Union Carbine
Member
Unfortunately, yes.
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First reviews for Michael Mann's Blackhat.
- Thread starter WarrenMax007
- Start date
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Raptomex
Member
Same problem here.
Ninja Scooter
Member
The only way to stop the terrororist is to get this black hat hacker out of prison. He also happens to be ridiculously good looking and has been doing nothing but stomach crunches for hours a day.
Net_Wrecker
Member
People are quick to let reviews sway them huh? Well here, have some praise and change your mind again:
Scott Foundas (Variety)
- In BLACKHAT, Michael Mann continues to push the American action movie into the realm of abstract expressionism. A beauty.
- Anticipating the uncomprehending reviews from those who wish Mann would go back to making movies like his early, funny ones.
Matt Zoller Seitz (New York Magazine/RogerEbert.com/Notable Michael Mann scholar)
- BLACKHAT: Fuck yes.
- List of Michael Mann cliches in BLACKHAT includes: primordial mating, coffee shop scene, sunglasses, boats, jets, loud gunfire, synth music.
Keith Uhlich (New York Film Critics Circle)
- BLACKHAT: Cosmic. Intimate. Beautiful.
Bilge Ebiri (NYMag/Vulture)
- Second time around with BLACKHAT. I love this fucking movie.
Michael Nordine (LA Weekly/Village Voice)
- Michael Mann makes motherfucking MOVIES, man. Blackhat is glorious.
- Can't think of many filmmakers other than Michael Mann whose ridiculous, over-the-top indulgences are such a joy to revel in. #blackhat
Tom Shone (The Economist's Intelligence Life)
- BLACKHAT (B+) some terrific slaughter against post-capitalist backdrops, slightly let down by Hemsworth's studly, buff hacker
- ...lots of grainy, night-time digital photography, beautiful cityscapes, lurching close-ups
David Ehrlich (Time Out NY) Who has admitted to not being a big Michael Mann fan
- BLACKHAT is Michael Mann’s Johnnie To movie. gloriously silly stuff. a mirthless 71-year-old made a beefy movie about cybercrime. love it.
- i haven’t had that much fun watching a Mann movie since HEAT.
Seems like fans of Mann's digital phase work will enjoy it, others won't. There will not be a huge middle ground. Fine by me.
Scott Foundas (Variety)
- In BLACKHAT, Michael Mann continues to push the American action movie into the realm of abstract expressionism. A beauty.
- Anticipating the uncomprehending reviews from those who wish Mann would go back to making movies like his early, funny ones.
Matt Zoller Seitz (New York Magazine/RogerEbert.com/Notable Michael Mann scholar)
- BLACKHAT: Fuck yes.
- List of Michael Mann cliches in BLACKHAT includes: primordial mating, coffee shop scene, sunglasses, boats, jets, loud gunfire, synth music.
Keith Uhlich (New York Film Critics Circle)
- BLACKHAT: Cosmic. Intimate. Beautiful.
Bilge Ebiri (NYMag/Vulture)
- Second time around with BLACKHAT. I love this fucking movie.
Michael Nordine (LA Weekly/Village Voice)
- Michael Mann makes motherfucking MOVIES, man. Blackhat is glorious.
- Can't think of many filmmakers other than Michael Mann whose ridiculous, over-the-top indulgences are such a joy to revel in. #blackhat
Tom Shone (The Economist's Intelligence Life)
- BLACKHAT (B+) some terrific slaughter against post-capitalist backdrops, slightly let down by Hemsworth's studly, buff hacker
- ...lots of grainy, night-time digital photography, beautiful cityscapes, lurching close-ups
David Ehrlich (Time Out NY) Who has admitted to not being a big Michael Mann fan
- BLACKHAT is Michael Mann’s Johnnie To movie. gloriously silly stuff. a mirthless 71-year-old made a beefy movie about cybercrime. love it.
- i haven’t had that much fun watching a Mann movie since HEAT.
Seems like fans of Mann's digital phase work will enjoy it, others won't. There will not be a huge middle ground. Fine by me.
