michael mann

Blu-ray Review: Ryan Gosling Takes The Hot Seat In Second Sight Films’ Release Of Nicolas Winding Refn’s DRIVE

Based on James Sallis’ novel of the same name, Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 thriller, Drive sees Ryan Gosling play a character only known as Driver, a stuntman by day and getaway driver at night, whose relationship with single parent Carey [...]

June 10, 2022

Uncovering Curiosities: Michael Mann’s THIEF

Michael Mann films have always been about restraint and precision and this was never more evident than in Thief. Mann made his big screen directing debut with this 1981 film which sees James Caan as a career criminal whose well planned existence [...]

August 29, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Eran Creevy’s WELCOME TO THE PUNCH

Welcome To The Punch is a stylish 2013 British action-thriller, featuring the impressive one-two punch combo of James McAvoy and Mark Strong in the lead roles. For many years I’ve wondered why the British film industry never tried to deliver slick [...]

June 25, 2021

Notebook Reviews: ALI

Michael Mann – 2001 Michael Mann’s Ali is something of a disappointment – it’s a boxing film which lacks punch. It’s great on a visual level – but it’s the story which is lacking (odd considering the [...]

May 13, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Donald Cammell’s WHITE OF THE EYE

White Of The Eye is one of the craziest films that I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch. This serial killer thriller from maverick director Donald Cammell is a total mind-bender. It’s great. David Keith and Cathy Moriarty play a couple living an [...]

January 4, 2021

Notebook Reviews: THE MEAN SEASON

Phillip Borsos – 1985 The Mean Season is a wildly under-rated (and largely forgotten) thriller starring Kurt Russell alongside an impressive supporting cast (Mariel Hemingway, Richard Jordan, Richard Masur, Joey Pantoliano and Andy García). [...]

November 17, 2020

Behind The Scenes: James Caan & Michael Mann On The Set Of THIEF

Michael Mann’s Thief isn’t an all guns blazing cops and robbers drama. It’s a thoughtful and direct crime movie, with a great lead performance from star James Caan. The 1981 thriller sets up the themes that Michael Mann would continue [...]

October 24, 2020

Behind The Scenes: Michael Mann, William Peterson & Dennis Farina On The Set Of MANHUNTER

Michael Mann’s Manhunter introduced the world to Hannibal Lecter (spelled Lektor in the film). Mann’s 1986 film offered-up a visually bright, but emotionally dark film that might appear to be a thriller, but it has its roots firmly in the [...]

October 4, 2020

Say Hello To My Little Friend! Al Pacino & Brian De Palma On The Set Of SCARFACE

Switching booze for cocaine and transposing the action from Chicago to Miami, Scarface updates the Howard Hawks/Howard Hughes gangster movie from 1932 and delivers an iconic piece of cinema which has now surpassed the original in terms of legacy. [...]

August 30, 2020

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences Has No Idea What Cinema Is (Updated)

Update: The Academy has now back-tracked the below decision and awards for all categories will be given out live when the show airs on 24 February. Here’s the official statement: ”The Academy has heard the feedback from its membership [...]

February 14, 2019

Blu-ray Review: TRIPLE 9 Is A Dark Thriller Filled With Sweaty Self-Preservation

Australian director John Hillcoat’s Triple 9 is a dark and dense Michael Mann-ish crime drama filled with criminals and crooked cops. There’s double-crossing galore in this modern noir, which sees the likes of Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, [...]

June 30, 2016

William Friedkin To Direct An Adaptation Of Don Winslow’s THE WINTER OF FRANKIE MACHINE

The world needs more William Friedkin movies – and the good news is that it looks like we’re getting another one. Friedkin has just signed-on to direct a screen adaptation of Don Winslow’s novel The Winter Of Frankie Machine. The book [...]

August 8, 2015

Blu-ray Review: Chris Hemsworth And Michael Mann Tackle Cyber Terrorism With BLACKHAT

If Michael Mann ever made a James Bond film, then there’s a good chance that it would look and feel something like Blackhat. That’s not to say it’s a fun action-adventure – this is a gritty, sombre piece filled with atmosphere. The right [...]

June 20, 2015

Blu-ray Review: James Caan In Michael Mann’s Classic Crime Drama THIEF

February 1, 2015

First Trailer For Michael Mann’s Cyber-Thriller BLACKHAT Starring Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth might just be the only viable leading man that we have who is under 35 – that’s pretty worrying. He has teamed with Michael Mann to deliver Blackhat – a new cyber-thriller which Mann wrote with Morgan Davis Foehl. [...]

September 26, 2014

Blu-ray Review: WHITE OF THE EYE Is A Great Thriller And An Amazing Disc

April 5, 2014

DVD Review: SALAMANDER Season One – Belgium’s Biggest Mystery Since Van Damme

Thirty tears ago Tina Turner lamented about not needing another hero, and the same must be said today about European detectives. They’re ten-a-penny, solving crimes across the continent and audiences have been able to visit more countries than a [...]

March 15, 2014

DVD Review: South Korean Drama THE TASTE OF MONEY Is More Southfork Than Shakespeare

Im Sang-soo’s The Taste Of Money wants to be a commentary on big business and social decadence in South Korea. It’s a visually impressive piece, but much too shallow considering the corrupt word and weighty themes it tries to explore. The film [...]

February 1, 2014

DVD Review: James McAvoy And Mark Strong Pack Heat In WELCOME TO THE PUNCH

Welcome To The Punch is a stylish British action-thriller, featuring the impressive one-two punch combo of James McAvoy and Mark Strong in the lead roles. For many years I’ve wondered why the British film industry never tried to deliver slick and [...]

July 14, 2013

Review: Christopher Nolan Concludes His Batman Trilogy With THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

The Dark Knight Rises is a film which has been released under a huge amount of scrutiny and expectation. The considerable (and at the time) unprecedented success of The Dark Knight meant that Christopher Nolan’s latest (and concluding) Bat-film [...]

July 26, 2012

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