I had intended to see this in America just before I left but was suprised to find that it was being released in Ireland so soon. Miami Vice is, of course, the big screen adaptation of Michael Mann’s 80s cop show featuring Dectectives James ‘Sonny’ Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs. The film seems to have got a bit of a thrashing at the hands of the critics but I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot revolves around going under deep cover to infiltrate the drug smuggling gangs who operate in and out of the US East Coast. Both Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx are utterly convincing as detectives whos lives depend on being utterly immersed in what they’re doing.
As the plot winds out you get a real sense of tension in places. Mann has now become the master of shooting at night with both this film and Collateral shot mainly during the nocturnal hours. Critics have complained that you never really get to know or associate with Crockett or Tubbs but it’s in the characters interest to hide as much of themselves as possible. To give background and socialising scenes to these guys would seem absurb given the situations they are involved in. People may be expecting more action than there is out of Miami Vice. Sure there are a few excellent gun fights but there are no chase sequences. What you do get are some seriously snazzy boats, cars (the Ferrari is black this time) and planes. A criticism would be the pacing during certain sections, you do get the feeling you could shave ten minutes off this if you really wanted.
Tony’s Verdict: 7.5/10