Reviews (342)

Great Original Movie (and VHS); POOR DVD
Re-release of a previous review so those who read nearby reviews NOTE the difference between VHS (excellent) and DVD (POOR): Waited in great anticipation for the DVD release of this one. The Last of the Mohicans is a great movie enhanced with terrific music. The VHS widescreen version in THX is a wonderful piece of entertainment. Unfortunately, this Director's Expanded Edition has destroyed the flow and continuity of the original. In Director Michael Mann's attempt to supply us with his "definitive vision of the film" via his own editing, he has ignored the professional editors and provided us with a substandard version of what was a fine film. Several of the added clips have no musical sound track at all and come across as painfully awkward - making the viewer fully aware he/she is watching actors in front of a camera rather than immersing us in the action. There is even a series of scenes in the original (and VHS) that has a vocal music piece overlaid that has been completely omitted from the DVD. All in all, I was very disappointed in the DVD after having distinctive and memorable images etched in my mind from the original theater and VHS releases.

Enchanting!
I just recently viewed the movie for the first time during my U.S History class. Since then I have watched the movie five times in as many days. The movie is historically accurate for the most part when dealing with the war itself. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful and the music chosen was neutral for the time period and accented the major events of the movie. The ability of the movie to convey the wordless love between Uncas(Eric Schweig) and Alice(Jodhi May) was absolutely amazing. The cast was well chosen, even if Madeleine Stowe(Cora Munro) had an on-again-off-again accent. Wes Studi(Magua) played the avenging Huron to perfection creating understanding of his wishes to kill Munro, but yet a frightful savage. As for Daniel Day-Lewis(Hawkeye) I don't feel I can say anything that hasn't been said before. The scene I found the most emotional was during the fight between Magua and Uncas, and then when Alice is making her decision. Great acting, historical accuracy, a wonderful soundtrack and breathtaking scenery made this movie overly enjoyable and emotional. I recommend it to most people, however those who have no desire to try and understand the history behind the movie or the subtle pieces that are expected to be picked up on probably shouldn't watch this movie. Also if you expect an exact replica of the book you won't find it in this movie. END

good but could have been better
My biggest complaint with this movie is that story was changed and not for the better. In the original novel, Cora(played by Madeline Stowe) was in love with Uncas(who is the last of the Mohican tribe) and Hawkeye was just some old guide, along for the ride. Also Cora's sister Alice is in love with Duncan, the English officer. In this movie there is a major turnaround. There is a love triangle-Duncan is in love with Cora who is in love with Hawkeye, who is young and attractive, and Alice has feelings for Uncas(and there is no character development for either one of them). I think perhaps the producers had a problem with an interracial angle although in this day and age you'd think Hollywood has gotten over it. I guess not. None the less, I liked the film-the story was still compelling enough, battle scenes were impressive and I loved the soundtrack(I own it, as a matter of fact).

Fabulous
The movie has the same title as James Fenimore Cooper's novel, but about the only elements that are the same would be the French and Indian War setting and the names of the characters. But don't be disappointed! This is one gripping movie.
There are many, many powerful scenes.

An Absolute Best!!
This is a wonderful movie, and I can't say enough about it.

I first seen this movie when I was in high school. I remember my boyfriend forcing me to see this film. I complained during the whole ride to the theater. But, after the first ten minutes I was hooked like a fish.

The haunting, visual landscapes are breathtaking, Daniel Day-Lewis is wonderful, and the secondary characters are very good. Essentially, this is a story of change. The Last Mohican represents a changing of lives and cultures. Additionally, the story of the French-Indian war is moving.

I cannot list a full synopsis of the movie because there are so many different back stories and themes. There is love, intrigue, deciet, family values, war, and death...and all of it is rolled into one.

Everything about this movie is fantastic and very moving. You need to see it for yourself to see what I am talking about. Or, you can listen to the some of the reviewer's recommendations that say this movie is boring and long.

I won't kid you there is some slow points, but this isn't an all out action flick.

Ultimately, this movie is for people who love real, moving movies. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

GREAT MOVIE!!
I'm not a Tom Cruise fan but this gets two thumbs up! Saw it twice in the theater, and am gonna buy it on DVD and watch it again!!

Micheal Mann will do it again
I know this movie will be awesome this is a Micheal Mann movie. Just look at the list of movies he's made Manhunter, Heat (one of my all time favorites), The Insider (another one of my all time favorites), and Ali. In all Micheal Mann's movies there are alway's awesome plot's, plot twists and performances. Ten years ago Tom Cruise was an awesome bad guy in Interview with the vampire, and again Tom Cruise will be awesome as a bad guy. I know Jamie Foxx who is always good, and Mark Ruffalo will put on good perfomances. So be ready for a night on the town. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

A great dark fantasy... Despite it's flaws!
I do have to agree with the other reviewers that have mentioned an obvious amount of overzealous editing! IMO it's the biggest flaw in the film! To those who haven't read the book, the editing will probably leave you confused at times! I do however, much prefer where they ended the movie as compared to the book. And I also appreciate how they removed a lot of the vampire themes! I feel doing these things really gave the flick some true blue originality! I personally believe that the reviewer who said the special effects are laughable is being way too critical on a movie that is around two decades old. This movie is no Matrix granted, but even today I find the ambience of the movie to be quite gothic and darkly moody. I too would love to see this movie done over to DVD in an uncut version... I'd bet my bottom dollar such a version would redeem most of the bad rap it tends to get! If your a horror buff, and like a little originality... This movie is definitely worth giving a chance!

Good News
Good news, The Keep will be released on DVD in November of this year. I'm a big fan of this movie and looking foward to it's release. Jim H.

review of foreign DVD version
No, don't get your hopes up. Paramount still han't put this out for DVD release in the United States, but "The Keep" is one of my cult favorite flicks and so I went to the ends of the Amazon to get an overseas copy viewable on Region 1 DVD.

After some dealing with an Amazon marketplace seller, I got a copy that was viewable on the second of two DVD players I tried. It is an extremely no-frills DVD to say the least, it has a menu with scene selection and, a, uh "preview" reel that shows some truly odd previews ("I Married a Monster from Outer Space" and "Barbarella" for example....no, I'm not kidding, those are the previews). It doesn't pad any of the spots in the film which were obviously butchered by a ham-handed editor (like all of Scott Glenn's dialogue). No deleted scenes, no interviews, no nuthin'. So really the only benefit of having it is that the flick is on DVD and not VHS, and since the price was $40.00, you have to be a hardcore fan of the movie to go to the demented lengths I did to lay hands on it (I forgot to mention it is presented in widescreen, so that is also a bonus).

It had been years since I had seen this early Michael Mann film and indeed I wrote a review of the VHS version some years ago, but it was instantly recognizable as his work. His trademarks leap right out at you: the grim tone, the wonderful score (by Tangerine Dream and like the DVD, impossible to find anywhere, which is IMMNENSELY frustrating because not only is the music gorgeous, the band has made at least 7,373 albums, but they couldn't put out a soundtrack to this? GRRRRR), the cut-to-the-bone dialogue, the lush, sumptuous visuals. This film, like all Mann's works, is a visual feast: the black uniforms of the SS, the washed-out, coldly lit grays of the keep's interior, the horribly evil-looking demon, all beautiful). Unfortunately, it has the same flaws it had when it was released twenty years ago, and I can't get past them no matter how much I watch it (I keep looking for a "Director's Cut" that will flesh out the pruned-down characters of Eva and especially Glaeken...alas, none exists).

