Michael Mann

The Pocket Essentials: Film

by Mark Steensland

Michael Mann: the TV writer who hacked his way through Starsky & Hutch on the road to Vega$ and an Emmy for The Jericho Mile. Michael Mann: the director who made Tangerine Dream a staple in the world of film scoring with Thief, his feature debut, starring James Caan. Michael Mann: the producer who changed the face of television forever with the creation of Miami Vice and Crime Story. Michael Mann: the film-maker who first brought Hannibal Lecter to the big screen with Manhunter, his adaptation of Thomas Harris' best-selling novel Red Dragon. Michael Mann: the A-list director who put Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro on screen together for the first time in Heat, who directed Russell Crowe to an Oscar-nomination in The Insider and who is now tackling Ali with Will Smith. Whether as a writer, a director or a producer, Michael Mann's impact on film and television over the last 25 years is undeniable. Now, for the first time, take a book-length look into the work of this unique visual artist. What's in it? As well as an introductory essay, each of Mann's films is reviewed and analysed. Not only that, but there's a handy reference section listing resources about Mann.

Pocket Essentials is a dynamic series of books that are concise, lively, and easy to read. Packed with facts as well as expert opinions, each book has all the key information you need to know about such popular topics as film, television, cult fiction, history, and more.

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Mark Steensland self-published his first book while in fourth grade and has been telling stories ever since—some of them true. He became a professional journalist before graduating high school, writing about movies for such magazines as Prevue, Millimeter, and American Cinematographer. His award-winning films (including Peekers and The Ugly File) have played in festivals around the world. His first novel—Behind the Bookcase—was published in 2012 by Random House. A movie based on The Special, a novella co-written with James Newman, was released in 2020. Jakob's Wife, a film starring Barbara Crampton, Larry Fessenden, and Bonnie Aarons, was released in 2021. His most recent novel, The Black Magic Murders, was released in December 2025.