Mann's films often leave me cold. The only ones I really love are Manhunter and Public Enemies. Although, Collateral came close to that. I haven't seen Miami Vice yet and people complain about that film for the same reasons they complain about Public Enemies, so I might actually like it. Mann works best for me when he's very minimal in style, tells the story mainly through visuals and lets the atmosphere do the thing. The less talking in his films the better they are.

Sometimes he does it well, sometimes not. A kind of "contemplative" cinema, or a particular style with a purpose and a meaning.

For instance, let's see Collateral. In this case, I totally agree with you. In the middle of the frenzied pursuit, a pause: the two main characters (actors Foxx and Cruise) inside the taxi, stopped before the traffic lights. Suddenly a wolf crosses the street, and Cruise (making an unusual good performance in this movie) looks thoughtfully at him during a moment. I think that's really great cinema. Notice how many things can be expressed through that single scene. The only time in which the human killer thinks about himself is when he sees an animal lonely hunter. Just like him.

EDIT: Correction: a coyote. The scene:

Last night I finally watched Sex and Lucía. Pretty good I'd say.

http://videodromeradio.files.wordpre..._and_lucia.jpg

i couldn't agree more. and sometimes i struggle to enjoy films where i hate the main character.

They use that cover at Blockbuster? :D

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...s/1-703620.jpg

Ugh, the 80s. I don't understand what was supposed to be so great about it.

http://monsterscifishow.files.wordpr..._ironman-2.jpg

This is how you make summer action flicks...

V&F, The Breakfast Club was great fun. Not a great film, but good fun nonetheless, if you want sentimental coming of age type stuff. I've not even bothered with Iron Man 1 yet..

The dialogue in the last half hour wasn't bad, but for the most part I wasn't entertained.

Get to it!

My next choice is between Mulholland Dr., K-Pax, Raising Arizona, Up, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Thoughts?

I was entertained from start to finish, I had the same opinion as you 'urgh 80s cliché' but my friend said I HAD to watch it and it was good fun.


I need to, I like Robert Downy JR. Maybe I'll watch it tonight or something.

Tough one. Mulholland Drive is my favourite out of the list, although if you fancy a bit of British gangster crime Lock Stock is the obvious winner. Either of those two. I think you should watch both. :D Up is a good Disney film, Raising Arizona is one I haven't seen, although I own it. It's still in its rapper I think, and I never really fancied K-Pax.

I liked the Breakfast Club, it is pretty over-rated though and the characters tend to get on my nerves quite easily. But most of it is cool :)