The big mistake of the film was the decision to make it primarily visual and reduce the characters of Glaeken and Molasar to simple icons, one representing good, one representing evil. Neither has more than a few words of dialogue; none of the rich subtexture of Glaeken's character, which a great actor like Scott Glenn could have handled easily, is shown. Nor is the necromancing Molasar shown as anything but an evil presence who wants out of his prison; his long violent history with Glenn, the deceptive games he plays with Dr. Cuza and the psych job he does on Woermann in the book, all of these are all whittled away, leaving only a big dude in a demon costume (nevertheless with some great lines, most especially his comeback to Gabriel Byrne: "Who am I? I am...from you.")

The movie does succeed with the characters of Cpt. Woermann, brilliantly played by Jurgen Prochnow, and Maj. Kaempfer, played with tremendously banal evil by Gabriel Byrne; their chemistry is excellent, and the scene where they tear into each other's beliefs at the end is a classic. Given fairly little, Alberta Watson and Ian McKellen both do a lot; it is mainly Scott Glenn who is left in the cold.

There is so much acting firepower in this movie (including veteran Robert Prosky and even wonderful Wolf Kahler in a minor role) and so much talent in the director Mann, it has such a great score and is shot so beautifully, and is predicated on such a great horror novel by F. Paul Wilson, I am continuously grieved by the fact it isn't a better movie. Just 15 minutes of dialogue would have saved the film from being a cult favorite instead of a horror classic; this is why I long for a director's cut. If enough of us beat the drums, it will happen; not even an outfit as stubborn as Paramount (look how they've done the fans of the Jason films)will turn down the chance to make more dough. So let's start beating.

so i just watched it again
i do have a bit of nostalgia for this film, as i first saw it on tv when i was 11 or so...
now 20 years later...sure, it's kind of a failure at a coherent story. and the effects didn't age well (that talisman is so obviously a flashlight with wings)...however, the film is still more compelling to simply watch than 80% of the crap produced these days. good atmosphere, bizarre sequel-unfriendly story, long stretches on beautiful shots. my girlfriend hated it, i give it a 4 for mood and originality.

Good visuals and some fine performance by small characters
I saw it when it came out in '83 and read the book as well.

The good parts are the visuals, of course, for which Michael Mann would later become known. There is some great character acting in it such as the old coot who was the caretaker for the Keep. Jurgen Prochnow steals the show as the wermarcht officer with a conscieous. Alberta Watson was a babe, too. She was also in The Soldier and several recent TV shows.

The unusual Tangerine Dream score helped the mood of the movie-- I think this is only their second or so score soon after Sorceror.

What the film suffers from is poor continuity and editing. For instance, towards the end of the movie they suddenly refer to Scott Glenn's character as Glaeken Trismagistus (his real name from the book) which they had never done previously. It's interesting that TV versions added scenes in the end to give it a happy ending (I think that's how the book ended, too) but I liked the poignant theatrical ending better.

The story gaps other critics mention (why the priest started freaking out, etc) are because the movie didn't cover everything that the book did. It could have been taken care of with a monologue about evil being released and fraility of human will, etc., but I actually preferred just implying it. I hate the way everything has to be explained in movies.

Overall it was an interesting movie with the best parts being the visuals. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Having developed his skill as a master of contemporary crime drama, writer-director Michael Mann displayed every aspect of that mastery in this intelligent, character-driven thriller from 1995, which also marked the first onscreen pairing of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The two great actors had played father and son in the separate time periods of The Godfather, Part II, but this was the first film in which the pair appeared together, and although their only scene together is brief, it's the riveting fulcrum of this high-tech cops-and-robbers scenario. De Niro plays a master thief with highly skilled partners (Val Kilmer and Tom Sizemore) whose latest heist draws the attention of Pacino, playing a seasoned Los Angeles detective whose investigation reveals that cop and criminal lead similar lives. Both are so devoted to their professions that their personal lives are a disaster. Pacino's with a wife (Diane Venora) who cheats to avoid the reality of their desolate marriage; De Niro pays the price for a life with no outside connections; and Kilmer's wife (Ashley Judd) has all but given up hope that her husband will quit his criminal career. These are men obsessed, and as De Niro and Pacino know, they'll both do whatever's necessary to bring the other down. Mann's brilliant screenplay explores these personal obsessions and sacrifices with absorbing insight, and the tension mounts with some of the most riveting action sequences ever filmed--most notably a daylight siege that turns downtown Los Angeles into a virtual war zone of automatic gunfire. At nearly three hours, the film qualifies as a kind of intimate epic, certain to leave some viewers impatiently waiting for more action, but it's all part of Mann's compelling strategy. Heat is a true rarity: a crime thriller with equal measures of intense excitement and dramatic depth, giving De Niro and Pacino a prime showcase for their finely matched talents. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (370)

Movie sizzle.. DVD extras fizzle...
HEAT is one of the best crime dramas ever made! Director Michael Mann's saga is simply a tried and true tale of good versus evil. Al Pacino plays an L.A. cop, who leads a team, that is hot on the trail of a band of criminals. The bad guys are led by mastermind Robert De Niro. Mann tells the epic with such precision and skill, that it is just flawless, from start to finish. Even though Pacino and De NIro do not share much screen time, the film has so much going on, that it almost does not matter. When the two mega-stars do act in the same scene, everything crackles with intensity, that is is almost palpable. The supporting cast is first rate. Val Kilmer, Diane Venora, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Natalie Portman, and JonVoight lead the way into putting this film in the "classic" catagory

The DVD is a major disappointment, due to the lack of any extras, save for a trailler and production info. I wish those in charge would consider a special edition reissue soon. The movie is a winner despite the DVD sans extras and should be part of anyone's film collection. Warner Home Entertainment GET CRACKING on HEAT 2 disc set!

Buy It!
This crime story contains one of the best scenes in movie history. Al Pacino sits down in a coffee shop and chats with Robert De Niro. One is an eccentric detective and the other a ruthless criminal. They talk about what they do for a living and how it effects them. It's a tense and dramatic moment and you have to wonder if the actors are actually talking about their character's lives or their very own. "Heat" is one of the most underrated crime/heist movies of the genre. It has extravagent action scenes, solid performances and cameos (Hank Azaria,Tone Loc,Natalie Portman) and an engrossing plot. My only complaint is the tacked-on ending which seems to belong in a B-movie. Warner Bros. did only an okay job bringing it to DVD so be warned. It's missing some of the special features we have come to expect (director's commentary, deleted scenes, etc). Michael Mann did an admirable job of showing the exploits of professional bank robbers and the detectives who chase them. It's rumored that one of the advisors to the film was one of the bank robbers who was later killed in the infamous North Hollywood Shootout in 1997. Enticed enough now? This is an action movie with class...buy it!

fantastic
this movie has some of the best acting i've ever seen. the plot is great and the action scenes are also great. the dvd i'm reviewing now lacks extras, but a special edition is supposed to come out later this year. some might not like it being three hours, but i think the three hours i spent watching were well worth it.

The best!
Great flick.....perhaps the best car chase scenes and most "tactically correct" fire and maneuver sequences ever filmed. Outstanding plot and great acting.

Long, but good
Pacino, De Niro, Kilmer, Voight all in one movie. Isn't that great? It is. This cop movie is not bad at all, especially the story and the personalities are well developed.

Pacino is sometimes a little too rude and the movie takes too long with 2 hrs and 45 minutes.

Still worth seeing if you have the sitting-flesh. ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Before There Was "Heat"
I had to write this review after reading so many rave reviews of "Heat", which is overrated compared to "Thief". It makes me wonder how many of those customer reviewers are adolescents or young adults who have not seen this picture.

This motion picture is somewhat similar in plot to "Heat", but with considerably less violence (until about the final 30 minutes). James Caan is at his best as an ex-con trying to play his cards close to the vest when he makes a deal with a mob leader that ends disastrously. I find myself agreeing with the customer reviewer who wrote that this was Caan's best acting performance ever. The intensity and feel of "Thief" make it a far superior movie to "Heat", with excellent supporting performances from Willie Nelson, Tuesday Weld, and Jim Belushi.

