From AV Club · · 1m 20s
Staff Picks: A hero-free Hollywood satire and another round for Mojito fiends
New Miami Vice director's cut and a Hollywood satire about unlikable protagonists.
In brief
New Miami Vice director's cut and a Hollywood satire about unlikable protagonists. Raj Ladlani's debut book The Simp explores Hollywood's racial and class struggles through a cynical protagonist, while Michael Mann releases a director's cut of Miami Vice. Originally reported by AV Club.
Staff Picks: A hero-free Hollywood satire
A.V. Club Staff highlights a new Hollywood satire with an unlikable protagonist.
“For anyone who doesn’t prefer books with unlikable protagonists, roshan sethi’s the simp might prove to be a challenge”
The Simp by Raj Ladlani
Raj Ladlani, a 31-year-old from new delhi, struggles to become a hollywood star.
“The book centers on sullen 31-year-old raj ladlani, who moved from new delhi to los angeles to become a hollywood star”
Hollywood satire premise
Raj’s life unravels as he manages a power couple’s schedule while babysitting and grocery shopping.
“The poor guy has to babysit, dogsit, grocery shop, coordinate household and vehicular repairs”
Raj’s relationship with employers
Raj’s job brings him closer to hollywood but strains his identity through constant responsibilities.
“But he doesn’t mind because his job brings him closer to hollywood than ever before”
The Simp’s inspiration
The book draws from a viral 2023 job posting, stories from actor karan soni, and william thackeray’s vanity fair.
“The inspiration for this story is threefold: a viral 2023 job posting; stories he heard from his husband, actor karan soni (deadpool, abbott elementary); and finally, william thackeray’s vanity fair”
Miami Vice: Director’s Final Cut
Michael Mann releases a director’s cut of Miami Vice for the 2026 beyond fest screening.
“Screened as part of beyond fest at american cinematheque in west hollywood earlier this month”
Director’s cut improvements
The new cut opens with go-fast boats and gives tubbs more screen time with his partner.
“The go-fast boats do, in fact, open the film now, better contextualizing the bust crockett and tubbs would abandon shortly into the film”
Miami Vice’s legacy
Mann’s director’s cut balances audience-friendly storytelling with the original’s iconic ending.
“It’s still miami vice, one of the 2000s’ great action films”
The essence
Raj Ladlani's debut book The Simp explores Hollywood's racial and class struggles through a cynical protagonist, while Michael Mann releases a director's cut of Miami Vice.
