tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post160671236339453595..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Miami Vice: Michael Mann's Misunderstood MasterpieceKevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-25909089472089472452011-04-05T11:48:19.258-07:002011-04-05T11:48:19.258-07:00TOTALLY AGREE!!!!
here's a write-up i recently...TOTALLY AGREE!!!!<br />here's a write-up i recently did for miami vice as well<br />http://travissaves.blogspot.com/2011/03/miami-vice.htmlMarcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09550373157852267023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-28269700477633854572010-10-06T05:49:59.188-07:002010-10-06T05:49:59.188-07:00I really hope that Michael Mann reconsider and mak...I really hope that Michael Mann reconsider and make the 2nd part. Is the best movie of its kind by far. I was (and still am) big fan of Miami Vice Tv series but this movie made it 2 steps further. Was great update to filmed according to modern situation. As it should! Was magnificent film, a real inspiration from M Mann since he combined all the ingredients to make a film with no James bond kind of stunts, bringing to the screen in a really great way the reality of a dark world that is unknown to the people. The cast was absolutely great. even Jose Yero and Montoya were absolutely fantastic on their roles. <br />Is a film that I watched with pleasure many times without being bored of it. Was great to "catch" some details!<br />My only dislike were the unreal flames on the Ferrari while trying to locate Alonso hehehe.<br />I could continue writing how much I like it but I don't want to bore you. <br />The music was fantastic, one of the best soundtracks to hear lately. <br /> Is really shame that the public didn't appreciated as much. <br />I really hope that we can see part 2 at some point (Montoya is on the run anyway...!). <br />Same cast and even a couple of more heavy names in order to attract more of the public's attention. <br />I really really hope that Miami Vice part 2 and more should be made! I trust M Mann will impress us with his fantastic work!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13483270608645046420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-3670536708363822492009-09-18T05:48:09.402-07:002009-09-18T05:48:09.402-07:00If their going to do a reunion movie, they better ...If their going to do a reunion movie, they better do it within the next 5 years. I read the script and this script is very done professionally. The way the script is written, this script could make it work. The 2006 movie was alright. I was sort of disappointed by it though. Anyhow goodluck on trying to get the script thru. If a reunion movie is in the works, I will be watching it.rapidshare movieshttp://rapidshare4movies.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-78765462699469093272009-07-30T16:21:25.932-07:002009-07-30T16:21:25.932-07:00No...Thank you, Alexander! You're praise is t...No...Thank you, Alexander! You're praise is too much! Hehe. I love this movie and loved writing about it. I'm glad you gave it another shot, and even though you still have some problems with the film, they are certainly understandable...I'm just glad you got to see the Director's Cut before you ever thought about not watching the movie again. There are some important additions to that version of the film that we've already talked about on your blog in the comments thread for amazing review for <i>Public Enemies</i>. <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by! It's nice to know there are people out there who don't think I'm too crazy for liking this movie so much, hehe!Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-82926170812481943232009-07-30T16:17:06.950-07:002009-07-30T16:17:06.950-07:00Tremendous piece, Kevin. Thank you for pointing me...Tremendous piece, Kevin. Thank you for pointing me to this.<br /><br />What's funny is I can't disagree with much of what you say at all. I still have some significant issues with the film, but I do agree with you that Mann's embrace of cliche--which he aims to transcend--is noteworthy. And his nighttime cityscapes are riveting in the way Malick's landscapes are. It's a highly fascinating comparison, as both are "mood" filmmakers who look at very different forms of people in very different places... Thank you again!Coleman's Corner in Cinema...https://www.blogger.com/profile/04761319284479513957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-83390918335502455872009-07-07T11:26:49.925-07:002009-07-07T11:26:49.925-07:00Tony:
