9 Great Directors Who Could Really Use A Career Boost

5) Michael Mann

There is no question that Michael Mann is one of the most influential action directors working today, and his work with digital cameras helped to bring the format much recognition among filmmakers in the 21st century. His artful, neon-lit dramas and riveting, earth-shaking action sequences – sometimes appearing in the same film – have brought him much love from film lovers and action fans. However, despite his reputation for being the master behind Heat, The Insider and the underappreciated Thief, he has not made a great film since 2004’s Collateral.

With the exception of a few striking action sequences, Miami Vice was a languid, lost action film that was very hard to engage with. While there is no problem emphasizing atmosphere over action, with an inert and uninvolving story, Miami Vice was a stain on Mann’s sterling filmography. It did not get much better with his 2009 summer release, Public Enemies, a surprisingly dull film about John Dillinger. It had some of the flattest work from Johnny Depp and Christian Bale’s careers, and also lacked the momentum and detail a period piece about such a notorious figure deserved. Both films were handsome but had little underneath their glittery, digitally enhanced appearance.

Recently, the first glimpse at Mann’s latest, Blackhat, has gotten some positive attention. It stars Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis, two actors who are good to see in anything. The heist thriller looks and feels like the director’s work when he is at the top of his game. Hopefully, the January release will be relief from some of the poorer cinematic offerings of the early winter months, and not an indication that the film is lousy.