Michael Mann’s Miami Vice Officially Returns With New Release and Director’s Cut at Beyond Fest

Michael Mann is considered one of the best directors working today, whose deeply immersive, highly stylized films immediately transport the audience to a different world. Whether it is Heat, widely considered his magnum opus; the high-concept thriller Collateral starring Tom Cruise; or biographical dramas like Ali and Ferrari, his signature filmmaking techniques and style yield a different intrigue every time.

Among his most notable works is Miami Vice, which started as a TV show but in time became a gritty crime action thriller starring Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx. The film follows Miami detectives James "Sonny" Crockett (Farrell) and Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs (Foxx) as they go deep undercover to infiltrate a lethal, global drug trafficking empire. The mission takes a dangerous turn when Crockett begins a dangerous romantic affair with Isabella (Gong Li), the Chinese-Cuban wife of a high-level arms and narcotics trafficker.

Back in 2006, Miami Vice became a one-of-a-kind film with its distinct visual style and music. Mann shot primarily on high-definition digital video combined with Super 35mm film, which gives each scene a very serious, hypnotic feel. However, the feature was rejected by fans and critics alike upon its release. It earned $164.2 million at the global box office and a 47% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, over the last two decades, the film has gathered a passionate cult following that celebrates it as a sensory masterpiece of atmospheric digital filmmaking. And a reboot is already in the works.

‘Miami Vice: Director’s Cut’ Is Coming to Beyond Fest

Now, a new report from The Wrap suggests that Mann will be premiering a “secretly cut” new edition of Miami Vice, which will be held at the Directors Village theater in Westwood, LA, during the upcoming Beyond Fest. Along with Mann’s new cut, the festival is also bringing a look at the first 10 years of Robert Eggers’ career, including a new look at his upcoming Werwulf. Further, there’s a M. Night Shyamalan retrospective and the premiere of a new 4K remaster of Bong Joon-ho’s beloved monster movie The Host.

“This slate reflects the range, curiosity, and complete commitment to theatrical Cinema shared by Beyond Fest and the American Cinematheque.” American Cinematheque Director of Programming Chris LeMaire said in a statement. “Beyond Fest is at its most exciting when a World Premiere, a radical new filmmaker, a 70mm epic and a once-in-a-lifetime tribute can all exist within the same program.”