Thank you for stopping by and for the kind ...Tony:<br /><br />Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. I have read the thread therer at Some Came Running and I agree that it seems like a lot of people don't get his style, but will praise someone like Malick who is essentially doing the same things (Malick is classical music where Mann is pop music, I suppose) as Mann. <br /><br />I'm glad we both think of a Mann as someone who stands along side the giants of cinema (Malick, Melville). That first image I put up is one of my favorites from the movie, and I couldn't help but think that a perfectionist like Mann was creating hellish shooting schedules for his actors and crew in order to get these perfect shots. I love the on-location shooting and the way Mann mutes certain sounds to make it feel like we are in-the-moment. I also love the use of digital -- a lot of people complain that it makes the night scenes look murky and dark and altogether unpleasant -- however, I think (especially on Blu-Ray) that the scene pop with a vibrancy not found in many films using the digital format. It's another way Mann gets the viewer to feel like he's there with the characters. I personally love the digital, and I'm glad to hear that someone from Miami (you) confirms its authenticity.<br /><br />Thanks again Tony for stopping by and choosing to follow what goes on here at Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-70480402136806732202009-07-07T08:49:14.237-07:002009-07-07T08:49:14.237-07:00"...Much like another American masters, visua..."...Much like another American masters, visual poet Terrance Malick, Mann is a master at letting the visuals act as the poetics... Mann reminds me a lot of French New Wave master Jean-Pierre Melville, another director who loved the crime genre, but rarely was interested in the crime itself..."<br /><br />Exactly. When I hear people slam Mann the way they have been over in the comments section at <a href="http://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2009/07/the-mann-act-public-enemies.html" rel="nofollow">Some Came Running</a> I think they just don't get him.<br /><br />You've put it into terms that support my thoughts on a fine director.<br /><br />BTW, the first image you used in this article perfectly captures what is so special about this film's look, and as a former Miamian I can assert it truly captures the look of the city at night.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-44749906043294108552009-06-29T14:23:21.638-07:002009-06-29T14:23:21.638-07:00J.D.:
Thanks for coming back and replying to my q...J.D.:<br /><br />Thanks for coming back and replying to my question. I'll be interested in knowing if you find anything. You're right, Mann is a perfectionist, and the on-location shooting equaling fly-on-the-wall realism in regards to the sound is what I was thinking, too.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-33435586240705411122009-06-29T13:30:13.012-07:002009-06-29T13:30:13.012-07:00Well, I'm really thankful you decided to contr...Well, I'm really thankful you decided to contribute. It would have been really strange to organize a blogathon and not have anyone show up! But it does demonstrate that there is a lot of love for Mann's films, which is always a good thing!<br /><br /><br />"Any action film that get you thinking about what the characters are feeling during a shootout is rare. The Last of the Mohicans is almost all arty action as there is essentially no dialogue to evoke how the characters feel (except the now oft-parodied "Now matter what occurs I will find you!")."<br /><br />Heh! Yeah, I really do dig MOHICANS on a purely visual level. In fact, I'm sure you could probably watch it with the sound off and be able to follow it because it is pure visual storytelling.<br /><br /><br />"I love the way Mann uses the muffle effect on the guns at the end of Miami Vice in that great shoot out scene. It adds an even more realistic quality that makes the viewer feel like they're spying on a real to life shoot out."<br /><br />It sure does. Mann is all about realism and esp. so in his shoot-outs. I can still recall seeing HEAT in theaters and how shocking it was to hear realistic gunshots in the famous bank heist sequence. I believe he also did that in COLLATERAL and MIAMI VICE. It is quite jarring because we are so used to hearing "movie" gun shots in action films and the real deal sounds so much different and louder!<br /><br /><br />"One question for you since you are the Mann expert and know a ton about the production of movies: I did notice a lot during this movie that the audio is kind of all over the place. I wonder if that is Mann trying to make it like the viewer is a fly on the wall trying to make sense of what the characters are saying...I don't know, though, the audio would be muffled at times then it would be really refined then muffled again...it made for an odd experience, and it's been that way every time I watch the film. Any insights on whether or not this was intentional (you almost have to believe it was with a film of this caliber)?"<br /><br />Hmm... You know, this is the first time I've heard this mentioned. I'll have to go back and check out the film again. It may have been because he shot it all on location and so he also employed on location audio for added realism? As you say, for a perfectionist like Mann, it would be really strange for that not to be done on purpose. I'll have to take a look at that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-62359493694104719182009-06-29T09:44:04.222-07:002009-06-29T09:44:04.222-07:00J.D.:
