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PRODUCER: |
Michael Mann (The Aviator, Collateral, Ex. Prod. TV series Miami Vice), Pieter Jan Brugge (The Insider, Pelican Brief) |
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Miami Vice . . . so unlike the original, you could call it Miami Vice-Versa!
Following Hollywood’s recent pattern of remakes, they now bring us Miami Vice. As in the original TV series, the two main characters are Sonny Crockett (Collin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Jaime Foxx) who are two undercover detectives working for the Miami Police Department out to bust the bad guys. The similarities pretty much stop there. The movie is far grittier, more graphic and intense than the TV series. The movie starts when a multi-unit (FBI, DEA, ATF, etc) sting task force is compromised and two FBI agents are killed. The sting was compromised by a leak in the ranks somewhere that has to be identified and plugged. Sonny and Rico are put on the case because they weren’t involved in the sting operation. Now they must go deep undercover and enter the drug cartel world as drug transporters and flush out the drug lords and find out where the leak is coming from. The movie is full of car chases, speeding boats, stealth planes and brutal battles. And of course, no movie would be complete without a love interest that threatens to blow apart the whole plan. In the end, the good guys take some hits, the bad guys loose a few and the leak is…well…never resolved.
Because of the movie’s vast departure from the original series, there are virtually none of those nostalgic moments that typically make updates and remakes fun . . . meaning this Miami Vice has to stand on its own. In some ways, it does just that. When they glamorize the world of undercover cops, they do it right. The sharp clothes, fast cars, exotic locations and beautiful people are breathtaking. And, there is a hostage rescue scene that is remarkably powerful. The rest of the movie is decidedly disappointing. The plot is flawed, the dialogue weak, and the sex and violence blatantly gratuitous. Neither Foxx nor Farrell’s performances were particularly impressive, and the casting of Gong Li seems questionable at best. Even the unique cinematography is more often annoying than artistic, appearing so jerky and gritty at times that it hurts. Fans of the fast paced cop genre will find enough good to make it worthwhile, but many will consider it an unworthy tribute to the original classic.
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On the Movie Night Traffic Light on a scale of GREEN meaning “Go – it’s a must see”, YELLOW meaning “Caution – it’s okay” and RED meaning “No - stop don’t do it."
We rate Miami Vice YELLOW. Caution – this movie has some good action, but the story isn’t great. |
