Miami Vice: The Spence Edit

Miami Vice is one of those films that has, by turns, been equally underrated and overrated. Overlooked by critics and audiences on release; called one of the greatest action films of all time by a select cult ever since its release. As ever, the best bits of Michael Mann movies are transcendently badass, but they're often dragged down by over-indulgent dialogue and romantic subplots that lead to severe pacing problems that prove alienating even as they're supposed to draw audiences into these troubled characters.

Spence wisely cuts and trims MV, whipping it into a taut, lean form that it should have been from the beginning and adding back just enough classic TV musical cues to scratch the 80s nostalgia itch that the original film purposely avoided. By leaving much of the characters' romantic moments on the cutting room floor, the audience is allowed to be collaborators and fill in the emotions based on the firey passion we do see, not the turgid backstories we're forced to endure. Spence's edit is the cut that deserves the cult adoration, it's a legitimately excellent film now, and I hope it circulates widely enough that Mann fans get to experience MIami Vice in its best possible version.

The cuts made to scenes and subplots has greatly improved the pacing and enjoyment. While none of material cut was bad to begin with, it did not warrant the runtime and resulted in a slow moving action movie. Now Miami Vice has the focus it needs.

I loved the music choices as well and this has lent a feel much closer to the TV series than the theatrical version ever had.

Coming straight off the success of Collateral, I was really excited for Miami Vice. When it came out, however, I was less than impressed. Even though the signature Michael Mann visuals are present, great actors, and featuring a stunning backdrop of Miami and Cuba, Miami Vice never reached the same levels of Collateral or other Mann films in terms of storytelling.

The main problems with Miami Vice are that it is way too long, it lacks focus around the central plot, and really starts off without giving the audience time to develop an emotional relationship with the main characters. Fortunately, with the Spence Edit, some of those issues are resolved. Clocking in at 24 minutes shorter than the theatrical cut, this edit really trims the excess and keeps the story moving along. I would be hard pressed to tell you what was cut and where the changes were made. The narrative flows smoothly and there are no sudden cuts present. The edits, audio, musical cues are all seamlessly integrated.

All in all, I really enjoyed this edit and for me it definitely improved the overall enjoyment of the film. It is very well done and will definitely be the preferred way to watch when revisiting. Thanks!

Huge Miami Vice fan here who did not like the movie and have held a grudge going on 17 years (holy cow!). I haven’t watched this movie in a couple of years, so after my viewing of it today, I can say that time has been kind to this movie and Spence helped elevate it even more. I couldn’t tell you what was cut (except for that weird shower sex scene) and I couldn’t hear a single audio blip. Spence has crafted an enjoyable ride with Crockett and Tubbs and it left me smiling when both versions of In the Air Tonight played.

Spence’s edit has helped make the movie feel like a modern take on Miami Vice without getting lost in its style due to somewhat of a lacking substance. My ONLY wish (and this is certainly NOT a strike against Spence) is that the edit used more Vice style music by incorporating some modern synth wave and maybe some of the original music somewhere.

If you’re a Miami Vice fan, you’ll immediately get hooked by Spence’s use of Crockett’s theme during the opening speed boat race!

Thanks Spence for finally bringing me around on liking this movie. Now, time to bust out my Vice DVD’s.

Tight. Taunt. Tense.

In other words, better than the original theatrical version.

Spence displays his master editing craftsmanship with cuts and rearrangements that are slick and seamless. The pacing is now slo-burn rather than glacial. The movie builds towards it's climax with deliberate purpose and greater impact. It actually now feels like a proper Michael Mann crime story.

However, it is impossible to watch this fan edit (or the original movie) and not compare it against the television series that it is based upon. As great as the casting of Fox and Farrell is on paper, onscreen they are vastly inferior to their tv counterparts in terms of chemistry and charisma for me. And while I know this is a "modernization", but when someone says MIAMI VICE to me, that translates as MTV COPS to my ear and sadly I find the film soundtrack to be lacking and unmemorable, which is a cardinal sin in my book lol. Cool synthwave/pop/rock is a key element of Miami Vice's DNA. Thankfully, Spence did include a version of Crockett's Theme and two versions of In The Air Tonight. I guess I just wish there might have been a couple more iconic music moments.

So while for me, this is not as good as the television show during it's high point, it is vastly superior to both the Theatrical and Director's Cuts. Spence has expertly transformed a misguided, meandering narrative into a gripping cop thriller.

Thumbs Up!