Thanks again for hosting this thing, and th...J.D.:<br /><br />Thanks again for hosting this thing, and thanks for stopping by and commenting. Coming from a Mann expert like yourself your kind words are high praise, indeed. I'm glad you liked my "arty action" line. It's something I always think about in his films. Any action film that get you thinking about what the characters are feeling during a shootout is rare. <i>The Last of the Mohicans</i> is almost all arty action as there is essentially no dialogue to evoke how the characters feel (except the now oft-parodied "Now matter what occurs I will find you!").<br /><br />I love the way Mann uses the muffle effect on the guns at the end of <i>Miami Vice</i> in that great shoot out scene. It adds an even more realistic quality that makes the viewer feel like they're spying on a real to life shoot out. <br /><br />I love that you point out the logistics of Mann's action scenes as being the antithesis of the "cut-with-a-blender kamikaze editing" found in most action movies today. It's so rare to find a director wanting to place us in the moment without doing the herky-jerky camera thing.<br /><br />One question for you since you are the Mann expert and know a ton about the production of movies: I did notice a lot during this movie that the audio is kind of all over the place. I wonder if that is Mann trying to make it like the viewer is a fly on the wall trying to make sense of what the characters are saying...I don't know, though, the audio would be muffled at times then it would be really refined then muffled again...it made for an odd experience, and it's been that way every time I watch the film. Any insights on whether or not this was intentional (you almost have to believe it was with a film of this caliber)?<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for stopping by J.D. and thanks again for hosting such a fun blog-a-thon. I can't wait for the 3rd!Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-19960719133652329952009-06-29T09:34:07.261-07:002009-06-29T09:34:07.261-07:00Tommy:
Thanks for the great comment. I love the ...Tommy:<br /><br />Thanks for the great comment. I love the word "wankfest"! Haha. You're so right, we didn't need that I'm so glad that Mann decided to make this movie, because that assured that it would be taken seriously (some claim too seriously, but what Mann film isn't "too serious"). People forget that Mann never wrote or directed one bit of the TV show, so it was presumptuous from the onset to think that this film would be a campy redo.<br /><br />I love the scene you're talking about. It also shows how Mann knows just where to point the camera. It also shows how well edited his films are. That's a great scene.<br /><br />I glad you're such a fan of the movie. It's been great to see that I'm not alone in the championing of this film.<br /><br />Thanks again for the great comment.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-58861963527056900612009-06-29T09:29:54.847-07:002009-06-29T09:29:54.847-07:00Jason:
Thanks for the kind words. It's alway...Jason:<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. It's always great to see you here adding depth to the conversation. For me, there's just something about <i>Miami Vice</i> that trumps everything in <i>Heat</i>. It was a film I was obsessed with. I saw it three times in the theater and have watched it numerous times at home on HD (my first time on Blu-Ray last week). <br /><br />I too had to take a couple stabs at <i>Heat</i> before falling in love with it, and just like that film, <i>Miami Vice</i> suffers from a bit of a lull in the middle of the movie, but there's always something hypnotic and poetic about the way Mann is filming his movie...and <i>that</i> keeps you interested despite the lagging middle. These two films also take time in getting under your skin, and like you said that it took you a second viewing to see <i>Heat's</i> depth, the same was true for me with <i>Miami Vice</i>. I knew something was there, so I keep going back to it again and again, and I found myself not being able to stop thinking about the films buried themes...much like what you're saying with <i>Heat</i><br /><br />And I'm glad you liked my comparison to Malick. I've found that some don't like it when I make that comparison because Malick is too much of a god for them...which I totally understand, but it is eerie how two of our best and most controlling (and detailed-obsessed) American directors are so similar. Say what you want about the quality of a Mann film compared to a Malick film, but I don't think they're that far off. I'm glad you agree :)<br /><br />I hope you come back and post some thoughts about your second viewing.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-45146756898371379392009-06-29T09:20:29.329-07:002009-06-29T09:20:29.329-07:00Ryan:
