Miami Vice

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

In brilliant movies like Heat and Collateral, director Michael Mann has delivered the goods in ways few can. His films have a certain sheen and effortless brio that make even his minor, less ballsy efforts soar above those of ordinary filmmakers. In this adaptation, Mann has dynamically reinvented the television landmark and created perhaps the first TV-to-movie conversion that deserves to be taken seriously. With a far darker sensibility than the small-screen original, Mann gives us an edgier Crockett and Tubbs (Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx) that make the first pair look like pastel weenies in comparison. Here, Sonny and Rico are undercover in the dangerous world of drug transport, and the stakes rise when Crockett gets involved with a major trafficker’s wife (played by a rapturous Gong Li). This is perfect grown-up summer entertainment, packed with action and served up in sleek, ultracool style. It’s probably safe to say Miami has never seen this much heat.

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