in his latest movie...



Couldn't they have just found a black guy?

Quote :

"Actor Robert Downey Jr has in the past been applauded for his edgy roles. But his latest may be a step too far - as the actor dons make-up to play a rather convincing looking black man in a new Hollywood film starring comic actor Ben Stiller. In a still from film Tropic Thunder, Downey Jnr is sandwiched between Ben Stiller, and a blonde Jack Black. Scroll down for more... Controversial: Actor Robert Downey Jr is virtually unrecognisble seen here sandwiched between actors Jack Black, left, and Ben Stiller, in an image from new film Tropic Thunder in which he wore a wig and make-up to look like a black man With his afro hair and brown skin, he is virtually unrecognisable as the 42-year-old star of stage and screen. Downey Jr plays a worthy Oscar-winning actor taking on a role originally written for a black actor, and rather than re-write the part, he goes method. Clearing anticipating a backlash, Downey Jr told a US magazine: "If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago. If you don't do it right, we're going to hell." Scroll down for more... Unrecognisable: Downey, pictured left and right's astonishing transformation was in aid of his role in a war satire directed by comic actor Ben Stiller. He said 'if you don't do it right, we're going to hell' But the backlash has clearly begun as one comment on a showbiz blog Just Jared said: "I'm not black and I find it offensive; are there not any talented enough black actors out in the world that they feel the need to hire a white guy to do a black guy?" "They are infering that there are no good enough black actors to play a black person. "What is the significance of hiring a white guy to play a black part? what are they trying to prove? I bet its to get more publicity." But in support of Downey's satirical role another comment on the blog said: "I'm black too, and if they were satirising black people yes it would be offensive. but they're not. "It's FUNNY because they're NOT legitimising negative racial stereotypes, anyone with a brain in his/her head can see how painfully clear that is." The film centres on a group of pompous actors making the most expensive Vietnam war movie ever made. Fed up with their self-involved cast, the film's makers drop them into the jungle to take care of themselves, where they get caught up in a conflict they don't realise is real. The cast also includes Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte and cameos from Tom Cruise and Tobey Maguire. Stiller said he was "trying to push it as far as you can within reality," with the intent of satirising over-the-top actors, not African-Americans. "I had no idea how people would respond to it," Stiller told the magazine. But at a recent screening, black viewers liked the film", he said. The film, Stiller's first as director since Zoolander, also sees his character adopt an Asian baby but worries "that all the good ones have gone". "

3/7/2008 1:01:58 PM

that's funny.

I'll watch this movie.

3/7/2008 1:04:25 PM

if you aren't paying him to have his recognizable face on the screen, wtf is the point of paying him so much money

3/7/2008 1:04:44 PM

^ for this controversy... now people will be interested.

3/7/2008 1:05:22 PM

I'm used to seeing Downey's face more white than it should be.... especially around the nose.

3/7/2008 1:05:57 PM

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE



congrats to me for 19000

3/7/2008 1:06:04 PM

lol

with this Iron Man, Downey's gonna get a lotta pub in the next few months

[Edited on March 7, 2008 at 1:10 PM. Reason : he kinda looks like the Rock in the face a little bit]

3/7/2008 1:06:19 PM

Quote :

" Couldn't they have just found a black guy?"

it's a stiller and jack black movie


they did it to be funny.


I bet they kill him first, too.



although I'll admit, a waynes brother or chris rock, might have been a better choice.

[Edited on March 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM. Reason : lol]

3/7/2008 1:17:05 PM

Is that a tattoo of a sword through a cheeseburger, or a glazed donut?

3/7/2008 1:18:00 PM

Quote :

"I bet they kill him first, too."

hahahaha

3/7/2008 1:22:14 PM

i dunno, kinda looks like a bagel sandwhich to me

3/7/2008 1:22:34 PM

looks like cheeseburger


didn't read the article posted, but in the article i read earlier this week it said that stiller actually held a few panels and screenings w/ afromericans to gain an idea of how they felt about it. said the blackface actually was actually greeted with positive feedback.