Especially noteworthy is the performance of Robert Prosky as Leo, the mobster who thinks he's got Caan's character under his thumb only to get his comeuppance. Look for Rick Rossovich and Dennis Farina as Leo's hired muscle.

In addition to a great plot and great performances (hallmarks of almost every film Mann's ever done) is a soundtrack by Tangerine Dream that really rocks! Rent or buy this movie, and if you like it, start your quest for the soundtrack album immediately! You'll be glad you did.

Don't get me wrong here, "Heat" was a good movie. "Thief", however, was done first and done better

James Caan At His BEST!
In his finest role to date, veteran actor James Caan plays Frank, an ultra-cool, independent jewel thief with some very definite plans. Frank reluctantly gets involved with a mobster who changes all those plans. Frank is "Joe the boss of my own Universe" as he tells Leo (Robert Prosky)upon their first meeting. Unfortunately for Frank, he'll soon find that Leo has become the boss of his universe once he agrees to "freelance" for him. To get free, Frank has to dismantle the picture perfect life he tried to assemble, and start over again. ................ This film has a wonderful noir mood with all the atmospheric rain soaked Chicago streets, earthy dialogue and colorful characters. These come in the form of crooked DTs and mobster henchmen to name a few, peppering the screen with non-stop action. These characters feel very real, and keep you riveted throughout. ............ Director Michael Mann, who also created "Heat" and "Man Hunter" as well as the "Miami Vice" TV classic of the 80s, did some of his best work in this film. The soundtrack from "Tangerine Dream" is no less than outstanding. The entire score really enhances every scene. I especially love the wonderfully sensual sounding lead guitars during the exciting culmination of the story when Frank faces Leo solo to take back his independence. .......... Willie Nelson as David Okla, master thief that taught Frank his craft, and Dennis Farina in his big screen debut (with BLACK hair!) as one of Leos henchmen are two of many interesting faces and characters along the way. .............. Since this is one of my favorite films, I can truly say, if you have never seen "Thief"... you've been robbed of a truly great film viewing experience.

The revenge is a wonderful dish
The thief is a modern film noir. James Caan gives his most powerful performance to date. Cool, analytical with a hard debt that it must be paid.
There is a film that I still remind very close related, titled Point Blank and directed by John Boorman. The starring in that film was the hard Lee Marvin. I have the inner conviction that Thief was inspired by that one. Please acquire both of two. I have them in my personal collection.
This is the opera prima of Michael Mann as director. Well effort and amazing script.
One of the top ten cult movies from the eighties.
A must in your collection!.

Great 80s film
James Caan does a great job at playing a master thief approaching middle age. Contrary to a superficial viewing he does not glorify the criminal life. His best scene is where he is describing the sense of waste he feels about his life and time in jail. James Caan really carries this scene over better than many actors of today would.

Oldsters will also remember that this is the first peice where James Belushi stepped out of his brother's shadow. He surprised a lot of people with a good dramatic role as James Caan's partner instead of a comedy.

Great Tangerine Dream score. Bit of trivia, the film has a song over the closing credits that was not by Tangerine Dream that is very good but not by Tangerine Dream. This song DOES NOT appear on the CD version of the Thief soundtrack, although it was included on the older cassette and LP releases. You can hear it on this movie release though.

THE SIGNATURE STYLE OF MICHAEL MANN
James Caan in black Armani leather looking better than he did in THE GODFATHER; Tuesday Weld looking angelic; Chicago lit up in neon with non-cliched corrupt cops, desperate crooks and the underbelly of the Midwest. Michael Mann imprinted his signature style on this fierce tale of a career criminal caught in the nightmare of a dream gone bad and a life that could never exist. THIEF is distingushed by its incredible visuals and hard dialogue... the most frightening of both is an exchange between a silent, face up Caan and Robert Prosky (fantastic as Leo) in a back alley shop with an acid bath at arms length. THIEF is the prototype for the new era film noir and Mann a skilled and worthy architect of the genre. Dennis Farina makes his acting debut as a shotgun toting mobster. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Thank You! To the Late Robert Urich
Hello, I'm Janie Strifler. My only and deepest regret is that I wasn't able to say "hello" or "thank you" to this great actor. So, if you were ever a fan of Robert Urich from his character on "Soap, to Dan Tanna, Spenser, you'll want to add this video to your collection and to keep him in your memory. If by chance you happen to be a fan of Las Vegas and the Desert Inn Hotel this video is what you've been looking for. As a fan of this late actor and a fan of the entertainment industry Robert Urich will be forever missed but not forgot by this fan. ... Read more

Reviews (233)

A great movie, if a bit overrated.
The Insider

Score: 84/100

Whatever your personal opinions are about The Insider, you must admit that it is a well-made movie. If you dislike it, you can't exactly say that the effort wasn't a large amount for all the cast and crew. Because it was, and you can tell just by watching every minute of this long but rewarding crowd-pleaser starring New Zealand's Russell Crowe, in a performance that got him nominated for an Oscar. The film also earned 6 other nominations, and didn't win one of them, since there was too much competition. A shame, because this is such an intelligent and observing movie that you can't help but be intrigued.

This film tells the true story of Jeffrey Wigand (Crowe), a former tobacco executive, who decided to appear on the CBS-TV News show "60 Minutes." As matter of conscience partially prodded by producer Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), he revealed that, the tobacco industry was not only aware that cigarettes are addictive & harmful, but deliberately worked on increasing that addictiveness. Unfortunately, both protagonists of this story learn the hard way that simply telling the truth is not enough as they struggle against both Big Tobacco's attempts to silence them and the CBS TV Network's own cowardly complict preference of putting money as a higher priority over the truth.

It's amazing how well this did with the critics, since it didn't get much attention at the box office or at home-video rental stores. But people, intelligently, liked Michael Mann's thrilling and dramatic film that, if sometimes a little boring for some audiences, manages to deliver first-rate performances from the cast and be memorable and vivid in your mind. The Insider's script is a majorly clever one, it literally blew socks off global viewers for it's pure sense of intelligence, the film was written by Michael Mann (we can't get enough of him) and Eric Roth (his promising co-writer).

In short: The Insider is a must-see in all aspects.

Gripping ethical study of doing the right thing
Combining a human drama and a capitalist dilemma, The Insider is a tour de force in its display of the paradox between corporations keeping corporate "secrecy" and telling the truth. Russell Crowe and Al Pacino deliver powerful, unforgettable performances as a CBS news producer(Pacino) and a big tobacco whistle blower(Crowe). The story encompasses the personal descision made by former tobacco exectutive Jeffery Wigand who blows the whistle on his former tobacco employers at a high personal cost, while simoultaniously nakedly exposing the conflict in many news rooms between telling the truth and corporate interests. The Insider digs deep into media ethics, asks the question as to who really is in charge of what we as a public see and hear and makes one wonder if our beloved capitalist country has become a corporate "Frankenstein." This film is a hit anyway you cut it, and will have audiences,not to mention journalism students, debating the messages in this for years to come. Kudos to director Michael Mann and to an outstanding supporting performance by Christopher Plummer who delivers a PLUM of a performance as 60 minutes anchor Mike wallace.

