Michael Mann is probably best known for making crime films, some of which cross over into the action genre. However, he does not primarily direct action films. There are also some oddities, like The Keep, as well as more biographical films like Ferrari and Ali, but many of his most acclaimed works are thrilling and/or somewhat action-packed. And it's not hard to understand why, given that Mann has always had a gift for creating scenes in his films that have a strong emotional impact.
What follows will hopefully showcase Michael Mann’s talents as a director of action, because all the following films can be categorized – at least in part – as action movies. Starting with the flawed yet interesting, and ending with the very best he’s ever made, these action films – many of which are also crime/thriller movies – are ranked below.
6. 'Blackhat' (2015)
Look, even great directors miss the mark every now and then, and perhaps more so as they get older. An action/thriller that feels clunky and muddled is Michael Mann's Blackhat, which feels like a late-career misstep. Its story relates to modern-day cybercrime, so you could be generous and suggest that things are meant to feel overwhelming and a little obtuse, but it’s hard to tell just how intentional that pervasive feeling is.
It’s definitely going for something bold, so generous viewers might also appreciate Blackhat on that level. The style at hand is unlike much else, even if it’s also disorientating and a bit ugly at times. To date, it remains Mann’s last attempt at making something that could be described as an action movie, so time will tell if Heat 2 can end up being something of a comeback… if it does come out, and if it has enough action to be an action film, of course.
5. 'L.A. Takedown' (1989)
Regarding Michael Mann's Heat-related projects, the legendary 1995 film had a 1989 proof-of-concept low-budget version called L.A. Takedown. It is, essentially, a less epic and not as spectacular version of Heat, with a runtime that’s about half the length and lower production values throughout. As a film, judged on its own, it’s certainly not great…
…But it is interesting, and it works as a decent TV movie for its era. It's fascinating to see a blueprint for a much better movie that was made a half-decade later. Although most people will be better off watching Heat because it is superior in every way, L.A. Takedown might be intriguing for big fans of Michael Mann, and it can be respected for what it is, for sure
4. 'Collateral' (2004)
Don't be surprised if Collateral falls in the bottom half of this overall ranking; at best, things are pretty good from here on out. It’s more a testament to how solid Mann is as a director of action/crime movies, because this one is indeed pretty good, and thrillingly simple, too. There’s a cab driver who gets wrapped up in the affairs of an assassin on one dramatic night, the latter using the former to drive him to destinations to carry out hits.
Tom Cruise gives one of the best performances of any Michael Mann film as the surprisingly cold-blooded assassin, and Jamie Foxx also gives a strong performance as the cab driver who constantly fears for his life. Collateral is stylish while asking some interesting moral questions, and delivering small yet impactful action sequences when it needs to; just enough, in the end, to stay largely compelling throughout.
**3. ** "Miami Vice" (2006)
Miami Vice, released in 2006, is an intriguing, visually bold, and kind of underrated crime/action/thriller movie, despite the fact that the television series is more beloved—and Michael Mann was also a part of it. It takes some comparable risks visually and stylistically to the aforementioned Blackhat, but it feels more consistent and purposeful overall, even if the way it looks and feels takes a while to get used to.
The best way to describe the approach here is that, in 2006, Mann was trying to make something that encapsulated the digital and grimy feel of the decade just the same way that the Miami Vice TV series encapsulated a look and feel that screamed – and still screams – “1980s.” Narratively, the film is moderately compelling, too, but it’s really the style and slick action that makes Miami Vice stand out, maybe not as one of Mann’s very best, but one of his most interesting for sure.
2. 'The Last of the Mohicans' (1992)
While all the other action (or semi-action) movies Michael Mann directed can be called crime films too, The Last of the Mohicans very much isn’t a crime film, instead being a period drama that also happens to have quite a bit of action. Well, it’s a real blend of genres, when you think about it, given it also works as something of a war and adventure film, and romance is pretty central to the narrative, too.
It’s set during the 1700s, and has a fast-paced and moving story set against the backdrop of the French and Indian War; a conflict that involved the British Empire, the French colonial empire, and some Native American tribes. The Last of the Mohicans boasts a terrific score, too, as well as an expectedly great lead performance by Daniel Day-Lewis, all around working as an excellent and easily approachable epic of the rather lean variety (given the runtime’s only about two hours).
1. 'Heat' (1995)
Other than Heat, what else could possibly claim the top spot in this situation? This is about as good as you can get when it comes to heist movies. It takes a cops vs. robbers story and explodes it to epic proportions while remaining riveting, explosive, and intense for nearly three hours. It has one of the most impressive casts of the 1990s and is flawlessly acted, which is probably a given when the leads are Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Michael Mann also directs the hell out of Heat, making the quieter scenes just as riveting as the larger set pieces. It’s a movie that’s always in perfect control, and it’s a delight to revisit every time, perhaps getting even better as the years go on. Although Michael Mann has directed a number of excellent films, Heat stands out as the best of the bunch, whether they dealt with action or not.