Well, they're certainly not going to let a hacker check his email.
Fortunately for this Mann fan, I enjoy the writing and opinions of a lot of these people. The same can't be said of the dude who gave Dawn of the Planet of the Apes an A+.
And there you have it. That one initial review had people going crazy. Mann delivers.
Dayum...
Wow. Didn't realize Mann had a history of chopping up composers' work. At least Williams got paid for it and got his credit.
Union Carbine
Member
First, that sucks. Secondly, I had no idea he was a habitual composer abuser. Yeesh. Why even hire the guy to score it?
Dayum...
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Dayum...
This breaks my heart.
WarrenMax007
Member
Oh yes. And synth soundtrack? Daaaaaaaaamn.
NotTheGuyYouKill
Member
phazedplasma
Member
Totally sold on this movie, Mann can do no wrong (although I havent seen the keep)
Sapiens
Member
Y'all can still watch CITIZENFOUR if you want a cyberpunk-but-reality-now tech thriller cause that is one hella intense documentary.
I hope this keeps good on it's promise to "chill" me.
Net_Wrecker
Member
He has worked with 2+ composers picking and choosing what he wants for a long time. Going all the way back to Thief he asked Craig Safan to do the final track despite Tangerine Dream doing the entire score because he felt TD couldn't get the sound he wanted at the end. On The Last of The Mohicans Mann asked Trevor Jones to change from an electronic score to orchestral very late in the game, and brought on Randy Edelman to fill gaps where Jones couldn't. Heat had some of Elliot Goldenthal's music go unused in favor of other tracks (famously: the Moby song right at the end), same with Miami Vice where John Murphy's score was whittled down due to licensed music. Blackhat has like 4 people on the score.
This has happened before and will happen again. You gotta respect the director's control over their movie. It's like with Ennio Morricone commenting how it's risky to give Tarantino music because he might not even use the tracks in full. Or Malick completely chopping James Horner's New World score to pieces and outright replacing some of it with Wagner, Mozart, etc. Hell Kubrick threw out Alex North's 2001 score completely in favor of the now inseparable classical stuff as well. That's what they do. It's unfortunate when the composers aren't even told though.
________________________________________________________
Anyway, another take on Blackhat from Kristopher Tapley at Hitfix (OP's link)
Kristopher Tapley (Hitfix)
- I liked "Blackhat." Happy to see Mann back in a modern crimescape. Drags you along. Very procedural.
- It's like Thief/Vice but even more drilled down into the mechanics of a profession.
EDIT: 2 more
Slant Magazine (Jesse Cataldo)
- Utilizing a variety of flourishes stemming from agile, expressive camerawork, the veteran action auteur upgrades what could have easily been a piece of high-concept junk, with an uneven script and the gruff, clumsy central presence of Chris Hemsworth into a stylish, tautly constructed thriller.
Jordan Hoffman from TheGuardian not so hot on it
The Guardian (Jordan Hoffman)
- If you like dialogue about IP routing and ugly video aesthetics, Michael Mann’s international-hacking story is for you – but it seems the one-time directorial master has been over-indulged
Discotheque
Banned
yo these reviews sound so blessed for a Miami Vice/Thief fan. that's a damn shame about harry-gregson williams but i'm interested to hear mike dean's synths on this one.
DizzyCaffeine
Member
D
Deleted member 59090
Unconfirmed Member
I'm in.
Plasticine
Member
I'm sold.
Net_Wrecker
Member
Pete Hammond from Deadline had a positive video review up yesterday that they've since removed because of the embargo.
Well, he's a different filmmaker since Collateral. He's much less concerned with dialogue and plot. Mood was always a big thing with Mann but now it seems like it's the only thing. His movies still have plots but it's up to the viewer to tease them out of the jargon and character close-ups.
Was there ever any doubt? Even if the sound mix for Public Enemies sounded like it was directly captured with your mom's old camcorder, those gunfights still packed a punch.
Discotheque
Banned
Luck had me lost for like 10 minutes lol but once I got the hang of it that pilot (and the rest of the series) was quite good.
