L.A. Takedown

This was a hastily made TV movie with less than perfect visuals and C-listers as actors and it shows. The lead actors especially are dragging the quality down here. It also shows that Michael Mann's ambitions were set for much higher things. However, the benefit of this movie is clear - Mann was able to practice what does and what does not work in the screenplay, and then fully develop his own vision six years later with the Heat. LA Takedown was the foundation that he needed to hone his craft and build on. (2019.03.16)