Michael B. Jordan and John Leguizamo trade colors on set

Filming for Miami Vice ’85 continues apace, and Michael B. Jordan and John Leguizamo were back on set in New York last night. MBJ is, of course, playing Tubbs, while Leguizamo is playing the villain, a cartel boss. In his career as a comedian and performer, Leguizamo has spoken entertainingly yet eloquently about these kinds of stereotypes and trying to defeat them, but sometimes, you take the cash when it’s handed to you. Also, while I am on the record judging that this film will be style over substance (because Joseph Kosinski is about visuals first and foremost), I do wonder if casting Leguizamo means they’re going to do something smarter than average with the villain.

About those visuals, though, Kosinski is bringing along his regular collaborator, cinematographer Claudio Miranda. He figured out how to make footage from inside a fighter jet cockpit going Mach 1 not only legible but thrilling and beautiful. He was also the cinematographer on Tron: Legacy, which whatever else one may say about it, cannot be reproached for its visuals (or music). So, yeah, I’m not expecting a Michael Mann-style treatise on modern man or anything—though I hope they’re not wasting John Leguizamo’s time—but I DO think Miami Vice ’85 is going to look cool as hell.

To that end, here is MBJ (with Kosinski) on set rocking an achromatic suit with white shoes. He looks so good, and white shoes are NOT easy for men to pull off. They end up looking like golfers. Not MBJ. He looks like a whole damn meal.

And let’s not underrate John Leguizamo in pink with red accents. Men who wear pink are hot.

But I also like the visual language of these costumes. It’s a kind of bait and switch, the bad guy in bold, bright colors, the hero in black and grey, the colors of complicated morality. There is some acuity to these choices that I like, an acuity that whispers of Michael Mann and how he never wanted Miami Vice to be just a “cop show”. Again, I’m not expecting a lot out of the themes here, but I appreciate what might be a sign of some thematic effort going into the summer spectacle movie. (The costumes for the film are by Erin Benach, bee tee dubs.)

And I wonder if Miami Vice ’85 will end up having an impact on fashion like Barbie did? Like the way that movie made pink the color of the year, will MV85 inspire everyone to don power suits, pastels, and bold colors? I won’t be mad if it does.