TOBACCO AVENUE
One of those films that I always meant to watch and only now, years after the fact, I get around to doing so, and I am a little disappointed. Docudrama about top tobacco corporate vice president who aligns with TV's "60 Minutes" to expose tobacco company standards is too narrow-minded in scope to encompass all the havoc the tobacco empire exposes on the world, relying on the sympathetic plight and near ruin of the family man executive whose behavior borders on paranoia and insecurity. Al Pacino as a "60 Minutes" producer and Russell Crowe as the reluctant crusader executive both seem overdrawn as characters, Pacino in his familiar nervous edgy urban guy persona and Crowe as the weakling confused executive both grow tiresome after a while. Still, the movie moves along briskly and a surreal sequence where a hotel wall becomes an imagined memory invokes the sometimes hopelessness of tobacco addiction. But why does the film feel the need to mercilessly pick on "60 Minutes"'s Mike Wallace? I seem to be missing the inside word here.

WAY OVERRATED HYPOCRISY
"Issues" liberals may be people of conscience with good intentions who give of their time, energy and money for a variety of causes to better society, usually by helping disadvantaged kids or the afflicted. Hooray for them. They cannot get too much applause for that. But they jumped on the anti-tobacco bandwagon, which is in my view real hypocrisy. First, Hollywood always displays macho men and femme fatale women smoking cigarettes and looking cool. Tobacco has been around for centuries. It is a legal product that people want. The fact that it is bad for you is simply common knowledge, yet trial lawyers, the biggest Democrat special interest group, file nefarious multi-million dollar class action lawsuits and tort claims against tobacco companies, as if some plaintiff who smoked for 50 years before getting lung cancer was forced by the company to do so.
During the Clinton years, the Democrats jumped on this issue like there was no tomorrow, actually making government ads against legal American tobacco corporations and the tobacco industry in a move that cannot be legal, civilly and maybe Constitutionally. These ads typically show a couple of (always) white tobacco execs plotting to poison kids, then laughing about it. Turn this ad around and direct it at anybody else and the hue and cry would be endless. These companies contribute enormous taxes and employ thousands. I myself was addicted to chewing tobacco (Copenhagen) for 16 years. I knew I had to quit, tried several times, but went back to it. I knew the dangers of snuff and that it was a disgusting habit. Nobody dragged my arm. I chose to do it, chose to quit, girded my will power and accomplished this task. Period. Just like George W. Bush when he quit drinking.
Speaking of alcohol, this is worse than tobacco. It causes drunk driving deaths and has to be as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes, but it is not a target. On top of that, the real kicker is that if you go to Hollywood parties, or hang out at certain industry hot spots in Studio City, Universal City, Beverly Hills, or Santa Monica, you will find movie executives puffing on huge cigars like the one Bill Clinton asked Monica to use as a phallic. Such hypocrisy.
Russell Crowe played a tobacco exec a few years ago opposite Al Pacino in "The Insider", a film that never got anywhere. The crux of the film was that Brown & Williamson, a tobacco road company with a long, venerable tradition in old Carolina, had...shock...hid the fact that cigarettes are bad for people. For decades.
Really? Bad for people?
Basically they went out and advertised their product like any other capitalist organization, in an effort to get people to buy it. People buy tobacco for the same reason I used to buy it. They know it is bad for them. They joke and call them "cancer sticks." Oh, but kids are being duped, they say. There is no group of individuals on Earth more acutely aware of the danger of smoking than kids, to my knowledge. When my daughter was six or seven she was all over this issue. These same anti-tobacco crusaders are the same ones who will argue six ways from Sunday that marijuana should be legal, too. Let them stop abortion before stopping smoking.

STEVEN TRAVERS
AUTHOR OF "BARRY BONDS: BASEBALL'S SUPERMAN"
STWRITES@AOL.COM

"I'm an Insider Too"
We all know that it's sometimes worth it to take a second look at a film you may have been dismissive of before. To say, I didn't "get" THE INSIDER the first time I saw it would be something of an understatement. I didn't see it as all that revelatory--"'Big tobacco' corrupt?" "Big media craven?" "Mike Wallace has an ego and a temper on the scale of Mt. St. Helens?" Quelle surprise! There was nothing particularly new about all that. In fact, the only big news was that Russell Crowe was going the DeNiro route and altering his physical appearance for the sake of his art. (OK, OK, not as extreme but he did put on a few pounds and donned a less than flattering grey toupe.)

Maybe it was something I ate that first time, though, 'cause the second time around, I have to admit, it was pretty riveting. This time out, I found the moral dilemmas facing Crowe's whistleblower and Pacino's muckraker TV producer pretty darn fascinating--despite the fact that I knew how it was all going to turn out. Oh yeah, and I finally got the fact that the title is supposed to be a little ambiguous and that,yes, Pacino's Lowell Bergman character is an "insider" too.

Sometimes I'm a little slow, but eventually, if I'm lucky, I catch on. THE INSIDER is a quietly powerful and effective film. Apparently, it didn't manage to convince Russell Crowe to quit smoking, but--as a morality tale and as sheer drama--it's still pretty darn effective. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Peter Strauss's Emmy winning performance as a convict runner
Peter Strauss deservedly won an Emmy for his riveting performance as Larry "Rain" Murphy in this 1979 television movie. Incarcerated for murdering his father, Murphy sticks to himself in prison finding solace only in running. Losing himself in his running, Murphy's holy grail is "The Jericho Mile," where the walls come tumblin' down in his mind and he can feel free again. Murphy comes out of his isolation because of a tentative friendship with another inmate, R.C. Stiles (Richard Lawson), and the belief of Warden Gulliver (Billy Green Bush) and the prison shrink, Dr. Janowski (Geoffrey Lewis) in rehabilitation. Through the efforts of the latter pair, Murphy is introduced to Jerry Beloit (Ed Lauter), a track coach who is able to teach the convict runner something about technique to go with his raw skill. Murphy is good, in fact, he might be good enough to compete on the national level. However, the only way to do that is to have him timed on a regulation track and since Murphy cannot be let out of prison, it is decided to build a track in the prison yard. This puts Murphy in the middle of a power struggle between the white supremacist inmates, led by Dr. D (Brian Dennehy) and the black inmates, led by Cotton Crown (Roger E. Mosley).

What elevates "The Jericho Mile" is the resolution... I do not think I every realized before that this movie was directed by Michael Mann, but it certainly does not surprise me given some of the more stylish moments. I too was struck by the sense of realism Mann creates in this prison film, but mostly what you will remember is the intensity of Strauss's performance, which stands out even amongst this fine ensemble cast. "The Jericho Mile" is not a great film, but rather it is a very good film without serious flaws, which is becoming rarer and rarer in today's world. This was one of my favorite movies from the early days of cable TV when it was a staple offering.

And the walls come down...
Watching this made-for-TV movie set in Folsom Penitentiary, one is suddenly struck by the fact that realistic prison dialogue and violence can be accomplished without profanity or graphic gore. Amazing. And it's such a watchable movie, featuring a sexy performance by a young and sinewy Peter Strauss, and a rousing musical theme remniscent of the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil". Strauss is Rain Murphy, a lifer/loner who does his time running in the Yard. He turns in fast miles, in basketball shoes on uneven grass. With decent equipment and a little coaching, he might have a shot at an Olympic title. But first he'll need to qualify on an Olympic track -- and a convicted murderer, even a "model" inmate like Murphy, can't get a furlough just for a tryout. So Folsom officials decide to build one within prison walls. "The Jericho Mile" was filmed on location, utilizing the real prison population as extras. The racetrack was actually constructed on-camera by convict labor. Racial strife is a theme of the film, as white inmate Murphy and his black running partner Stiles attract unwanted attention from the Aryan, Muslim, and Chicano gangs vying for "political" supremacy. Will the dream of convict Gold unite the warring factions? Ironically, "The Jericho Mile" actually did, however briefly. This most racially turbulent California penitentiary experienced unprecedented harmony during the filming of the movie. The track built by the interracial work brigade is still there for the use of other Rain Murphys behind the walls.