Miami Vice throws you in the deep end right away too (theatrical cut especially)
Miami Vice was simply baffling to me the first time I saw it. I would have much preferred the director's cut opening for that initial viewing. But now that I'm totally familiar with the movie, I really want to see the theatrical cut again.
"BLACKHAT is Michael Manns Johnnie To movie."
My excitement level has gone from low to exceedingly high.
WarrenMax007
Member
Release date is 29th here. Ehhhhh
enigmatic_alex44
Whenever a game uses "middleware," I expect mediocrity. Just see how poor TLOU looks.
Oh damn 
Trip to movies cancelled. And I love Chris Hemsworth too, this was the only decent looking movie before Avengers 2 hits
Trip to movies cancelled. And I love Chris Hemsworth too, this was the only decent looking movie before Avengers 2 hits
Net_Wrecker
Member
Another reaction/ review roundup:
Kristopher Tapley (Hitfix)
- I liked "Blackhat." Happy to see Mann back in a modern crimescape. Drags you along. Very procedural.
- It's like Thief/Vice but even more drilled down into the mechanics of a profession.
Slant Magazine (Jesse Cataldo)
- Utilizing a variety of flourishes stemming from agile, expressive camerawork, the veteran action auteur upgrades what could have easily been a piece of high-concept junk, with an uneven script and the gruff, clumsy central presence of Chris Hemsworth into a stylish, tautly constructed thriller.
Metro.us (Matt Prigge)
-'Blackhat' is for the Michael Mann fans. An acclaimed director continues to turn the action film into an abstract art film with his new "cyber thriller."
- It’s a film not about details and particulars but about mood and sensations.
The Guardian (Jordan Hoffman)
- If you like dialogue about IP routing and ugly video aesthetics, Michael Mann’s international-hacking story is for you – but it seems the one-time directorial master has been over-indulged
Peter S. Hall (Senior Editor @ Movies.com)
- I know I'm in the minority here, but I highly, and unironically, enjoyed BLACKHAT.
The Hollywood Reporter (Sheri Linden)
- At its best, the movie achieves a broody dazzle, even as the narrative proves less memorable than one would have hoped. But the fluency of Mann’s direction and the slow-burn chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tang Wei counterbalance the more ordinary, and not always involving, procedural elements.
Jake Cole (contributor to Slant Magazine)
- BLACKHAT: a MANHUNTER remake that swaps killer empathy with ability to grasp data. The first thrilling cyber thriller?
- ...A film with HEAT's scope on COLLATERAL's scale.
Variety (Peter Debruge)
- ....“Blackhat” falls perfectly in line with the ambiguities of “Collateral,” “Heat” and “Miami Vice,” as the film enlists a dangerous mind to work alongside privacy-violating law-enforcement officials. But it lacks both the chemistry and kinetic energy of those earlier films, and what’s more, it looks just plain awful at times, owing to Mann’s proclivity for down-and-dirty digital lensing.
Deadline (Pete Hammond)
- Positive video review
Brian Tallerico (Managing Editor @ RogerEbert.com)
- Based on mumbles and walkouts, there's going to be a wide gap between the people who really like Blackhat and the people who are wrong.
Screendaily.net (Tim Grierson)
- Moody and distinct, without offering a lot of traditional genre pleasures, Blackhat may simply be too esoteric for most ticket buyers, dooming it to limited returns, although cineastes loyal to Mann may well sing its praises.
- Blackhat is more an indicator of Mann’s prowess than his many better films are. With those movies, he’s working with stronger, smarter, more original material. But here, he’s messing around with throwaway genre fodder — and look what he does with it.
I can't even keep up anymore, you get the point. Divisive to say the least and reactions in both directions feel exaggerated. The people who seem to be getting the most out of it are the Miami Vice '06 fans.
Kristopher Tapley (Hitfix)
- I liked "Blackhat." Happy to see Mann back in a modern crimescape. Drags you along. Very procedural.
