Monday, 18 April 2011

Michael Mann's HBO Luck Trailer (production preview)

Michael Mann's Luck production preview has arrived - and I can barely contain my excitement. It looks AWESOME. Talk about taking your breath away. This is going to be huge. We have waited a long time for this and here it is...



Tell me what you think?! Would love to hear your views. I think in particular the in-race cameras transporting you inside the horses battling it out is extraordinarily good. People have done it before, but not as dramatically as this. You can see Michael Mann camera angles all over this preview... the oblique viewpoints with telling movements and over the shoulder intimacy. Hoffman looks perfect, and since Miami Vice I have really warmed to John Ortiz – his character looks equally promising in the flash we see of him in this. Stylistically, the visuals hit every single note with power, and I am sure Milch's script is going to deliver the storyline. I just need Dillinger to break into a bank for me so I can buy that 42" HD TV and HD subscription for Sky Atlantic... this is not going to be missed!

Incidentally, I should at this point tell you about a guy who left a comment on an earlier post here, predicting this preview/trailer would appear during the first showing of Game of Thrones. He was spot on. He had his theory over HBO marketing, which he shared with me. I am sure he won't mind me quoting him here for all your interest in future HBO trailer releases:

I forgot how exactly I worked it out, but one night I examined the reveals HBO has for teasers of brand new shows, and it usually corresponded with the premiere of a show's first episode about 3/4s of a year away or more away.
So, the first teaser of Boardwalk Empire was in January of last year, and it aired with the first new episode of Big Love's new season. Boardwalk Empire aired in September. Game of Thrones was first revealed with the first new episode of True Blood. 
Since Game of Thrones is the only close "big deal" HBO show, I would think Luck's first teaser will be paired with it. Then again, it might also be a little later with True Blood, but I imagine they want to get the marketing started soon since it's going to air around September or early next year.

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

James Caan appearing at "Thief" Double Bill event


Today's Los Angeles Times gives mention of James Caan, star of Michael Mann's Thief, appearing in person at a double bill event this Friday.


Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Avenue,
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Fri, April 15
7:30pm

http://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/thief-hide-in-plain-sight


Here is an extract:
Caan will be appearing in person with Friday's double bill: 1981's "Thief," which marked Michael Mann's acclaimed feature debut, and Caan's own directing debut, 1980's "Hide in Plain Sight." Though the reviews were strong for the drama about a man who discovers that that his ex-wife's new husband has been put in the witness protection program and she and his children have joined him, the film was barely promoted and languished. He was so disappointed with the outcome, Caan never directed another film.
Full article here.

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Site Update: Adverts

My apologies to all my regular blog readers. I have had to include some more prominent advertising on this site to see whether I can drum up any small amount of revenue to help pay for the social site I have set up over at www.michaelmann.ning.com. I hope the ads don't interfere too much with your experience on the site.

In terms of latest news, there isn't much out there at the moment. I am hearing journalists are not being given access to the cast or location scenes of Luck, so news is scant. They have done well to lock it all down so tight. No doubt the marketing machine will be launched in summer as they whet people's appetites for its USA TV debut anticipated for this Fall. Mann is no doubt very involved in the Robert Capa film as I write, and hopefully some more news will trickle out about that.

In the meantime, my plan is to provide some coverage of "Ali". I am looking forward to boosting information surrounding what might just be one of Mann's most carefully crafted films in his portfolio.