An inspirational television classic
When watching the 1979 made-for-television movie "The Jerico Mile," most viewers will be impressed by how well the film has aged. Relevant, stylish and intense, "The Jerico Mile" is arguably one of the great television movies in history. Directed by Michael Mann, who would go on the create "Miami Vice" and such A-list Hollywood films as "Last of the Mohicans," "Heat," and "The Insider," this humane film details life in Folsom Prison and the men who scratch out an existence within its cement walls.

"The Jerico Mile" begins with an extraordinary opening montage, expertly edited with the funky riffs of "Sympathy for the Devil" playing in the background. Within their prison, criminals play handball, deal drugs, lift weights and lounge in frustrated boredom. Standing out is Rain Murphy (Peter Strauss), a loner who endlessly runs around trash cans, sweat poring from his body, muscles tense and glistening, escaping the confines in his own, unique way. Serving a life sentence after murdering his father, Murphy obsessively runs on a daily basis. When he's clocked by the prison warden and psychologist one afternoon, they realize Murphy is achieving Olympic-level times.

Murphy has one friend, a black man and cellmate neighbor (Richard Lawson, in a very good supporting peformance) who runs afoul of the white supremacists led by Dr. D (Brian Dennehy, in one of his earliest roles). A murder takes place, leading to a race riot, and Murphy reluctantly finds himself in the middle of inmate tensions. The prisoners eventually bond, building a race track within the prison, thus giving Murphy a chance to make the Olympic team and run for freedom.

"The Jerico Mile" is a brilliant, symbolic story. Filmed on location, using actual prisoners, Mann went to obvious lengths to achieve utter realism. Strauss won the Emmy for his heartbreaking performance, and deservedly so. When he's not running, his character is a walking time bomb, seething with rage, struggling with a tortured past. His minutes-long monologue when he finally opens up to the prison psychologist is brilliant, hall-of-fame stuff. Strauss' character is never very likeable, constantly on the verge of self destruction, pushing away efforts of the warden and track coach as they attempt to give him a chance for glory. Rain Murphy is running from demons, and they could catch him at any moment.

I would love to see "The Jerico Mile" remade today as a major motion picture, though I cannot imagine an actor giving as good a performance as Strauss. Everything clicks perfectly in "The Jerico Mile." It is a poetic, inspirational achievement, marked by excellent visuals, terrific supporting performances, the fluid direction of Mann, and the stunning performance of Strauss. This is a true television classic, deserving of rediscovery and a quality DVD release.

Still Applicable today
Being a grouphome parent of six girls (formerly six boys for three years) I have found many lessons learned which helped me in my proffession. The Jericho Mile is an example of how you can still have new hopes and dreams, even if it seems your life is at its absolute lowest point. The movie was filmed perfectly, and still packs a punch today.

The Long Lost Hero
Hi, my name is Daniel.My father, Danny De Avila, was featured in this incredible peace of reality and historical memborance. I never got the chance to meet my father before but after watching this video I feel as though I have! My father was involved in keeping "The Jericho Mile" alive very much so. After the movie was filmed my father along with some of his friends made a proposal to the wardens in regard to keeping the track in the prison yard. The wardens, shortly after, made their final decision to keep the track remaining in the facility. I feel that this is very important to my family knowing that my father helped change part of prison history at Folsom State Penitentiary. ... Read more

Reviews (320)

Manhunter is a treat....
especially for fans of Michael Mann, and his stylish, intense film presentation. If you absolutely must have your movies true to the book, or if you are watching Manhunter to try to get an early view of Hannibal Lecter (pre-Silence of the Lambs), you may be disappointed.

Mann gives us William Petersen, a little younger and thinner, but much the same as his current role in the television feature "CSI". He has nearly destroyed himself and his family life with his ability to profile serial killers, and his inability to stay out of harm's way. The villain of this setting (and the book, "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris) is called the "Tooth Fairy" and his slaughter of two families is particularly grisly; how and why he chose his victims will surprise you. Mann's use of rock classics for the score, and his choice of actors for the parts of both villians are brilliant. Although I prefer Anthony Hopkins, the Lecter role is played with brilliant understatement by Cox, an actor who can "ooze" madness and evil, and does so in this film. Like many of the reviewers, I found only the original widescreen DVD, and not the 2 part Director's cut to demonstrate the excellence in this film. BRAVO, Michael Mann!

A little slow at times, but done with great style!
True to the book, with a great sense of the somewhat cheesy 80's style Mann himself invented. Love the Inna Gadda Da Vida scene. It is, to me, one of the greatest marriages of music and video ever put on film, and it saved the movie for me. Also enjoyed the eerie lack of music in the 'burning wheelchair' scene. Mann has the unique ability to create an unforgettable 'moment' in a film which etches itself forever into the viewer's mind (For another prime example of this ability, see the seemingly endless 'shooting to escape capture' scene in the beginning of Mann's HEAT. Excellent!). Performances were good, if not exactly captivating, especially if judged in comparison to those in Silence Of The Lambs. But comparing any movie to a 5-time Academy Award winner is probably unfair. The biggest problem with Manhunter, I found, was Mann's (Or, perhaps, William Peterson's) inability to convincingly portray the overwhelming mental anguish that the Will Graham character goes through in this story. All in all, a good, entertaining film with some truly memorable moments.

Dream Much, Will?
Don't miss this original, the first of the Hannibal Lechtor series. The score, the filmography, (Lighting), is still so vividly used in the best of today's suspence/thrill sequences.
Will Graham, (William Peterson), is the "Manhunter" hunting down "Frances Dolarhyde", and also the man responsible for imprisoning Dr Lechtor, at great phsycial, and emotional harm to himself.
Don't be fooled by Dino's latest grab at a buck, the rediculous "Red Dragon". (Which is odd, since Dino owns "Manhunter" as well..)
So, Red Dragon is only a remake of this great film.
It's ultimately embaressing to watch Lechtor and Chilton's charachter's re-acted, only "made up" to look 20 some years younger! (Red Dragon).
This is the Real McCoy, and Brian Cox, IMHO, should have stayed Hannibal Lechtor.
If you want another good performance by Anthony Hopkins, see "Meet Joe Black".
BTW, as far as I can tell, Barney's character, (Frankie Faison), is the only actor to play in all "Four movies of the Trilogy"..
If you want the original psychological thriller in this series, you found it..

Pete

Michael Mann's controversial crime-thriller ...
MANHUNTER is the 1986 crime-thriller that began Michael Mann's career as a respected filmmaker. Adapted from the novel "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris, this film will be remembered as "the film with the OTHER Hannibal Lecter" and will dismissed by many as a good first try, but nothing special. CSI's William Petersen stars as Will Graham, a gifted FBI agent who is working to track down a mysterious killer nicknamed the "Tooth Fairy" before the next full moon. Aiding him in his hunt is the (curiously mispelled) criminal genius Hannibal Lecktor, played by Brian Cox. Being a huge fan of the Hannibal Lecter film series and Harris' novels, I have more to work with than some other people. MANHUNTER was adapted and directed by Michael Mann, who also produced "Miami Vice" - and it shows on the glittering design and stunning soundtrack. The acting is okay, but is great only in the cases of Petersen and Dennis Farina (who also featured on "Miami Vice", as well as certain other people who appear in the film). Mann's direction is the greatest part of the film. Brian Cox's performance as "Lecktor" works fine, but is completely incomparable to that of Anthony Hopkins, who played him in the later films. MANHUNTER has been unfairly dismissed as a piece of crap. It's no masterpiece, I'll grant you that, but the fact that the film is so dated, and the work that people like Mann and Petersen have done, make it a wonderful, "Miami Vice"-esque thriller.

