The Job

Work and obsession in the crime films of Michael Mann

One of the major threads running through Michael Mann’s films is the interplay between work, obsession, and isolation in the lives of men who find themselves pushed to the edge. His unique ability to tell a compelling story with a minimum of conventions all while presenting the audience with powerful visual images puts Mann in the top echelon of great American filmmakers. This fictitious film festival I’ve created is my attempt to showcase Mann’s artistic genius. I first got the idea for choosing Mann as the subject of my festival through an essay by Khoi Vinh, entitled Minimalism, Michael Mann and Miami Vice. Vinh’s perspective as a designer drew my attention to Mann’s ability to tell a story using only the essential elements, nothing less and nothing more.