‘Miami Vice’ Can Take the Heat

If you’re seeing Miami Vice in a theater this weekend, thank film writer Brandon Streussnig. Michael Mann’s divisive 2006 film adaptation of his hit TV show saw a surge in popularity over the Fourth of July holiday after Streussnig posted an inocuous tweet about showing the film to his girlfriend for the first time.

gf asked me to show her my favorite movie tonight. Probably the most important step in the relationship. No goin back now

pic.twitter.com/UACGhpVXZX

— Brandon Streussnig (@BrndnStrssng) July 5, 2024

 

Then all hell broke loose.

Chaédria LaBouvier, the Guggenheim Museum’s first Black curator, quote-tweeted Streussnig and said “Straight men live on a completely different planet than the rest of us, WHOT is this.”

Straight men live on a completely different planet than the rest of us, WHOT is this https://t.co/8uq8ZhJx3F

— No Quarter Will Be Given (@chaedria) July 5, 2024

 

LaBouvier was just one of a few to criticize Streussnig’s choice, but her reply got the most attention. Streussnig, who has said before that he is not straight, replied back, saying:

“Making a lot of assumptions here lmao

She asked to see it and had a great time

Good luck with your miserable fuckin life 🫡”

to which LaBouvier replied “Fuck you Brandon ❤️.”

That “fuck you” attitude has been LaBouvier’s tone toward anyone who told her she was taking this whole thing way too seriously, as she has refused to apologize and refused to engage with people (gay and straight) who said they actually liked the movie.

At one point she said she was going to use the controversial Twitter thread for research (unclear for what), and asked people to send her their opinions on the matter. Later, she tracked down the LinkedIn page of someone who told her to shut the fuck up.

 

“I don’t ride the storm, I AM the storm. I regret nothing, and meant every word of it,” LaBouvier doubled down.

As Sonny Crockett once said, “The secret to success is knowing when to quit.”

Once the controversy gained some more steam, people started sharing a 2022 article from The Atlantic about LaBouvier’s time at the Guggenheim, where she curated an exhibit on Basquiat. The article says that LaBouvier’s unfounded allegations of racism were responsible for forcing out a white curator in 2020.

When The Atlantic asked LaBouvier for comment for the article, she refused, telling the magazine:

“Where were you in 2019 or 2020? Fuck you and your arrogance.”

This whole bizzare news cycle might just take the cake for the worst Film Twitter moment in the history of that godforsaken site. An innocent tweet about someone sharing a piece of art they love with someone they care about got turned into some dumb Twitter controversy. And for what? To try to make a weak point about how straight dudes love Michael Mann movies more than gay dudes do? Who gives a shit?

Whether you like Miami Vice or not, this ain’t normal. This Twitterized view of looking at the world where everyone HAS to like the right type of art or else risk social ridicule is not healthy, yet it’s becoming more and more prevalent. Art is subjective, people contain multitudes, and it should be easy to see someone enjoy something you don’t like (or vice versa) and not freak out about it. Alas.

There is some good that came out of all of this, though. Since the Twitter controversy, multiple outlets have written retrospectives about Miami Vice. Both the Lumiere Cinema at the Music Hall in Los Angeles and the IFC Center in New York will screen the film this weekend. The IFC Center even offered Streussnig free tickets and popcorn (sadly, no mojitos).

And, according to a tweet from Streussnig, his girlfriend liked the film.