Read the novel AND see this film!
I first rented this movie in the late '80s, and I really only did so to see Chris Elliot's cameo -- give me a break, I was really bored that weekend! Years later, when I saw Silence of the Lambs in the theater, I recognized the name of the doctor and realized that these two works were somehow related, and eventually ended up reading all four of Thomas Harris' novels and seeing all five film adaptations, of which Manhunter is my personal favorite.

Upon reflection, I initially found the film's ending a bit stereotypically Hollywood, and not quite up to the same high level of quality found in the rest of the film. As I later read the novel, I at first found myself liking the book's ending better, but understood how it might have been much harder to film -- that is, until I got past the red herring to the novel's REAL ending, which made Manhunter's ending seem positively inspired by comparison. (Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit too hard on Harris, and giving Michael Mann a bit too much of a pass on this point....)

If you don't like Michael Mann's directorial style, or if you're one of those pseudo-intellectuals who can't look at a film made in another decade without calling it "dated" -- or if you think Anthony Hopkins is the only actor who should ever be legally allowed to play the character of Hannibal Lector --then you might not like this film. Though it often strays from the novel a little bit, and leaves almost all of the exposition regarding the Tooth Fairy's origins out, it all still works. Noonan gives an excellent and economic performance, as does Nancy Allen (and their love scene is one of the more tasteful and romantic in recent memory).

Brian Cox also has a different take on the Lector character than Hopkins, but it is ultimately A) closer to the novel's depiction and B) more realistic and believable. Sorry, Tony, but you have to admit, as great as your performance was in Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal comes off much better when the actor playing him resists the urge to chew scenery -- no pun intended....

But it is William Petersen's portrayal of Investigator Graham that really carries the film, and rightly so. As I said before, the novel gives us much, much more background on the Tooth Fairy than the movie does, but the main focus of the story is on Graham and his own internal struggles. I was especially impressed with one scene in particular that Petersen and Mann really pulled off well, as far as taking a great moment from the novel and translating it into a great movie moment. It's the scene in the middle of the film when Graham is seated at a diner, staring out into the rainy night, playing the answering machine message of one of the victims in his head: "Hi, this is Valerie Leads; I'm sorry I can't come to the phone right now..." because she's been murdered, of course. Absentmindedly, Graham says aloud, "Me too." The waitress passing by asks if he was asking for more coffee, and he tells her no. Turning back to the window, having now made up his mind to throw himself completely into the investigation and see it through to the end, Graham says out loud, as if the Tooth Fairy could hear him, "It's just you and me now, sport." This was a great emotional moment in the novel, and Mann and Petersen (and the music score) also manage to make it a great emotional moment in the movie as well, losing nothing in the translation.

I give the same number of stars to Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs, but let's face it -- Mann's asylum for the criminally insane is much more realistic and believable than Demme's, for instance. Two different directorial styles, two different approaches to Lector, etc., but each quite good in its own right. The "re-imagining" of 2002 on the other hand is another story, and a sad one at that....

If you're in the mood for the original modern police procedural on investigating serial killers, or for a good psycholgical character study about the effects of such work on the investigators themselves, then give this film a try!

PS: Why is it that when most people review books and films on Amazon, A) they seem not to notice that most of what they say has already been said in the hundreds of other reviews previously posted, and B) they seem to feel obligated to recount the entire plot, point by point, spoiler by spoiler, in excruciating detail, instead of just giving the rest of us a simple idea of why we might like or dislike the book or film in question?! ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Before There Was "Heat"
I had to write this review after reading so many rave reviews of "Heat", which is overrated compared to "Thief". It makes me wonder how many of those customer reviewers are adolescents or young adults who have not seen this picture.

This motion picture is somewhat similar in plot to "Heat", but with considerably less violence (until about the final 30 minutes). James Caan is at his best as an ex-con trying to play his cards close to the vest when he makes a deal with a mob leader that ends disastrously. I find myself agreeing with the customer reviewer who wrote that this was Caan's best acting performance ever. The intensity and feel of "Thief" make it a far superior movie to "Heat", with excellent supporting performances from Willie Nelson, Tuesday Weld, and Jim Belushi.

Especially noteworthy is the performance of Robert Prosky as Leo, the mobster who thinks he's got Caan's character under his thumb only to get his comeuppance. Look for Rick Rossovich and Dennis Farina as Leo's hired muscle.

In addition to a great plot and great performances (hallmarks of almost every film Mann's ever done) is a soundtrack by Tangerine Dream that really rocks! Rent or buy this movie, and if you like it, start your quest for the soundtrack album immediately! You'll be glad you did.

Don't get me wrong here, "Heat" was a good movie. "Thief", however, was done first and done better

James Caan At His BEST!
In his finest role to date, veteran actor James Caan plays Frank, an ultra-cool, independent jewel thief with some very definite plans. Frank reluctantly gets involved with a mobster who changes all those plans. Frank is "Joe the boss of my own Universe" as he tells Leo (Robert Prosky)upon their first meeting. Unfortunately for Frank, he'll soon find that Leo has become the boss of his universe once he agrees to "freelance" for him. To get free, Frank has to dismantle the picture perfect life he tried to assemble, and start over again. ................ This film has a wonderful noir mood with all the atmospheric rain soaked Chicago streets, earthy dialogue and colorful characters. These come in the form of crooked DTs and mobster henchmen to name a few, peppering the screen with non-stop action. These characters feel very real, and keep you riveted throughout. ............ Director Michael Mann, who also created "Heat" and "Man Hunter" as well as the "Miami Vice" TV classic of the 80s, did some of his best work in this film. The soundtrack from "Tangerine Dream" is no less than outstanding. The entire score really enhances every scene. I especially love the wonderfully sensual sounding lead guitars during the exciting culmination of the story when Frank faces Leo solo to take back his independence. .......... Willie Nelson as David Okla, master thief that taught Frank his craft, and Dennis Farina in his big screen debut (with BLACK hair!) as one of Leos henchmen are two of many interesting faces and characters along the way. .............. Since this is one of my favorite films, I can truly say, if you have never seen "Thief"... you've been robbed of a truly great film viewing experience.

The revenge is a wonderful dish
The thief is a modern film noir. James Caan gives his most powerful performance to date. Cool, analytical with a hard debt that it must be paid.
There is a film that I still remind very close related, titled Point Blank and directed by John Boorman. The starring in that film was the hard Lee Marvin. I have the inner conviction that Thief was inspired by that one. Please acquire both of two. I have them in my personal collection.
This is the opera prima of Michael Mann as director. Well effort and amazing script.
One of the top ten cult movies from the eighties.
A must in your collection!.

Great 80s film
James Caan does a great job at playing a master thief approaching middle age. Contrary to a superficial viewing he does not glorify the criminal life. His best scene is where he is describing the sense of waste he feels about his life and time in jail. James Caan really carries this scene over better than many actors of today would.

Oldsters will also remember that this is the first peice where James Belushi stepped out of his brother's shadow. He surprised a lot of people with a good dramatic role as James Caan's partner instead of a comedy.

Great Tangerine Dream score. Bit of trivia, the film has a song over the closing credits that was not by Tangerine Dream that is very good but not by Tangerine Dream. This song DOES NOT appear on the CD version of the Thief soundtrack, although it was included on the older cassette and LP releases. You can hear it on this movie release though.

