Miami Vice 2006

Pretty good flick.

Some positives, Colin Farrell and Gong Li... Fantastic chemistry. The unique use of the Viper and Mann's aesthetic - never did I think "noise" could fit into the story so well. Also, some of the day exteriors were f-in gorgeous.
Script - there were three or four fantastic scenes. Soundtrack was superb (although I did miss Phil Collins classic tune) and should serve as an example to indies that you don't have to stick with the tried and true MIDI orchestral stuff or tinkle pianos. You want to know how to craft atmosphere and contribute to mise-en-scene with music ? Listen to this soundtrack, IMHO.

The only caveat i would have is the screenplay. It was fairly routine. However, on a second viewing (yes I saw it twice due to sound problems) its a more complex plot and engaging, than I gave it credit for the first time (although i can understand the pace criticism)...

Overall, I liked the direction Mann was taking the premise. The only thing I would have liked to see was dropping some of the subplots, and just concentrating on Crockett and Gong Li's character, plus the undercover psychology of the job.

Miami Vice wasn't what i was expecting, and i don't know how many people are going to dig it, but it's worth a view if ya' ask me. (pastel colour in honor of Miami Vice and Callaghan)

BTW - I would not be averse to a Miami Vice 2. I got the feeling that Mann was just getting his feet wet with regards to the movie and its characters (especially as it reached its denouement). Considering all the palaver the movie went through, he may not do another though. hope not :beer:

Cheers.
 
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on imdb they were posting links to french reviews ( i guess it's already released there) and they all gave very good ratings so you're not alone.
 
just got back from seeing Miami Vice. i really enjoyed the movie. it was shot beautifully (although i prefer the film look over the digital look). Colin Farrell was great as Crockett, and Jamie Foxx was great as Tubbs. some of the dialogue was a little hard to understand IMO so that drew me out of the film a little bit. overall great film and definitely worth seeing.
 
if this counts ***SPOILER ***

man no one's mentioned the shot the lady takes after explaining that the guy will be dead and his finger won't twitch...loved that.
 
novelt said:
if this counts ***SPOILER ***

man no one's mentioned the shot the lady takes after explaining that the guy will be dead and his finger won't twitch...loved that.
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Yeah. That was deft. What I liked about that is you notice that she really isn't saying it for the guy. She's saying it, as if to herself, as if she's calming herself down to take the shot, like she's done it a thousand times on the range (or thought it).


“Miami Vice” is an action picture for people who dig experimental art films, and vice versa.
- New York Times

Funny, but that was the first thing I thought when I left the theater. "This is like an cop/action art film". It was also why I was hesitant as to how many people would like it.

It did aaight - $25 + million opening weekend. :beer:





RED# wish I was higher
 
Those aren't bad numbers at all.

I think Mi Madre went and saw it this weekend. She's a huge Miami Vice fan... that's how I got into Phil Collins at the age of like four.

Good to hear that Mann's summer blockbuster didn't flop.
 
Yeah, it's gonna need pretty good legs to be a solid hit, but nevertheless it beat those stinkin' Pirates off the booty :beer:

Lol. You got a cool Mom then, IMHO.

The movie seems to be attracting fans of the show, or an older audience. I think it was 60% above 30 ? Something like that. It was a nice change of pace anyway (from the two shows I saw) ...






RED# wish I was higher
 
D_and_G said:
Yeah, it's gonna need pretty good legs to be a solid hit, but nevertheless it beat those stinkin' Pirates off the booty :beer:

Lol. You got a cool Mom then, IMHO.

The movie seems to be attracting fans of the show, or an older audience. I think it was 60% above 30 ? Something like that. It was a nice change of pace anyway (from the two shows I saw) ...
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I was expecting that. A lot of the younger crowd have no idea what Miami Vice is, despite the "Members only" jacket craze that went around not too long ago.

I know because I grew up around that stuff. My mom always loved Tubbs, and I would sit with her and watch this colorful ass drama show that I had NO idea about.

I think I might catch it next weekend at the Mann in Santa Monica. Thanks for the reviews.
 
Tight flick! Liked it a lot. Mann always delivers the goods when it comes to crime dramas. The cinematography was impressive. I'm still trying to decide if I like the grainy, noisy stuff though. There's some great action in this film. I might have to check it out again this week.:thumbup:
 
I definately enjoyed it.

But not as much as I could have.

The pacing was thrown all out of wack when Farrell and Li go on their little vacation to Havana smack dab in the middle of the movie.

It really irritated me.

Overall i think its great. Loved the look and the action was top notch.

But Collateral was much better.
 
Should I really go see it?

Michael Mann's Miami Vice is a stylized take on his polished television show and it is a lifeless dud. Whatever the 1980s cop drama had to offer is lost in an incomprehensible mess.
Action, fast cars, boats and planes—Miami Vice has them all and still doesn't spark, let alone smoke. From the get-go, TV's celebrated Crockett and Tubbs are as dull as a Monday in Mayberry. The pair, in roles originated by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas and played as glum here by Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, are as exciting as watching Aunt Bea pack her jarred pickles for a blue ribbon at the county fair.

complete review on www.boxofficemojo.com
 
Michael Mann's Miami Vice is a stylized take on his polished television show and it is a lifeless dud.
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Yea i don't agree with this take.

The only thing this and the show have in common is the character names and the "good guys don't always win" mentality.

The approach and feel of this movie couldn't be more different.

Its gritty, realistic, and very violent. You get the feeling that this is how things are done.

Whether its true or not you believe it. But to call it lifeless.

Thats just plain wrong.
 
How many of you saw it in the form of a digital projection? I'm assuming that Universal has provided for such a thing. I'd want to see it again, in that case. I liked the film very much. It's not Mann's best work, but as a distillation of what he is about, it is recommended. Certainly, it is an improvement over "Collateral" where we are asked to believe that after spending some quality time held hostage by a professional killer, Joe Cabbie is able to get his life together. An idea that's always seems to me like it jumped straight off a screenwriter's index card.

I very much liked how Mann and D.P. Dion Beebe really seemed to be pushing that Viper Cam, using it with different types of source lighting. Then there's the daytime and nighttime usage. And all that grain making the image so urgent and alive. Though, at times, the skin tones bothered me- too much yellow, in those situations where florescent light was the source- I commend their bold approach to the technology. That's why I say I'd really like to see a digital projection of this one.
 
Joe Cabbie is able to get his life together
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He didn't really get his life together.

He was just spurred into action from a life of complacency given the situation he was thrust in.

I don't think they were insinuating his life was going to change 100 percent. Just that he was able to rise to the occasion.

If he failed to act and allowed Vincent to kill Annie then there would have been no development for his character.

It would be anti-climactic.

In terms of the story I felt Collateral was much more believable. You want to talk about something lifted off of a screenwriter's index card. That whole relationship between Colin Farrell and Li Gong.

It was ridiculous and the weakest point of this movie.
 
The Machinist said:
In terms of the story I felt Collateral was much more believable. You want to talk about something lifted off of a screenwriter's index card. That whole relationship between Colin Farrell and Li Gong.

It was ridiculous and the weakest point of this movie.
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I'm conflicted over that relationship. On one hand I can see that Sonny getting involved with her is what got them in so deep. He had to get someone in the organization sympathetic to them.

But on the other hand, realistically there's no way that woman should have fallen for it. She'd spent half her life around ruthless, dangerous men in an environment with zero tolerance for failure. You'd think she'd know better and pick up on him instantly.

So I don't know. Maybe I give her too much credit.
 
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