Miami Vice (Unrated Director's Cut) (2006)

I'm giving this film a mercy three stars and that's mainly due to there being some decent actors in the show. This film struggles to be dramatic. I'm not sure if certain elements were trying to recreate some of the drama from truly great crime films like LA Confidential or Scarface even, but this film lacks a lot of substance. The dramatic relationships in the film didn't have enough development or enough realism for any viewer to become involved. The drama this film just doesn't work. A major plot element is good looking cop (Farrell) goes undercover and falls for a member of the crime organization he's trying to take down. Well, it's pretty weak - there's just no other way to put it. I guess this isn't technically an action film so this next comment probably isn't fair - but there was only one shoot out! A cop show with one shoot out! There was a standoff in one scene, but it's hardly worth mentioning.

For those of you who didn't see this in the theatres: good call! For those of you who are thinking of buying it - do not! I wouldn't even recommend renting it, borrow it from some poor sucker you know who had a moment of foolishness and bought it.

Never having been a fan of the TV series (but I confess to never having seen an entire episode), I had no expectations going in, except to be entertained with Mann's customary flair for terse dialogue and stunning visuals. And on that level, I wasn't disappointed. I'd also read that the film wastes no time establishing any back story for the uninitiated, and so it proves. In Zen-like fashion Crockett and Tubbs simply ARE, which allows the film to kick off in the thick of the action.

The best way to watch this film is as a police procedural, with a side order of oddly yearning romanticism. No concessions are made to the audience in terms of explaining the cops terminology and the limited exposition is justified as one group of criminals explaining how their operation works to their new collaborators. Once you realize that you don't have to register every nuance and detail to appreciate the plot, you can sit back and enjoy some eerily beautiful Hi-Def cinematography. Petrol-heads and fans of unfeasibly fast motorboats will also find much to enjoy. The "mojitos in Havana" romantic interlude was a pleasant surprise, with Farrell having to flex more than just his eyebrows to convince us that this probably is the ultimate first date.

The jury's still out for me on Mann's use of music. The blaring MOR rock fits stylistically but can cheapen some scenes. And it would be nice to more scenes sound tracked by near-silence, as is achieved very effectively in a stake-out/rescue scenario later in the film. Farrell and Foxx do work well together, indeed its refreshing to have a cop pairing without all the cutesy buddy stuff. Nevertheless, when one tells the other "I will never doubt you" it's almost a statement of love, coming as it does out of a void of professionalism.

The parallel-plotting is a little overdone, with not one but two "lover in jeopardy" scenes and the dialogue could have been better layered/mixed for clarity, given the obscure nature of some of the procedural references. However, much of the dialogue was laugh-aloud funny in its Mamet-like moments and Mann's action direction is of course superb. "Miami Vice" is enjoyable but not as emotionally involving as Heat or as kinetic as Collateral.

It is possible...maybe I just didn't get it...or maybe I am too googoogaga over Miami Vice the series...but I had to sit down 3 seperate times to watch this movie. I guess I thought this movie would be an extension of the tv show...it is not. If you go into this movie with this expectation, you will be disappointed. Although the plot was believable there were a few things that just didn't jive. First of all, Sonny's favourite drink is a blackjack...not a mohito...and he does not dance...its Tubbs that has the dancing shoes. And the big thing....Zito was in the movie...ah...hello...check season 3 people...Zito was killed by Guzman....why didn't you just put in Swyteck? Lt. Costillo was a quiet man of few words...his counter part in this movie didn't have this personality at all. Like I said...I assumed it was going to be an extension of the show. Maybe that was my bad...I have watched the Miami Vice series twice now (I love owning it on DVD) and I will surely watch it again...I love it...but the movie....not so much.
I will say that once I realized it was not going to be like the tv show (or really resemble it for that matter)...it was ok...but like one of the other ppl said...borrow it from someone who bought it.