Michael Mann's MIAMI VICE (merged) - Page 10

Scott_Sch · 07-31-2006, 09:34 AM

Caught this over the weekend. I went in with slightly lowered expectations based on some early reviews, but I got to say...I really dug it. Yeah, the middle was a little slow while they were building up the Isabella and Crockett relationship, but that was really the only moment I could point out. And as far as Crockett and Tubbs and their relationship....I don't know, these guys are portraying real hardcore undercover vice cops. This isn't Lethal Weapon 4. I don't thing we needed to see them in any sort of chummy pal moments. Like was mentioned earlier...this was basically a typical mission for them and they acted appropriately. At least for me, they seemed to act the way two partners would act. Minimal interaction, yet each knew everything they needed to know. They've done this together for so long they pretty much know what the other is thinking and doing...they're together in this, yet I don't think we needed to be hit over the head with their relationship. Anywho...needless to say, I feel like I got the movie. Plus there's just something to the way Mann audibly gets things across with the weapons in his action scenes. The 50 cals in the beginning and the whole final scene. Just really great stuff reminiscent of Heat. Heat is still a much better film but I would easily put this one on par with Collateral.

I went with my wife and she was really not looking forward to it. She expected some sort of over the top action sequence summer blockbuster (i.e. Bad Boys 3) and thats not really her deal. She also is really a movie buff and didn't know what to expect with it being a Mann movie. Anyway...she dug to...and now she's interested in watching Heat this week to catch up on the genre. Its nice not to have every summer movie be a summer blockbuster type.

Chuck Mayer · 07-31-2006, 10:02 AM

I wouldn't dream of comparing the directors I love. They are all quite different in terms of approach, focus, themes, etc. But the best directors are natural storytellers, and bless them for it.

I expected a lot from Vice, and I got it and more. I didn't expect such excellent action scenes (I expected good ones) and I didn't expect to be terribly interested in the Crockett/Isabella stuff. But I was. I was never bored.

The opening bit appeared to be a Vice operation against a high dollar pimp (Neptune). Something happens, they can't complete it, so Neptune gets away for the time being. There is even dialogue to that effect.

To go back to Crawdaddy's issue, I think undercover is about results more than protocol. This team gets results and is still alive, so their leash is long and loose. Like some government agency NOCs (non-official cover), a wide latitude is given to the individuals because of the stress of their job, and their inherent skill sets.

john doran · 07-31-2006, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Mayer

I didn't expect such excellent action scenes (I expected good ones)

you know, i found this to be true, also, though i realize in retrospect that my lack of expectation in this regard was simply the result of not having really thought about this feature of the movie at all; i had straightforwardly forgotten how unglamorously spectacular mann's action choreography is (part of this was a conscious effort to minimize my expectations for a movie that had been getting mixed reviews). if i'd spent any time considering this, i may very well have expected exactly what we got in this film: immediate, urgent, lean, and very, very tight sequences.

JonZ · 07-31-2006, 12:08 PM

"I didn't expect such excellent action scenes (I expected good ones)"

I did. The gunfight at the end as well as the trailer scene - Mann is the master with this stuff. Dont know if anyone else mentioned this but also the scene in the car when the Aryans snipered the russians was amazing as well.

Chuck Mayer · 07-31-2006, 01:18 PM

I won't call this a "good" review. That would be presumptuous. I will instead call it one I agreed with.

Beaks

The trailer scene was masterful. They were all masterful, but that one was...something else.

Kevin Grey · 07-31-2006, 01:45 PM

One of the things I like about the film is that Mann never really "deals" with the informant. Crockett and Tubbs do their job and narrow it down to the FBI Washington office and that's it. Most other films would feel compelled to offer some sort of reveal or closure, and since we only have one FBI guy in the film, Cirian Hinds would have ended up a villain almost by default.