THE SIGNATURE STYLE OF MICHAEL MANN
James Caan in black Armani leather looking better than he did in THE GODFATHER; Tuesday Weld looking angelic; Chicago lit up in neon with non-cliched corrupt cops, desperate crooks and the underbelly of the Midwest. Michael Mann imprinted his signature style on this fierce tale of a career criminal caught in the nightmare of a dream gone bad and a life that could never exist. THIEF is distingushed by its incredible visuals and hard dialogue... the most frightening of both is an exchange between a silent, face up Caan and Robert Prosky (fantastic as Leo) in a back alley shop with an acid bath at arms length. THIEF is the prototype for the new era film noir and Mann a skilled and worthy architect of the genre. Dennis Farina makes his acting debut as a shotgun toting mobster. ... Read more

Reviews (320)

Manhunter is a treat....
especially for fans of Michael Mann, and his stylish, intense film presentation. If you absolutely must have your movies true to the book, or if you are watching Manhunter to try to get an early view of Hannibal Lecter (pre-Silence of the Lambs), you may be disappointed.

Mann gives us William Petersen, a little younger and thinner, but much the same as his current role in the television feature "CSI". He has nearly destroyed himself and his family life with his ability to profile serial killers, and his inability to stay out of harm's way. The villain of this setting (and the book, "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris) is called the "Tooth Fairy" and his slaughter of two families is particularly grisly; how and why he chose his victims will surprise you. Mann's use of rock classics for the score, and his choice of actors for the parts of both villians are brilliant. Although I prefer Anthony Hopkins, the Lecter role is played with brilliant understatement by Cox, an actor who can "ooze" madness and evil, and does so in this film. Like many of the reviewers, I found only the original widescreen DVD, and not the 2 part Director's cut to demonstrate the excellence in this film. BRAVO, Michael Mann!

A little slow at times, but done with great style!
True to the book, with a great sense of the somewhat cheesy 80's style Mann himself invented. Love the Inna Gadda Da Vida scene. It is, to me, one of the greatest marriages of music and video ever put on film, and it saved the movie for me. Also enjoyed the eerie lack of music in the 'burning wheelchair' scene. Mann has the unique ability to create an unforgettable 'moment' in a film which etches itself forever into the viewer's mind (For another prime example of this ability, see the seemingly endless 'shooting to escape capture' scene in the beginning of Mann's HEAT. Excellent!). Performances were good, if not exactly captivating, especially if judged in comparison to those in Silence Of The Lambs. But comparing any movie to a 5-time Academy Award winner is probably unfair. The biggest problem with Manhunter, I found, was Mann's (Or, perhaps, William Peterson's) inability to convincingly portray the overwhelming mental anguish that the Will Graham character goes through in this story. All in all, a good, entertaining film with some truly memorable moments.

Dream Much, Will?
Don't miss this original, the first of the Hannibal Lechtor series. The score, the filmography, (Lighting), is still so vividly used in the best of today's suspence/thrill sequences.
Will Graham, (William Peterson), is the "Manhunter" hunting down "Frances Dolarhyde", and also the man responsible for imprisoning Dr Lechtor, at great phsycial, and emotional harm to himself.
Don't be fooled by Dino's latest grab at a buck, the rediculous "Red Dragon". (Which is odd, since Dino owns "Manhunter" as well..)
So, Red Dragon is only a remake of this great film.
It's ultimately embaressing to watch Lechtor and Chilton's charachter's re-acted, only "made up" to look 20 some years younger! (Red Dragon).
This is the Real McCoy, and Brian Cox, IMHO, should have stayed Hannibal Lechtor.
If you want another good performance by Anthony Hopkins, see "Meet Joe Black".
BTW, as far as I can tell, Barney's character, (Frankie Faison), is the only actor to play in all "Four movies of the Trilogy"..
If you want the original psychological thriller in this series, you found it..

Pete

Michael Mann's controversial crime-thriller ...
MANHUNTER is the 1986 crime-thriller that began Michael Mann's career as a respected filmmaker. Adapted from the novel "Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris, this film will be remembered as "the film with the OTHER Hannibal Lecter" and will dismissed by many as a good first try, but nothing special. CSI's William Petersen stars as Will Graham, a gifted FBI agent who is working to track down a mysterious killer nicknamed the "Tooth Fairy" before the next full moon. Aiding him in his hunt is the (curiously mispelled) criminal genius Hannibal Lecktor, played by Brian Cox. Being a huge fan of the Hannibal Lecter film series and Harris' novels, I have more to work with than some other people. MANHUNTER was adapted and directed by Michael Mann, who also produced "Miami Vice" - and it shows on the glittering design and stunning soundtrack. The acting is okay, but is great only in the cases of Petersen and Dennis Farina (who also featured on "Miami Vice", as well as certain other people who appear in the film). Mann's direction is the greatest part of the film. Brian Cox's performance as "Lecktor" works fine, but is completely incomparable to that of Anthony Hopkins, who played him in the later films. MANHUNTER has been unfairly dismissed as a piece of crap. It's no masterpiece, I'll grant you that, but the fact that the film is so dated, and the work that people like Mann and Petersen have done, make it a wonderful, "Miami Vice"-esque thriller.

Read the novel AND see this film!
I first rented this movie in the late '80s, and I really only did so to see Chris Elliot's cameo -- give me a break, I was really bored that weekend! Years later, when I saw Silence of the Lambs in the theater, I recognized the name of the doctor and realized that these two works were somehow related, and eventually ended up reading all four of Thomas Harris' novels and seeing all five film adaptations, of which Manhunter is my personal favorite.

Upon reflection, I initially found the film's ending a bit stereotypically Hollywood, and not quite up to the same high level of quality found in the rest of the film. As I later read the novel, I at first found myself liking the book's ending better, but understood how it might have been much harder to film -- that is, until I got past the red herring to the novel's REAL ending, which made Manhunter's ending seem positively inspired by comparison. (Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit too hard on Harris, and giving Michael Mann a bit too much of a pass on this point....)

If you don't like Michael Mann's directorial style, or if you're one of those pseudo-intellectuals who can't look at a film made in another decade without calling it "dated" -- or if you think Anthony Hopkins is the only actor who should ever be legally allowed to play the character of Hannibal Lector --then you might not like this film. Though it often strays from the novel a little bit, and leaves almost all of the exposition regarding the Tooth Fairy's origins out, it all still works. Noonan gives an excellent and economic performance, as does Nancy Allen (and their love scene is one of the more tasteful and romantic in recent memory).

Brian Cox also has a different take on the Lector character than Hopkins, but it is ultimately A) closer to the novel's depiction and B) more realistic and believable. Sorry, Tony, but you have to admit, as great as your performance was in Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal comes off much better when the actor playing him resists the urge to chew scenery -- no pun intended....

But it is William Petersen's portrayal of Investigator Graham that really carries the film, and rightly so. As I said before, the novel gives us much, much more background on the Tooth Fairy than the movie does, but the main focus of the story is on Graham and his own internal struggles. I was especially impressed with one scene in particular that Petersen and Mann really pulled off well, as far as taking a great moment from the novel and translating it into a great movie moment. It's the scene in the middle of the film when Graham is seated at a diner, staring out into the rainy night, playing the answering machine message of one of the victims in his head: "Hi, this is Valerie Leads; I'm sorry I can't come to the phone right now..." because she's been murdered, of course. Absentmindedly, Graham says aloud, "Me too." The waitress passing by asks if he was asking for more coffee, and he tells her no. Turning back to the window, having now made up his mind to throw himself completely into the investigation and see it through to the end, Graham says out loud, as if the Tooth Fairy could hear him, "It's just you and me now, sport." This was a great emotional moment in the novel, and Mann and Petersen (and the music score) also manage to make it a great emotional moment in the movie as well, losing nothing in the translation.

I give the same number of stars to Jonathan Demme's Silence of the Lambs, but let's face it -- Mann's asylum for the criminally insane is much more realistic and believable than Demme's, for instance. Two different directorial styles, two different approaches to Lector, etc., but each quite good in its own right. The "re-imagining" of 2002 on the other hand is another story, and a sad one at that....

