! I think that's it

[@AstonishingSodApe]

@@sebastianfainbinda653 You’re welcome! Always nice to see another Mann fan.

[@princeleo8803]

Michael Man. Would be a great Batman director

[@jameshoran8]

My question would be, "Did Neil hesitate or did he allow Vince to shoot him?"

[@lsdc1]

@BAMorg no captions?

[@arthurmiller9103]

Awesome👍

[@cameronkanachki]

Michael Mann Facts

[@lilbigman777]

1:02:47

[@User-be8sw]

46 mins in*

[@css6231]

RELEASE THE MANN CUT OF THE KEEP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😤😤😤😤😤

[@Largentina.]

He wrote thag film off and doesn't own the rights. Even if he wanted to, it's not up to him.

[@filmmaker610]

23:00 “Please don’t recut Thief” 😆

[@orangewarm1]

No one wanted Hanna to get McCauley.

[@Barefoot67]

he doesn't think that the Heat score is the best? Wtf?

[@Largentina.]

Cause it isn't. Thief's score is better than that and it's not even his best score.

[@seriouslyyoujest1771]

Wrong. It’s fine in the right actor for the right part. You know it when they walk through the door. Got it

[@butterfliesandtape]

Good job R Kelly never nailed that melody for "Ali".

[@michaelmann2202]

Name brother

[@Arfabiscuit]

Last of the mohicans

[@YoungKuntzler]

A right load of bilge.

[@vova47]

I love Michael Mann films but can't stand the annoying interviewer dropping F-bombs trying to be "cool".

[@sumofat5]

This has to be one of the worst interviewers of all time. Saw him moderate a panel with Pacino and Deniro at NYFF screening of Heat and he asked Deniro “what did you think of the script when you read it?” And Deniro threw his hands up and said “I don’t remember, it was over 30 years ago.”

[@guileniam]

Hes hit and miss, although when hes good ala Miami Vice (the show) and Heat, hes really damn good

[@conandoyle1740]

vice is the best movie hes ever made

[@guileniam]

George W. Bush i meant the show

[@SQfighterpilot]

I always liked Mann because of Heat, but it wasn't until I went back and saw Thief and Manhunter that I thought "you know what... this guy's a genius." For those three movies alone, I'd list him in my all-time favorites, even if some of his recent work doesn't measure up.

[@Largentina.]

Thief and Manhunter all day

[@getyaboogieon]

Heat is an absolute masterpiece. Collateral was entertaining but complete nonsense. Miami Vice was way too try-hard and completely soulless. '95 Mann takes the prize

[@Largentina.]

Agreed. I thought Public Enemies was terrible too. I love Heat, Thief and Manhunter though.

[@caseyjones831]

Mann is a risk taker he doesn't stick with what works , he does what he feels is right to him . I love 80s Michael Mann most of all. Manhunter The Keep Thief

[@mcrowley8460]

The miami vice remake sucked.

[@michaszeremeta4745]

yes.

[@Beueifneidb34]

If by “sucked” you mean “is one of the greatest movies of the 21st century” then yeah it sucked

[@johndoderino2609]

Wrong

[@b.pradhana_ol660]

Michael Mann is A MAD GENIUS!