Blackhat (Michael Mann)

Genuinely baffled by how poorly received Blackhat was upon it's initial release. By all accounts it's a film which divided audiences and critics right down the middle, it seems that either you loved it or you hated it with no real middle ground.

Taken for what it is, Blackhat isn't vintage Mann and pales in comparison to Heat, Manhunter, Thief, etc but on it's own merits Blackhat is one of the most enjoyable thrillers to come along this year. Visually the film is classic Mann with many of the compositions have a somewhat abstract feel, Mann recognises that shooting on digital means that the end product will always have that digital sheen and as such he embraces it like few others. In a wonderfully inspired opening scene, Mann showcases a heist like no other as the camera journeys through a computer mainframe as it tracks lines of code as they traverse trough the gird. It's a visually dazzling and daring opening which sets the mood and tone from the very start.

Given Mann's penchant for realism, it's surprising just how out there much of Blackhat is. While the set up is grounded in reality the manner in which it plays out is decidedly cinematic and as such gives the film a nice old fashioned B film feel. This is a film all about the atmosphere and Mann creates a constant sense of foreboding aided by his now trademark shooting from the hip style and reliance on onset audio, dialogue is lost in a haze of gunshots and explosions giving the film a sense of realism that few manage. The hands on shooting style brings us right into the action and the use of close up during action scenes offers an intimacy that is unmatched. Ably supported by an electro score, Blackhat is at once a damning attack on our reliance on technology aswell as a bright and playful B thriller which hurtles from one set piece to the next, yet remains a relevant and contemporary film that has a lot to say about how technology is over taking the world and how the lack of a human element may not be all it's cracked up to be.

Blackhat may never come close to reaching the dizzying height of Mann at his best, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a damn fine film. It's a treat for the eyes and once again confirms that when it comes to shooting action no one can touch Mann.