Miami Vice: Director's Cut (2006)

Welcome to MANN WEEK!!!

Based upon the hit '80's TV show of the same name co-created by Oscar-nominated writer/director Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans), Mann brought this adaptation to the big screen twenty years ago this summer.  The story once again focuses on two partnering Miami police detectives named Sonny Crockett (Oscar-nominated Colin Farrell) and Ricardo Tubbs (Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx) - they are going undercover to take down a Latin American drug cartel and the similarities to the original show pretty much end there.  Among their targets are Jose Yero (John Ortiz), Montoya (Luis Tosar), and Isabella (Gong Li) as they partner with the FBI to stop a major shipment of drugs.  However Sonny then starts a romance with Isabella....and complications ensue!  Considered a disappointment by both audiences and critics upon initial release, this has since gone on to develop a cult following....especially resulting from a better reception to the eventual "Director's Cut" which was released on DVD.  THAT version will be reviewed in this episode.....

Host & Editor: Geoff Gershon
Producer: Marlene Gershon 

Transcript

MIAMI VICE: DIRECTOR’S CUT - 2006

Directed by Michael Mann

Starring Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Naomie Harris, Gong Li, John Ortiz, Ciaran Hinds, Justin Theroux, Barry Shabaka Henley, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Eddie Marsan, Luis tosar, Domenick Lombardozzi, and John Hawkes

Genre: Crime Thriller

This was my second time watching the extended Director's Cut and my first thought is always.....why didn't they release this version in theaters?? 🤔 It's a more human story and it even features a cover of "In The Air Tonight" during a key scene - there seem to be a few more moments to relate to Sonny (Colin Farrell) and Isabella (Gong Li) which also make a slight difference. It just feels like a better, more fleshed out story even though I did enjoy the original theatrical version.

And overall, it's still a pretty strange but satisfying crime drama from Michael Mann...even though it really veers into a forbidden romance drama for what seems like an hour in the middle. It's some interesting territory for Mann to delve into...THIS much into his female co-stars this time around but props to him for stretching things.

 He definitely hired some intriguing actresses to go that route...I get the sense that Gong Li didn't quite have the mastery of English at this point so that clearly limits her dialogue but her presence is undeniable! Not only does she look amazing but she projects some one who's mentally tough and savvy as to how plays those around her for the best deal. I honestly am not sure if all of her scenes with Farrell are the most well-acted from either of them - just so many strange stares in both directions - but they DEFINITELY have pretty scorching chemistry regardless.

It's actually the earlier scenes with Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) and Trudy (Naomie Harris) which work even better - I dug their relationship and wanted more but what's there is good.  And the rest of the cast is pretty strong, especially John Ortiz as Jose Yero the drug-dealing middle manager who they're going undercover to expose - he just has a quiet menace which really carries through even though we don't get to see him join the action until towards the end in a very effective shootout. 

Speaking of which, there are about three action sequences which are ALL really well done - the piercing sound design of each gunshot is prime Mann as is the way the tension builds during each sequence.  The Director’s Cut definitely feels like the definitive version of this movie - the added footage adds some depth even if it's not directed towards what should have been the central relationship between Crockett and Tubbs

Best Needle-drop (best song cue or score used throughout runtime of film):

Of course, the score and soundtrack are typically CLASSIC Mann while being VERY much of the time, namely the early ‘00’s…..on previous episodes, I have made it known that I was NOT a fan of much of the pop music from this particular era, mostly notably Nu Metal….or the likes of Linkin Park.  That said, I STILL quite the enjoy Linkin Park’s remake of their own track “Numb Encore” collaborating with Jay Z which was not only prominent in the trailers for this movie but also featured during an early sequence as our heroes are tracking bad guys in a Miami club.  It’s silly for sure especially when you take the time to REALLY hone in on those cringy lyrics….but YEAH….it’s catchy too, especially that central hook. (Audio clip)  

That said, there still IS significantly better music featured throughout out including a nice atmospheric synth-based score from British composer John Murphy which is honestly blended SO well with various individual tracks from other artists, it’s kind of hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.  For me, the highlight of this is a purely instrumental mood piece which closes out the film kicking off just as Sonny and Isabelle are saying their final goodbyes in a very touching scene as she’s about to be taken off on a boat back to Havana…..possibly the most romantic scene ever directed by Mann himself. (Audio clip)

The instrumental song which this kicks off is from a Scottish post-rock band formed in about ten years prior to this film in Glasgow…… their music is difficult to describe, basically somewhat experimental with a LOT of layered guitars as the band actually includes THREE guitarists.  The track featured here was actually done for ANOTHER soundtrack for a film which I had never heard of which ALSO came out in 2006: Zildane: A 21st Century Portrait….it builds and builds and builds, especially as we see another major character apparently waking up from a coma in the hospital.  This song just seems IDEAL for the ending of a Michael Mann film - it’s called “Auto Rock.” (Audio clip) 

Wasted Talent (most under-utilized talent involved with film):

Speaking of relationships, probably the weakest part of this movie IS the relationship between Crockett and Tubbs - they seem like trusted partners and they're both effective as undercover cops but as far as their actual interactions go, there's just not much there disappointingly....just not much chemistry and it almost seems to be an intentional thing on Mann's part.  It’s a weird choice considering these guys ARE Crockett and Tubbs….just based on the TV show, that has always been just an ICONIC pairing, right up there with Riggs & Murtagh or Thelma & Louise. 

