Manhunter

Back in the mid 80s when Michael Mann was still honing his blue color coded, obsessive crime lifestyles being captured for the big screen comes maybe his most contemplative work ever and one that essentially spawned the police procedural involving psychoanalysis. The original adaptation of the Thomas Harris novels which introduced Hannibal Lecter (titled Lecktor in this film) in what would become known as one of the directors most spiritual outings, one that essentially invented the sub-genre of fractured men staring quizzically at the ocean. I watched this for the first time last year after having seen Brett Ratner’s Red Dragon many times growing up and really found myself loving it for its own style but didn’t necessarily separate the two which was so foolish of me. In the subsequent months I haven’t really been able to stop thinking about various elements that I’m becoming more and more enamored with when portrayed in stories allowing me to see just how much I absolutely adore Manhunter along with everything else it exudes which results in a crazy blend of dark crime exploration and spiritual scenes complete with a quintessential 80s score is some pure magic. I’m learning quickly that I’m a Michael Mann truther as he either makes captivating crime related stories or insanely poetic mood pieces that are weirdly things that can’t get enough of, this is a phenomenal entry in both of those departments and honestly it could be his most under seen film. The supermarket scene with Graham and his son in one of the most intimate and forthright scenes involving mental trauma taking its toll in adults with kids noticing but not necessarily understanding. Having something with that real of dialogue and sincerity in the mid 80s throughout the first real serial killer/ law enforcement mental connection being shown on film is genius in my opinion. *“And the way he thought, felt that bad?” “Kevin, they’re the ugliest thoughts in the world” * Also experienced the deleted alternate ending which might be one of the best things about this entire endeavor that many never got to experience, incredible stuff right here from start to finish. Michael Mann Ranked The Coolest Films of All Time