Review: Miami Vice
Colin Ferrell can’t act.
That’s not the only problem with MIAMI VICE, but it’s a start. It’s a well-shot, well-blinged cinematic dud, my friends. I’m sorry to have to say it.
Michael Mann (HEAT, THE INSIDER, COLLATERAL) has certain skill sets which I prize: he shoots night scenes better than anyone; he understands city life; he knows how to film crime and macho behavior. That said, he has some weaknesses that we also must recognize: he is ham-fisted with dialogue and has no sense of romantic timing or weight. And this is why MIAMI VICE fails, because the actors talk too much and their personal lives are complete cardboard.
The plot is roughly that of any undercover cop movie, or any episode of the original TV series, for that matter: an undercover cop and his partner go deep deep undercover to take out the dark drug world from within. But dammit, one of them falls in love, and the other can only look on helpless as his world crashes around him, or whatever….
It’s a whisper of a plot, with key elements muttered under the breath of heavy Latino accents and spat out in a strange pseudo-Southern accent by Farrell. But it’s dark and full of grit, all right: limbs fly off when struck by bullets, drug use and physical violence abounds, and — no joking — there is not a shower in the entire movie that doesn’t have a naked woman in it. Atmosphere, motion, color and flash abound, often erupting in sudden violent bursts. It LOOKS like a Michael Mann movie. But there is little else to MIAMI VICE than these crime elements.
There is no character development, as Mann prefers to present rough outlines of stereotypical pastiches and let them run with it. That can work when the actor is up to the challenge: witness Pacino in HEAT or even Tom Cruise in COLLATERAL. But as I mentioned earlier, Colin Farrell can’t act. I’m serious: ALEXANDER, DAREDEVIL, SWAT, PHONE BOOTH — he CANNOT ACT, people. Send him back to Europe.
Now, I can’t believe I’m saying it, but Jamie Foxx CAN act. His time onscreen is the best part of the film, which is faint praise but notable nonetheless. If you are a die-hard Jamie Foxx fan, then this movie will be a good addition for your DVD collection.
Anyhow, MIAMI VICE is like those Japanese cars that are knock-offs of the Porsche Boxster: it looks good and sounds good, but it’s slow and clunky with no real soul to it. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Thanks for the review, SG. I’m disappointed by this and most other reviews I’ve read as I was really looking forward to this movie.
I am also a huge Mann fan and list “Heat” among my favorite movies and think “The Insider” is one of the most underrated movies of the last ten years.
It seems as though the movie is more “Tubbs and Crockett” as opposed to “Crockett and Tubbs” of the TV series, obviously showcasing Foxx.
You’re absolutely right on about Farrell. There seems to be a huge discrepancy between how Hollywood views him (A-list actor) and how the public perceives him. I wonder what Mann was thinking when he cast him, especially considering all of the outstanding actors he has worked with in the past, Pacino, DeNiro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Russel Crowe, Cruise, etc. Why Farrell? Why?
I am hopeful that some of the sequences are as masterfully done as in Mann’s other movies, thnking of the fort scene in “Last of the Mohincans”, the night club scene in “Collateral”, the bank robbery in “Heat”, and even the beach/hotel scene in the “Insider.”
I will probably end up seeing it with this hope in mind.
Comment by Tim J. — July 28, 2006 @ 10:16 am
For the record, I LOVE Heat — top 10 ever for me, actually. The Insider is also fantastic. But yeah.. disappointing.
Comment by Supergenius — July 28, 2006 @ 10:17 am
Here’s a good write-up about Farrell’s failures that just hit today.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14048473/
Comment by Tim J. — July 28, 2006 @ 10:19 am
I was prepared to hate Farrell in The New World, but I didn’t. I’ve hated him everywhere else I’ve seen him, though. ‘Cept maybe in Minority Report, but he didn’t have to do much there.
Comment by Tom — July 28, 2006 @ 10:42 am
Haven’t seen The New World. I like the illusion of complete suckitude.
Comment by Supergenius — July 28, 2006 @ 10:47 am
Some actors think if they stand around and are quiet that they are evoking dignity and mystery. That was my impression of Colin Ferrel’s acting in the New World.
Comment by danithew — July 28, 2006 @ 12:24 pm
Tim,
That article didn’t say he was a bad actor. It said that the reason America can’t stand him is that he is too sexy. Colin Farrell?
I did like the line about how America is afraid he will give us an STD, though.
Comment by HP — July 28, 2006 @ 1:12 pm
The WSJ and the NYT both liked it, btw. I think it is a movie that is entertaining enough, and it certainly looks slick. But it lacks the potency for which Michael Mann is most famous.
Comment by Supergenius — July 28, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
Agreed on all points, SG. A big disappointment after Collateral.
Comment by Eric Russell — July 29, 2006 @ 4:30 pm
Europe don’t want ‘im.
Comment by Ronan — July 30, 2006 @ 2:50 am
HEAT is on my top ten all-time… but I think I’ll wait for the DVD on this one. Thanks for the review.
Comment by tracy m — July 31, 2006 @ 12:53 am