Michael Mann's feature film adaption of his seminal 80s TV series comes across as a complex, exciting and thoughtful drama and is totally removed from both the TV series and a stereotypical view of what this film audiences might have expected. Nevertheless it is accessible and hugely entertaining.
The action sequences are like Heat, only as a result of the development of the story. They are grounded, realistic and very exciting. The story, while paying homage to the original TV is complex, involving, thoughtful and engrossing, and Michael Mann's use of digital cameras really works for this film in helping tell this story.
The film drops you straight into a "day on the job" and intelligence that is received by Crockett and Tubbs, both very well played by Colin Firth and Jamie Foxx, while on this job leads them into a new deep undercover role. Gong Li is also very impressive in the role as part of a drug dealing cartel. In fact, all performers are first rate and their low key and introspective performances are the major successes of the film. The characters are played as being on the job for a long time, and it looks like that all the key characters have become so immersed in the job that is all they live for. The development of Firth and Gong's character is interesting within the context of the story as we see the flickering's of a life beyond their day to day existence, just as an event in the film leads to the subtle humanising of Foxx's character, but as to whether these character changes are permanent, the viewer will need to judge for themselves.
Action scenes are exceptional in their gritty execution. Dion Beebe's camera-work is first rate, and the use of characters presented in silhouettes works very well in terms of the subliminal message of the work they are doing being in shadow. There are some interesting effects of the digital filming, with some action scenes having an almost video like look. The mix of songs and Jon Murphy's score works well and really creates a mood for the story to play out in.
Director Michael Mann again orchestrates the film with skill and style. As shown on films such as the Insider, he brings superb visual storytelling to dialogue and character focused scenes and yet handles action scenes in an involving and exciting way.
In summary a entertaining thriller. It is a shame that it was not successful enough to warrant a sequel.
The action sequences are like Heat, only as a result of the development of the story. They are grounded, realistic and very exciting. The story, while paying homage to the original TV is complex, involving, thoughtful and engrossing, and Michael Mann's use of digital cameras really works for this film in helping tell this story.
The film drops you straight into a "day on the job" and intelligence that is received by Crockett and Tubbs, both very well played by Colin Firth and Jamie Foxx, while on this job leads them into a new deep undercover role. Gong Li is also very impressive in the role as part of a drug dealing cartel. In fact, all performers are first rate and their low key and introspective performances are the major successes of the film. The characters are played as being on the job for a long time, and it looks like that all the key characters have become so immersed in the job that is all they live for. The development of Firth and Gong's character is interesting within the context of the story as we see the flickering's of a life beyond their day to day existence, just as an event in the film leads to the subtle humanising of Foxx's character, but as to whether these character changes are permanent, the viewer will need to judge for themselves.
Action scenes are exceptional in their gritty execution. Dion Beebe's camera-work is first rate, and the use of characters presented in silhouettes works very well in terms of the subliminal message of the work they are doing being in shadow. There are some interesting effects of the digital filming, with some action scenes having an almost video like look. The mix of songs and Jon Murphy's score works well and really creates a mood for the story to play out in.
Director Michael Mann again orchestrates the film with skill and style. As shown on films such as the Insider, he brings superb visual storytelling to dialogue and character focused scenes and yet handles action scenes in an involving and exciting way.
In summary a entertaining thriller. It is a shame that it was not successful enough to warrant a sequel.