- It's like Thief/Vice but even more drilled down into the mechanics of a profession.
Slant Magazine (Jesse Cataldo)
- Utilizing a variety of flourishes stemming from agile, expressive camerawork, the veteran action auteur upgrades what could have easily been a piece of high-concept junk, with an uneven script and the gruff, clumsy central presence of Chris Hemsworth into a stylish, tautly constructed thriller.
Metro.us (Matt Prigge)
-'Blackhat' is for the Michael Mann fans. An acclaimed director continues to turn the action film into an abstract art film with his new "cyber thriller."
- It’s a film not about details and particulars but about mood and sensations.
The Guardian (Jordan Hoffman)
- If you like dialogue about IP routing and ugly video aesthetics, Michael Mann’s international-hacking story is for you – but it seems the one-time directorial master has been over-indulged
Peter S. Hall (Senior Editor @ Movies.com)
- I know I'm in the minority here, but I highly, and unironically, enjoyed BLACKHAT.
The Hollywood Reporter (Sheri Linden)
- At its best, the movie achieves a broody dazzle, even as the narrative proves less memorable than one would have hoped. But the fluency of Mann’s direction and the slow-burn chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tang Wei counterbalance the more ordinary, and not always involving, procedural elements.
Jake Cole (contributor to Slant Magazine)
- BLACKHAT: a MANHUNTER remake that swaps killer empathy with ability to grasp data. The first thrilling cyber thriller?
- ...A film with HEAT's scope on COLLATERAL's scale.
Variety (Peter Debruge)
- ....“Blackhat” falls perfectly in line with the ambiguities of “Collateral,” “Heat” and “Miami Vice,” as the film enlists a dangerous mind to work alongside privacy-violating law-enforcement officials. But it lacks both the chemistry and kinetic energy of those earlier films, and what’s more, it looks just plain awful at times, owing to Mann’s proclivity for down-and-dirty digital lensing.
Deadline (Pete Hammond)
- Positive video review
Brian Tallerico (Managing Editor @ RogerEbert.com)
- Based on mumbles and walkouts, there's going to be a wide gap between the people who really like Blackhat and the people who are wrong.
Screendaily.net (Tim Grierson)
- Moody and distinct, without offering a lot of traditional genre pleasures, Blackhat may simply be too esoteric for most ticket buyers, dooming it to limited returns, although cineastes loyal to Mann may well sing its praises.
- Blackhat is more an indicator of Mann’s prowess than his many better films are. With those movies, he’s working with stronger, smarter, more original material. But here, he’s messing around with throwaway genre fodder — and look what he does with it.
I can't even keep up anymore, you get the point. Divisive to say the least and reactions in both directions feel exaggerated. The people who seem to be getting the most out of it are the Miami Vice '06 fans.
Discotheque
Banned
that's honestly all I wanted to hear. as a Miami Vice fan this is day one Bluray and theaters
net wrecker spreading this glorious gospel right now.
net wrecker spreading this glorious gospel right now.
Ingueferroque
Banned
Haven't seen it, thought the trailer was OK. People seem to WANT to be down on it.
Too bad, I know Atticus Ross worked on the film too.
Dayum...
Isn't there some school of thought about naturalistic sound in movies - it's not 'mumblecore' but does have a specific name - that Mann is really into? Nolan too, in some parts of Interstellar where the dialogue gets drowned out, or significantly reduced in clarity, by other sounds happening in the scene.
Jeffolation
Banned
I really need this to be good.
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
good reviews? not what I expected wow.
True Savior
Member
Outside of the courtesy , i dont understand the composer complaints. It would be like an actor complaining about some takes being left out , or writers being stomped through the film process...which basically happens in every movie. The sound-scape is a director's choice. If he feels the score doesnt contribute entirely to what he's aiming , he has to do something.
Guerrillas in the Mist
Member
I'm assuming it was more the fact that he didn't know about this until the première.
No it's more akin to an actor filming the movie, being completely replaced by another actor but still being credited for the role. The guys name is their as the lead composer with barely any of his work making it in.
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