Born February 5, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Mann studied English literature at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, graduating with a B.A. in 1965. Having fallen in love with the movies thanks to a screening of Dr. Strangelove, the fledgling filmmaker then moved to London where he earned an M.A. from the London Film School in 1967. He earned his income working on commercials for British TV.
Mann married and had a child while living in London. He returned to the U.S. after divorcing his wife in 1971. He married second wife, Summer, in 1974 with whom he has four children.
Initially a documentary filmmaker in the U.S., Mann began writing for TV in 1974. By 1977, having already written several episodes for both Starsky and Hutch and Police Woman, he also directed an episode of the latter. He also wrote an early draft of the 1978 film, Straight Time but his career didn’t really take off until 1979’s The Jericho Mile, which he both wrote and directed. A TV film in the U.S., it was released theatrically in Europe.
Mann then directed 1981’s Thief starring James Caan which was both a critical and commercial success. His next film was 1983’s The Keep, a supernatural thriller set in Nazi occupied Romania, which was a huge flop. He reached the pinnacle of his early success with the TV series, Miami Vice (1984-1990) which he produced but only directed one episode of in 1985.
With 1986’s Manhunter, Mann became the first director to bring Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lecter character to the screen in the person of Brian Cox. Based on the novel Red Dragon, the book was filmed again under its original title with Anthony Hopkins in the role for which he won an Oscar for the previous year’s The Silence of the Lambs.
Mann did not make another film until 1992’s The Last of the Mohicans, the definitive version of James Fenimore Cooper’s oft-filmed early 19th Century novel. Ironically, the film in which early Americans are the heroes and the British are the villains, the film scored much better at the BAFTAs than it did at the Oscars. AMPAS nominated the film in just one category, Best Sound, which it won. BAFTA nominated it in seven including Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Cinematography (which it won), Costume Design, Makeup (which it won), Score, Production Design, and Sound.
Up next for Mann was 1995’s Heat, a well-received crime drama starring Al Pacino and Robert de Niro that failed to receive any Oscar nominations. Four years later, 1999’s The Outsider was nominated for seven Oscars including three for Mann as producer, writer, and director. It failed to win any.
2001’s Ali received two Oscar nominations and no wins. 2004’s Collateral was also nominated for two Oscars, failing to win either. That same year’s The Aviator, for which Mann received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, was a film that he produced but didn’t write or direct. It was nominated for a total of eleven Oscars and won five.
In 2006, Mann directed a film version of Miami Vice, in 2008, Hancock, and in 2009, Public Enemies. In 2019 he produced James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari and in 2023, his own Ferrari.
Still active with a sequel to Heat coming up, Michael Mann turned 81 in February.
ESSENTIAL FILMS
THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1992), directed by Michael Mann
Mann’s first major award winner didn’t happen until he was almost fifty. Oscar recognized it with a nomination and win for Best Sound. BAFTA nominated it in seven categories including those for Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Cinematography (which won), Costume Design, Makeup (which also won), Score, Production Design, and Sound. Mann, himself, was passed over for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. The film which remains the definitive version of James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel also stars Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Steven Waddington, and Wes Studi.
HEAT (1995), directed by Michael Mann
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro famously co-starred in 1974’s The Godfather Part II but shared no scenes. This film was hyped as the first film in which they act together, De Niro as a master criminal, Pacino as the cop on his trail. Val Kilmer, concurrently starring in Batman Forever, and Jon Voight who would later receive an Oscar nomination for Mann’s Ali, led an impressive supporting cast that also included Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, Dennis Haysbert, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman, Hank Azaria, and Danny Trejo. No Oscar nominations for this one.
THE INSIDER (1999), directed by Michael Mann
Based on the aftermath of a 60 Minutes exposé of Big Tobacco, Mann’s film received an impressive seven Oscar nominations including three for Mann for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay. Al Pacino had top billing as CBS producer Lowell Bergman, but it was Russell Crowe as whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand who received the film’s only acting Oscar nod. Christopher Plummer who also received acclaim for his portrayal of legendary 60 Minutes interviewer Mike Wallace was surprisingly ignored despite having received as many precursor awards as Crowe. Crowe would win an Oscar for Gladiator the following year.
THE AVIATOR (2004), directed by Martin Scorsese
Ironically, the Mann film to receive the most Oscar nominations and wins was one that he produced by didn’t write or direct. Scorsese’s film received 11 nominations including Best Picture which was attributed to Mann. Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for Best Actor his portrayal of Howard Hughes and second billed Cate Blanchett won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn. Its five wins also included those for Cinematography, Film Editing, Art Direction, and Costume Design. It had also been nominated for Best Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor (Alan Alda), and Sound Mixing.
FERRARI (2023), directed by Michael Mann
This mournful film which takes place in 1957, begins with Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) and his wife and business partner Laura (Penélope Cruz) on the first anniversary of their 24-year-old son’s death and ends with the disastrous Mille Miglia race in which nine bystanders including five children were killed in a freak accident which also claimed the death of the driver and his partner. The film also details Enzo’s relationship with his mistress (Shailene Woodley) and their son who he desperately wants to give his name. It deserved Oscar nominations for Cruz’s career best performance as well as Cinematography, Editing, Visual Effects, and Sound but got none.
Michael Mann’s Oscar Nominations:
The Insider (1999) – nominated – Best Picture
The Insider (1999) – nominated – Best Director
The Insider (1999) – nominated – Best Screenplay
The Aviator (2004) – nominated – Best Picture
