Michael Kenneth Mann born February 5 1943 is an American director screenwriter and producer of film and television who is best known for his distinctive style of neonoir crime thriller His most acclaimed works include the films Thief 1981 Manhunter 1986 The Last of the Mohicans 1992 Heat 1995 The Insider 1999 and Collateral 2004 He is also known for his role as executive producer on the popular TV series Miami Vice 198489 which he later adapted into a 2006 feature film For his work he has received nominations from international organizations and juries including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Cannes and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Total Film ranked Mann No 28 on its list of the 100 Greatest Directors Ever Sight and Sound ranked him No 5 on their list of the 10 Best Directors of the Last 25 Years and Entertainment Weekly ranked Mann No 8 on their 25 Greatest Active Film Directors list