Topic: Tropic Thunder
Conflict: A white man, playing a black man, playing a black character.
In this movie, Robert Downy Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus, a white man who decides to undergo surgery to become black so he can play a black character in a movie. In the movie, this move is seen as extremely contraversial because why not just cast a black man in the role.
I think this movie is hilarious and it is a step further than just a "minstral show" where white people dress in black face. This man, Kirk, actually pigmented his skin to be black. He even goes so far as to "act black" even when not shooting the movie in order to stay in character.
My favorite part of the movie is where Kirk says, "What do you mean, you people??" to another character. To this, Alpa Chino, an born black man replies, "What do YOU mean, you people?" The character who said "you people" in the first place didn't actually mean 'you black people' but Kirk was playing the stereotype of the racially sensitive black man when he isn't even black. Chino, is just getting fed up with the whole thing.
This brings up so many things: One being the whole black face issue and couldn't they have just hired a black actor to play this role (something I would bet a lot of people thought while watching white actors play black characters). Also, what does it mean to be black... This white man is doing everything in his power to be black and he is really only playing to stereotypes. I personally think that comedy is the best way to talk about race, because it's so uncomfortable - why not laugh about it.
It may not be the best movie ever, but it certainly has it's very funny points... watch it! =]
do not forget the epic retard conversation that also helped make this movie very contorversial
ReplyDeleteAny movie that is contorversial is going to make money. Money is made off of stereotypes. It was very funny though
ReplyDeleteI really hated Tropic Thunder, I thought it was nonsense garbage. I thought it was weird that Ben Stiller, the writer-director, didn't catch more fire for this. Actually I'm wondering why Robert Downey Jr. didn't get the brunt of this for playing a blackface character. Being that we live in a society where EVERY syllabal and image is scruntize to the enth degree, this movie recieved next to not criticism. In fact, Downey was hailed for his performance and was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor. I had no problem with it but it just seems odd that nobody questioned it.
ReplyDeleteI think its funny that this movie may be mroe controversial for the retard comments then for the black-face. Of course, I think its awesome that we can finally parody something as controversial as black-face and have it be funny as well. Despire what everyone may say, I think Tropic Thunder was a step in the right direction for race relations.
ReplyDeleteyeah i agree joe. We get outraged at that yet the "blackface" acting doesn't get a mention. I get the whole countryi is too sensitive bout all this but this crossed a line that I don't think ever should or even needs to be crossed. Seems pretty pointless to me.
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