Written and Directed by Michael Mann Starring Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Gong Li Universal Pictures 2006 "Do you understand the meaning of the word "foreboding", as in badness is happening right now?" Ugh. This movie was disappointing on a number of levels. I suppose the main problem with it is that it was just kind of boring . . . not a lot happens, and certainly not much that you haven't already seen before. Michael Mann, the director, has done a lot of good work over the years ('Heat', 'The Insider' and 'Manhunter' to name but three personal favourites), and was the creator of the original "Miami Vice" TV series back in the 80s. According to press he's done, this movie is more of an approximation of what he originally envisioned than what the TV series ended up being. A security leak leads to the deaths of FBI agents investigating a drug lord, and Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Tubbs (Jamie Foxx) are called in to go undercover as smugglers to infiltrate the organization and plug the leak. Complications ensue when Crockett falls for Isabella (Gong Li), the drug ring's banker. There's certainly the occasional bit of amusing attitude from Crockett or Tubbs, but the movie's primarily very dour and downcast, with an oppressive atmosphere. If that's what Mann was going for, great, and I'm sure it fits in with the theme of undercover work, but it unfortunately doesn't make it enjoyable to watch. Hell, even the final gunfight isn't as impressive as the one in "Heat", although it's probably more graphic. What's the good side? Decent soundtrack, and Gong Li puts in a great performance given what she has to work with.

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Text Copyright © 2006 Christopher Coleman