JediFonger · 07-31-2006, 01:49 PM

i agree with nathan and many other's sentiments. in fact, i'd venture to take it 1 step further, this is the best film i've seen this year. thank you for smoking comes close... but this one takes top honor cause of the action scenes.

a few things:
1. when gore happened (like the torso scene or the headshots), the audience was clapping and laughing and some even yelled, "more". i dunno if i should feel pity or hilarity for them.
2. forgot who mentioned it but someone in this thread said that mann's films demand multiple viewings for people to "get" and that the first time is often the worst experience. it did for a lot of people in this thread.
3. it'll be interesting to search for threads in HTF when collateral or ali came out, you'll see many similar responses, but when the DVD comes out, there are more praises =).
4. also someone else pointed out in this thread about small character moments (like in heat). i really noticed it when gong li's character used her hand to feel sony's stubble/beard with her left hand. that was a really nice touch. it's very small and almost a throwaway, but it makes the film... er. video.
5. like many have said, we're fed so many expository films that when films like these come along, we have an allergic reaction to it. star wars is a good example of minimal exposition. they throw you in medias res and keep on trucking until the end. they show you what's going on in the world instead of telling you. same with lucas's THX 1138. same with many foreign classics (like Kurosawa films).
6. most of the "character" developments were done with the eyes and the face. no dialogue neccessary. take a closer look next time and you will get it, if you don't already.
7. there will be many people quoting from this film for yeras to come =). this is a resounding classic in the highest order.

PS the fbi thread is just not relevant. it's a glimpse into lives of undercover agents and the seediness of their work. like an episode of cops, you're allowed x # of minutes, by the end you may or may not know what happens afterwards, if they lived or died, or if the fbi informant story thread was found and resolved. perhaps director's cut? who knows.

Nathan V · 07-31-2006, 03:31 PM

Thanks for posting that review, Chuck. He echoes a lot of my sentiments exactly.

Quote:

This isn't Lethal Weapon 4.

Exactly. Mann doesn't hit us over the head with the fact that these two people know each other well. Moments like Foxx nonverbally asking Farrell what's wrong simply by twitching his head when they're transferring the drugs from boat to boat are enough. Or the fistpound when they start up the car before the final battle.

Our audience was also remarkably vocal ( in a good way), cheering and clapping at appropriate moments. Jamie Foxx taking out the one guy in the house where they're holding Trudy hostage brought the house down- a collective "whoa!" followed by mad applause/cheering. The action is immediate, fast, real- it doesn't necessarily build up so much as it cycles and recycles until it's suddenly over. Mann's action has so much precision and built-up energy- I think a big factor in what elevates it is that the characters (and by extension, actors) involved are almost always very smart, very capable individauls who are very experienced in these types of situations. To see a professional (the character, the actor, and the director)do his thing in a way that says "no sweat" is just too cool. You have to love it. The ease with which Foxx/Tubbs takes that guy out is similar to the practised ease with which Mann executes the scene- professional.

JediFonger, I too feel it's the film of the year so far. The lack of exposition is the film's most alienating feature, and also its masterstroke. I'm looking forward to seeing it again almost as much as I was to see it the first time!

JediFonger · 07-31-2006, 04:26 PM

another scene that shows mann's marksmanship on character building is (spoiler time):

Spoiler:

PS i imagine li and mann discussing isabelle's english. i imagine that mann+li would say that isabelle's spanish has to be better than both chinese and english in that order. so, those of you that speak spanish natively is that true? i wonder what spanish would sounld like accented? hrm. therefore, i think it's a good move. on the other hand, i think if they went that direction, they should have had sony ask, "what" a few times to let audiences know... maybe it's deleted scenes?

nath,
since there's no important films coming out this weekend, i think it's a good time to check out MV again and again and again. =).

Kirk Tsai · 07-31-2006, 04:56 PM

This seemed like a more free roaming Mann film than most. His past few pictures have had a clearer narrative, especially Collateral, which was very, very tight.

Mann's visual style has been evolving quite a lot. Films from 20 years ago like Thief (not mentioned much during any Mann discussion) and Manhunter are still very similar in their feel compared to MV, but the look is significantly different. Some of the images captured here are just amazing.

--The night time city background in the beginning with the partners on the rooftop

--The camera going left to right with the water and blue sky when Gong and Farrell go to her home

--The overhead shot of revealing the waterfalls and eventually the boss's house

Gong Li is incorrectly credited as Ms. Li during the "assistant to X" portion of the end credits.