🎞️ The Highlight Reel
Miami Vice
"No Law. No Limits."
U.S. Release Date
July 28, 2006
Rotten Tomatoes
🍅 47% (Cult Classic Status)
Where to Watch
Rent/Buy on Apple TV, Amazon, Vudu
Official Synopsis
Undercover detectives Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs go deep into the world of high-stakes drug trafficking when a security leak leads to the murder of two federal agents. As Crockett falls for the wife of a powerful arms dealer, the lines between their real lives and their undercover personas become dangerously blurred.
Cast & Crew
- Director: Michael Mann
- Cast: Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li
- Cinematography: Dion Beebe
- Sound Design: Christopher Boyes
⚡ Production Intelligence & Trivia
- The Gunshots: To achieve the "jolt" Ray described, Mann used actual gunfire recorded on set rather than library sound effects.
- Real Undercover: Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrell were sent on actual undercover drug stings with federal agents as part of their training.
- Digital Pioneer: The film was one of the first big-budget features shot almost entirely on high-end digital video to capture the unique look of Miami at night.
- The Ferraris: While the 80s show used a Daytona and a Testarossa, the film features the Ferrari F430 Spider.
🎙️ Ray's 2006 Review (August 5, 2006)
If there was ever a television show that deserved a big screen adaptation, it's Miami Vice. In the '80s, the show was the essence of cool: fast cars, cool clothes, and the exciting lifestyle of undercover officers. While some expected an '80s parody like Starsky & Hutch, former executive producer Michael Mann had other ideas.
With his success in the genre Heat, Manhunter, and Collateral, it’s clear why Mann was the only choice to helm this update. Although far from his best work, with pacing issues and an uneven story, the movie still delivers modern-day Mann thrills while incorporating trademark Vice cool. Reviewers have noted the movie bears little resemblance to the original show, but I ask: What exactly are they watching?
The camera angles, the camaraderie, the shady back-room deals, and the vicious drug lords it feels exactly like Miami Vice. Mann updates the franchise by putting it in the modern day; it’s less flashy than the '80s, but the stakes are higher and darker.
It is impossible not to comment on the amazing sound design. When a gun fires, the audience feels it. Literally. In an era where gunshots are as familiar as street noise, these jolts of sound remind the viewer of the violent damage a weapon can cause. It’s loud, violent, and lingers in the ears.
Jamie Foxx shines the most here, carrying an intimidating presence that serves as a nice follow-up to his role in Collateral. Overall, I’d be tempted to say this is the best movie of a mediocre summer. Miami Vice is the real deal.
With his success in the genre Heat, Manhunter, and Collateral, it’s clear why Mann was the only choice to helm this update. Although far from his best work, with pacing issues and an uneven story, the movie still delivers modern-day Mann thrills while incorporating trademark Vice cool. Reviewers have noted the movie bears little resemblance to the original show, but I ask: What exactly are they watching?
The camera angles, the camaraderie, the shady back-room deals, and the vicious drug lords it feels exactly like Miami Vice. Mann updates the franchise by putting it in the modern day; it’s less flashy than the '80s, but the stakes are higher and darker.
It is impossible not to comment on the amazing sound design. When a gun fires, the audience feels it. Literally. In an era where gunshots are as familiar as street noise, these jolts of sound remind the viewer of the violent damage a weapon can cause. It’s loud, violent, and lingers in the ears.
Jamie Foxx shines the most here, carrying an intimidating presence that serves as a nice follow-up to his role in Collateral. Overall, I’d be tempted to say this is the best movie of a mediocre summer. Miami Vice is the real deal.
🎥 The High-Octane Trailer
Recommendation
The Michael Mann Connection
If you appreciated the gritty realism and digital cinematography of Collateral, the high-stakes suspense of Heat, or the recent stylistic thriller The Killer, this updated take on Miami Vice is an essential rewatch.
End of Reel — Lucky 13 Reviews
Great review .. I agree with you that the Gong Li-Farrell subplot was just unnecessary, but it didn't ruin it for me .. that scene in the trailer park was just perfect
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