Fridae

Many of us would remember (fondly or otherwise) Miami Vice the TV series, replete with the cheesy pastel colours, outfits, hairstyles and dialogue that peppered the show. However, if you were looking to relive the TV show via Michael Mann's movie remake, then you would in for quite a surprise.

Although the police procedural is engaging, the film takes the brand name but none of its baggage. Those who expect the film to be a high octane actioner may be disappointed to find it is a lot 'talkier'. However, Mann has managed to craft a solid film that is both stylish and very intense,

Miami cops Sonny Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Rico Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) go undercover to investigate a leak in the FBI, which led to a drug operation gone wrong and several deaths. Posing as transportation experts, the duo meet with drug smuggler Jose Yero (John Ortiz) and his associate Isabella (Gong Li), to let them handle their business of smuggling illegal substances into the USA. Yero is suspicious of Sonny and Rico, but his boss Montoya (Luis Tosar) overrides his decision.

Although there is a distinct lack of 'traditional' action sequences, what Miami Vice excels in is creating atmosphere. Certain scenes will keep you at the edge of the seat even if nothing actually happens, and the action sequences are short but explosive (although nothing much explodes in the film). Both Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx put forth credible performances, and Gong Li stands out in her few scenes even though she obviously has difficulty with the English and Spanish dialogue. It may not be directly comparable to the old Miami Vice due to the difference in tone, but as a standalone movie this one is a winner.