Now granted….apparently, the two main leads weren’t particularly getting along on the set of this film….but STILL that doesn’t explain why Main keeps almost all of their scenes together pretty much procedural - it feels like he was assuming that audiences would have some awareness of their backstory together from the TV drama this was based upon, so he could just use them as a starting point for all of the other relationship they would develop during this movie.

Trailer Moment (scene or moment that best describes this movie):

When it comes to crime dramas like these, it hard to NOT get sucked in from what I like to affectionately refer to as “Shit just GOT Real” moments, a scene which can either set the tone and/or escalate the danger involved in the story….and TWO such moments occur in rapid succession only about fifteen minutes into the film….and one of them doesn’t even involve any of our major characters.  (Audio clip) 

The first is a money exchange gone wrong….and I mean REALLY wrong.  A few FBI undercover agents making the exchange with some well-armed Aryan Brotherhood thugs who are apparently in business with the Latin American drug cartel which our two main protagonists are pursuing.  Needless to say, these undercover agents don’t get out of this meeting ALIVE…..but the way which they are taken out IN THEIR CAR at least twenty to thirty feet away from any of the Aryan gang?  It’s startling and BRUTAL….not sure what kind of weapons the Aryans are using, they almost look like rail guns in the distance.  But WOW….once they open fire into these Feds, we can only get the view from behind them in the backseat….it looks as if full-on artillery was launched into their car, we LITERALLY see an arm fly off one of them from the gunfire. (Audio clip) 

And the second is the reveal of a betrayal which LEAD to that money exchange gone wrong.  Both Crockett and Tubbs are tracking down this FBI informant who GAVE up those agents….and they pull him over on a highway at night around Miami, this would be Alonzo played by Oscar-nominee John Hawkes in pretty much his ONLY scene in the ilm….but it’s a doozy for sure! (Audio clip) 

Apparently Alonzo HAD to give up the identity of these just murdered FBI agents as members of The Brotherhood had just violently his wife/girlfriend (it’s never quite clear who she is but it’s clear that she has been roughed up by the picture he shows them)….they’re standing on the shoulder of the highway, it’s tense, Alonzo INSISTS on heading back to their house to check on her….and Tubbs (in likely Foxx’ BEST acting moment of the film) then reveals her fate as they already have cops back at said house.  And then…..yeah Alonzo’s distraught, standing next to a highway, sees a truck coming….you can do the math.  After THESE two brutal moments of violence, not only has a VERY sober tone been established for the remainder of this movie but we now have a full grasp of the dangerous forces Crockett and Tubbs are about to take on. (Audio clip) 

MVP (person or people most responsible for the success of this film):

At the end of the day, the ONE aspect of this film which is unassailable is how it LOOKS.  And unlike the vast majority of Mann films, it was NOT shot by master DP Dante Spinottie.  Along with previous episode Collateral, this would be one of two collaborations with one of Brisbane, Australia’s FAVORITE sons….Oscar-winner Dion Beebe.  He shot all of this digitally – at a time when doing so was not nearly as common nor as economical as it is today – which makes ALL of the location work here seem all the more impressive.  Scenic locations from all over warmer climates including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic not only look lush and impressive during the day but every night-time sequence looks unusually crisp.  I mean that aforementioned speed boat/Havana sequence focusing ENTIRELY on Sonny and Isabelle’s first date…..it goes on for around twenty minutes which SEEMS inexplicable but it’s hard to fault Mann for not knowing where to cut as it just looks like THE most GORGEOUS first date ever shown on film.  For delivering exemplary camera work on what I consider one of THE more format-defining digitally shot films, Dion Beebe is the MVP. 

Final Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5

Happy 20th Anniversary to one of the better slow-burn action vehicles of the 21st Century and if I’m being honest, I’m still holding out hope that this will NOT be the definitive big screen version of this particular property: Miami Vice ’85 directed by Joseph Kosinski, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler….coming in 2028, can’t wait! 

Streaming on Prime Video & StarzTV 

And that ends another FIEND FOR MOJITOS review!