If you're in the mood for the original modern police procedural on investigating serial killers, or for a good psycholgical character study about the effects of such work on the investigators themselves, then give this film a try!

PS: Why is it that when most people review books and films on Amazon, A) they seem not to notice that most of what they say has already been said in the hundreds of other reviews previously posted, and B) they seem to feel obligated to recount the entire plot, point by point, spoiler by spoiler, in excruciating detail, instead of just giving the rest of us a simple idea of why we might like or dislike the book or film in question?! ... Read more

Reviews (342)

Great Original Movie (and VHS); POOR DVD
Re-release of a previous review so those who read nearby reviews NOTE the difference between VHS (excellent) and DVD (POOR): Waited in great anticipation for the DVD release of this one. The Last of the Mohicans is a great movie enhanced with terrific music. The VHS widescreen version in THX is a wonderful piece of entertainment. Unfortunately, this Director's Expanded Edition has destroyed the flow and continuity of the original. In Director Michael Mann's attempt to supply us with his "definitive vision of the film" via his own editing, he has ignored the professional editors and provided us with a substandard version of what was a fine film. Several of the added clips have no musical sound track at all and come across as painfully awkward - making the viewer fully aware he/she is watching actors in front of a camera rather than immersing us in the action. There is even a series of scenes in the original (and VHS) that has a vocal music piece overlaid that has been completely omitted from the DVD. All in all, I was very disappointed in the DVD after having distinctive and memorable images etched in my mind from the original theater and VHS releases.

Enchanting!
I just recently viewed the movie for the first time during my U.S History class. Since then I have watched the movie five times in as many days. The movie is historically accurate for the most part when dealing with the war itself. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful and the music chosen was neutral for the time period and accented the major events of the movie. The ability of the movie to convey the wordless love between Uncas(Eric Schweig) and Alice(Jodhi May) was absolutely amazing. The cast was well chosen, even if Madeleine Stowe(Cora Munro) had an on-again-off-again accent. Wes Studi(Magua) played the avenging Huron to perfection creating understanding of his wishes to kill Munro, but yet a frightful savage. As for Daniel Day-Lewis(Hawkeye) I don't feel I can say anything that hasn't been said before. The scene I found the most emotional was during the fight between Magua and Uncas, and then when Alice is making her decision. Great acting, historical accuracy, a wonderful soundtrack and breathtaking scenery made this movie overly enjoyable and emotional. I recommend it to most people, however those who have no desire to try and understand the history behind the movie or the subtle pieces that are expected to be picked up on probably shouldn't watch this movie. Also if you expect an exact replica of the book you won't find it in this movie. END

good but could have been better
My biggest complaint with this movie is that story was changed and not for the better. In the original novel, Cora(played by Madeline Stowe) was in love with Uncas(who is the last of the Mohican tribe) and Hawkeye was just some old guide, along for the ride. Also Cora's sister Alice is in love with Duncan, the English officer. In this movie there is a major turnaround. There is a love triangle-Duncan is in love with Cora who is in love with Hawkeye, who is young and attractive, and Alice has feelings for Uncas(and there is no character development for either one of them). I think perhaps the producers had a problem with an interracial angle although in this day and age you'd think Hollywood has gotten over it. I guess not. None the less, I liked the film-the story was still compelling enough, battle scenes were impressive and I loved the soundtrack(I own it, as a matter of fact).

Fabulous
The movie has the same title as James Fenimore Cooper's novel, but about the only elements that are the same would be the French and Indian War setting and the names of the characters. But don't be disappointed! This is one gripping movie.
There are many, many powerful scenes.

An Absolute Best!!
This is a wonderful movie, and I can't say enough about it.

I first seen this movie when I was in high school. I remember my boyfriend forcing me to see this film. I complained during the whole ride to the theater. But, after the first ten minutes I was hooked like a fish.

The haunting, visual landscapes are breathtaking, Daniel Day-Lewis is wonderful, and the secondary characters are very good. Essentially, this is a story of change. The Last Mohican represents a changing of lives and cultures. Additionally, the story of the French-Indian war is moving.

I cannot list a full synopsis of the movie because there are so many different back stories and themes. There is love, intrigue, deciet, family values, war, and death...and all of it is rolled into one.

Everything about this movie is fantastic and very moving. You need to see it for yourself to see what I am talking about. Or, you can listen to the some of the reviewer's recommendations that say this movie is boring and long.

I won't kid you there is some slow points, but this isn't an all out action flick.

Ultimately, this movie is for people who love real, moving movies. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Crime Story
While I am a transplant to Chicaga (the way the locals say it) the 'real' feel of the locations seep into this video. The main characters of Ray Luca and Mike Torello join in a pas de deux of crime and justice. Luca is amoral, staying strictly focused on making money as easily as possible, while Torello is so squarely on the line between good and evil that when he walks, one foot lands on the good side and the other foot lands on the side of evil. It is this conflict that generates and develops the characters. Michael Mann has succeeded in adapting Film Noire to Color. The pilot is a great lead in to the rest of the series, and was years ahead of the quality storylines of the Sopranos. The only way it could be better was if the rest of the series was also on DVD.

The Untouchables on acid
Before he directed some of my favorite films (Heat, The Insider, Manhunter), Michael Mann created two groundbreaking television series. Miami Vice got most of the viewers but its Crime Story that was truly ahead of its time. Crime Story dealt with Lt. Torello (played by Dennis Farina with a grimness that always allowed a sly wit to shine through) who fought organized crime on the streets of Chicago in the 1950's. His main nemesis is aspiring mobster Luca, himself a fascinating portrait of evil who somehow always managed to be somehow sympathetic in his raw need to be a true crime lord. Even while playing hommage to the crime shows of the past (I always thought of it as the Untouchables if Eliot Ness ended up having a nervous breakdown halfway through the series), Crime Story redefined the genre. It went over the head of most viewers but now, after films like Pulp Fiction changed the way we view entertainment, Crime Story has been rediscovered and its about time. Even as the show's talented cast of character actors dispensed the melodrama with a sly wink at the few members of the audience lucky enough to be in on the joke, the violence was often amazingly intense but never played for cheap thrills. As well, Crime Story had a simply amazing soundtrack. In fact, I first started watching it mostly to hear the wonderful rendition of Del Shannon's "Runaway" over the opening credits but each show was scored with some of the best blues I've ever heard and it created a moody atmosphere that, quite simply, sucked you in. If you're a fan of the crime genre but haven't seen Crime Story, do yourself a favor and track it down. This pilot film is a great place to start on what, I promise, will be one of the most entertaining rides of your life.

Crime Story,Julia Roberts
Hallo, I am a German boy. I am a very big Fan from Julia Roberts. She played in an Episode in "Crime Story"(1986). I want to get a tape of this Episode. I will pay well. Can anyone help me??? I think "Crime Story" is a great serie.My E-mail:s.gieseud.hartung@t-online.de

Crime Story fan
Absolutely the best crime show ever. I watched the series in highschool and regret not taping it at the time. I've also been searching for a copy of Runaway (the show's theme song - not Del's original version). Can anyone help?

The original CASINO, without Hollywood fluff..
..was Crime Story..I have all of these episodes taped from when they were originally broadcasted in the 1980's. The 'true to life' plots and storylines using an actual former Chicago Cop (Farina) and even criminals as actors in this series gave the episodes the *blood* they needed to succeed. Even though Mann was rough on his actors (I knew a few people who were extras in the series) he had to be to bring forth a real life series that had some scripts tailor-made and ghost-written from actual events and real figures in LCN(with poetic license and switching decades, of course) during the 1970's and 1980's. "Torello" and "Luca" are unforgettable as rivals. Sidekick "Paulie Taglia" will make you roar with laughter. Crime Story paved the wa