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad yo...Ryan:<br /><br />Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you love this film, too. I've found that the more and more I look around the blogosphere the more I am finding people who absolutely love this under- appreciated modern classic. You're right-on about the digital photography, it's really what makes this movie stand out in a lot of ways. <br /><br />And as far as <i>The Last of the Mohicans</i> goes...well I think it's beautiful to look at...but not much else. I think I might do a post on it for J.D.'s blog-a-thon and just put images up, because the story is pretty thin for me as I was never able to invest fully in the narrative. But, that films has some of Mann's best "music video" moments (he loves long takes with music accompanying the scene instead of dialogue).<br /><br />Thanks again for stopping by.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-84855907674500226932009-06-29T08:36:14.465-07:002009-06-29T08:36:14.465-07:00Nice to see love for this film as it seemed to get...Nice to see love for this film as it seemed to get trashed quite a bit when it first came out. I really like it a lot too. I think prefer the theatrical cut that just drops us right into the action even if the director's cut is more consistent with the way Mann films usually begin.<br /><br />You write:<br /><br />"There's also a shoot-out at the very end that rivals the one from Heat (in quality not in quantity), it's perfectly blocked and the sound is just fantastic throughout the scene, placing the viewer in the moment. It's really an inspired shoot-out scene, and it's what Mann does best: arty action."<br /><br />Well said! Arty action, indeed. I like that you always know what's going in a Mann action sequence. None of this cut-with-a-blender kamikaze editing that guys like Michael Bay and McG seem to favor.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-12567843972946946902009-06-29T08:12:04.406-07:002009-06-29T08:12:04.406-07:00The movie was an excellent update of the TV show; ...The movie was an excellent update of the TV show; we didn't need an '80s nostalgia wankfest. The film is beautiful and brutal and never glamorizes the "life," as the luxury comes at too dear a price. My favorite scene (SPOILER) is when they catch an informant in a high-speed run in the Ferrari F430, blue flames sputtering from the exhaust and catch him on the freeway. When he learns that his family has been murdered, he walks into the path of a semi trailer. The rich life bought with illicit gains matters little when the real treasures, the loved ones that Sonny can never have, can be taken away in a heartbeat.<br />I won't go so far as to say it's his best- my favorite is still Thief- but Miami Vice is terribly underrated. It does need a bit more action in the middle, but I've watched it a few times in HD and despite the grain in the night scenes the digital format gives it the perfect feel.Thomas Pluckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008022962076648740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-43166532511623919252009-06-29T08:08:45.773-07:002009-06-29T08:08:45.773-07:00Kevin: Nice piece. I'm about to go on a Mann b...Kevin: Nice piece. I'm about to go on a Mann binge in the coming weeks, and that will allow me to get my second look at <i>Miami Vice</i>, a film that kind of confused me the first time around -- I honestly wasn't sure if I liked it or was trying to like it.<br /><br />I think the comparison to Malick is a good one. Mann is inspired by nighttime cityscapes the way Malick is moved by the natural landscape. Both are filmmakers who don't point the camera at something simply to establish the physical geography of a scene. Their cityscape/landscape shots are embedded with emotion.<br /><br />I watched <i>Heat</i> over the weekend, and I have a hard time thinking that <i>Miami Vice</i> will rival its depth, but maybe. Admittedly, it took me two viewings of <i>Heat</i> to see its depth.<br /><br />Anyway, I'll come back and read this again after I get to <i>Miami Vice</i>.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-14791759321136440672009-06-29T07:18:48.988-07:002009-06-29T07:18:48.988-07:00Kevin, great post. I agree, this is among Mann'...Kevin, great post. I agree, this is among Mann's most misunderstood (maybe his most misunderstood) and among the most misunderstood films of modern times. I agree with you 100 percent--- the use of digital is revolutionary and it makes Mann's imagery incredibly romantic. It's among the best uses of the format yet.<br /><br />I really, really hope that, like <i>Miami Vice</i>, <i>Public Enemies</i> is being misrepresented by the advertising. I've never disliked a Mann before (except <i>Last of the Mohicans</i>... sorry, I know it's something of a sacred cow) so I'm not really worried, just a little...<br /><br />Again, great piece.Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.com