Michael Mann is probably the most underrated director of our time. Christopher Nolan is an avid fan and took inspiration for The Dark Knight and lots of his look in general from Michael Mann's 1995 epic crime saga 'Heat'.
Today I want to share with you some stills taken from some Michael Mann movies. He manages to give the viewer the feeling of being witness to things that are in fact happening and filmed instead of staged and arranged. He's one of the few directors who heavily influence every artistic aspect of the movie be it sound, camera, visuals, music or location and creates timeless originals. They take their time and develop their characters always focusing on the little details that make it so 'real'.
I love his visual style and the way every movie of his is in fact a story about life, love and the world we live in regardless of the specific setting of the story. In addition being an American he has a very interesting and old school original take on the mood, place and condition America finds itself in in modern times - a contrast of decay, desolation and emptiness versus inspiration, heart and soul and backbone. All captured in super wide angle continuous shots usually occupied by the world's best actors.
Here some shots from the 2013 film 'Blackhat':
And a shot from the 2004 second homage to LA 'Collateral':
And finally (for today) some shots out of the unrated version of the 2006 film 'Miami Vice'. An epic love story that is often misunderstood:
Look at this shot I mean my God. You can basically sense the Havanna Bar...
I'll leave you with this song which underscored the final scene of 'Heat':
