NoirFan

Extremely tough choice between Heat and The Insider, but I gave the edge to the latter. Mann took a subject that could have been dull and bewildering and turned it into gripping, thought-provoking drama, no easy feat.

Unfortunately, comically over the top seems to be Pacino's calling card, at least post-Sea of Love. As for DeNiro, I thought he was perfectly understated.

Labor

Pacino was excellent in The Insider.

movielib

I'm not a big Michael Mann fan. I think he's vastly overrated. I voted Collateral because it's one of the few I find even watchable and enjoyable. Still not that great, however.

I have a little of a soft spot for Public Enemies but only because I appeared as an extra in it. I don't think it's very good.

The Keep is one of the worst movies I've ever seen, based on my favorite horror novel of all time.

I think Manhunter is pretty good and The Insider is watchable.

Sorry, I don't get the love for the overblown, underwhelming Heat at all.

eXcentris

Probably "Collateral". Nobody shoots the streets at night like Mann except perhaps Johnnie To.

NoirFan

And pleasantly subdued in Insomnia as well. There are exceptions.

Derrich

I've watched Miami Vice more times than any of the others. Heat is a close second, but Miami Vice really is great.

D

GreenVulture

I've always thought Heat marked the beginning of De Niro's still-ongoing "Just Don't Give A Shit" phase, where he was taking on roles not because they were challenging or quality parts, but because it's an easy paycheck opportunity (the better to shovel money into that sinkhole production company of his) where he can just go through the motions and most directors will be okay with that because after all, they've got De Niro.

But maybe I've been too hard on Heat. After all, it could have been much worse:
<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/auTi6hrceyI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/auTi6hrceyI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

But that's sort of damning it with the faintest of praise.

jmu878

I think '95 in the last year that Deniro actually did give a shit. I mean come on, the guy put out Heat and Casino.

foofighters7

I think The Insider is his best.

Yeah Heat is the likely pick but it's not his best film. The Insider was terrific.

NoirFan

'97 might have been the last year that he appeared in anything worth watching - Jackie Brown, Cop Land and Wag the Dog.

Blu Man

Heat. Collateral is close second, The Insider third.

Fist of Doom

He was in Ronin in 1998. Love that movie. I also thought he was pretty funny in the Analyze This and Meet the Parents movies.

JumpCutz

I can't stand him in the Parents/Analyze movies. Embarrassing.

Solid Snake

wow...that's like an amateur version of the one we got in theatrical film. Both of those scenes are much much better in the film we all know and love.

islandclaws

After watching Thief recently, I'm changing my vote. It's not only one of the best crime films I've seen, it's also one of the best debut films, too. It's amazing to see Mann's trademark style in full display right out of the gate. I REALLY hope the rumors of a Criterion BD release are true.

FRwL

He seemed so calm as a director.

Public Enemies was a snoozefest however i liked that the goodguy was more interesting than the badguy in these type of movies, just like in 73's Day of the Jackal which was probably not the intention but it's easy to make the cold slick hitmen be likable, it is tough to pull off the Dudley Do Right and have him be cool (and not resort to him having some sort of bad ticks).

Troy Stiffler

Michael Mann movies mean so much to me, that I can't really participate in the voting.

But somehow I never heard of LA Takedown, and didn't know that Heat was developed like that. Learn something new everyday.

inri222

The Insider

The Bus

Hey! There's the other person who voted for Miami Vice.

Mattflix

I have to give some love to The Insider. Take a look at the subject matter of this movie, and realize how dull this movie should be. If handled by just about any other director, 3 hours watching a whistle-blower should be extremely bland. For this reason, I didn't even watch the movie until last year. But Mann takes this and knocks it out of the park.

Geofferson

Heat. Though dated now, I've always been fond of Manhunter. The Insider is also pretty great.

Terrell

Perhaps, but you have to realize that actors reach an age where they can't find much work at all, much less good work. When you get old, you have to take what you can get sometimes if you want to work, especially in Hollywood. When you're a woman, that age where the roles start to dry seems to come much earlier, around age 45. So the men have it far better than the women.

Mattflix

In general I think you're right, but for somebody like Deniro I think he could pick whatever role he wanted to. A lot of people consider him one of the greatest actors alive, and prior to that timeframe he was pretty major.

Look at Paul Newman, he didn't just appear in junk in his later years. He was very picky and you could tell he cared about everything he was in.

Terrell

You would think. Deniro should be an exception, but it doesn't look like he is. Hollywood is a cruel place that uses you up until they don't want you anymore. Newman is a great example of the exception to the rule.