3/7/2008 1:22:56 PM

i heard about this yesterday....

so bottom line is that people are mad a white guy is gonna play a black guy.... when we've already had spanish people playing mexicans, and whites playing mexicans, and probably a lot more crosses i can't think of off the top of my head.

btw:

3/7/2008 1:24:16 PM

Quote :

" The cast also includes Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte and cameos from Tom Cruise and Tobey Maguire."

3/7/2008 1:26:39 PM

OMFG ENGLISHMAN PATRICK STEWART PLAYED THE FRENCH JEAN LUC PICARD ON STAR TREK OMFG RACIST

3/7/2008 1:29:09 PM

The controversy has more to do with blackface and the history it has within the entertainment industry. That having been said, the use of blackface here seems to be more satirical and it could turn out to be edgy and funny. I would've had no clue that wasn't a black guy if no one told me otherwise.

3/7/2008 1:37:31 PM

Looks funny. I think it would be even funnier if people were mad about it.

3/7/2008 1:38:03 PM

Per wiki:

Quote :

"Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus, a method actor who dyes his skin black to play Sgt. Osiris, a role originally written for a black man. Downey acknowledged the potential controversy over the role, but "At the end of the day, it's always about how well you commit to the character," he said. "If I didn't feel it was morally sound, or that it would be easily misinterpreted that I'm just C. Thomas Howell [in Soul Man], I would've stayed home." Test screenings for African-American viewers have had positive responses."

3/7/2008 1:42:27 PM

Quote :

"The film, Stiller's first as director since Zoolander, also sees his character adopt an Asian baby but worries "that all the good ones have gone"."

Oh man I love that quote, hahaha.

Looks like the sort of movie that will provide a bit of necessary satire to the entertainment industry.

3/7/2008 1:48:29 PM

Quote :

"although I'll admit, a waynes brother or chris rock, might have been a better choice."

Holy shit.

I just read this thread.

THE CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE IS NOT BLACK. THE CHARACTER IN THE MOVIE IS A WHITE METHOD ACTOR.

5/17/2008 12:23:24 PM

So basically, he's not playing a black man in the movie, but the character he is playing is a white actor who plays a black man in a movie that he is making.

Am I right about that?

The whole "movies about movies" genre is confusing.

[Edited on May 17, 2008 at 12:29 PM. Reason : EDIT ^ Just saw that, I guess so.]

5/17/2008 12:29:17 PM

5/17/2008 12:30:55 PM

^

Quote :

""If I didn't feel it was morally sound, or that it would be easily misinterpreted that I'm just C. Thomas Howell [in Soul Man], I would've stayed home.""

5/17/2008 12:32:00 PM

5/17/2008 1:12:33 PM

yeah i dont see anything wrong with it. he's playing a white guy that plays a black guy, that extra step back is what makes it ok. if it were just him flat out playing a black guy, that's where you'd have trouble explaining why they didn't just hire a black actor.

5/17/2008 1:14:31 PM

i like reading the comments of the people above who didn't understand that in the first place

5/17/2008 1:46:59 PM

Quote :

"to play a rather convincing looking black man"

stopped reading

5/17/2008 1:47:38 PM

i'm going to see it.

5/17/2008 4:23:29 PM

Look at Jack Black with his elton john glasses on. Hah, funny.

5/17/2008 4:25:54 PM

Looks funny. I think the whole point was to have a white guy playing a black guy...in this movie at least.

5/17/2008 4:36:57 PM

What do you mean, you people?

5/17/2008 4:42:38 PM

^^ Holy Jesus Christ.

5/17/2008 4:44:32 PM

Quote :

""I'm not black and I find it offensive; are there not any talented enough black actors out in the world that they feel the need to hire a white guy to do a black guy?""

Jesus christ, you just have to find SOMETHING to get offended about.

5/17/2008 4:52:21 PM

Quote :

"are there not any talented enough black actors out in the world that they feel the need to hire a white guy to do a black guy?"" "

That exact same point is brought up by another black actor in the trailer for this movie.

5/17/2008 7:47:54 PM

i dont think people realize that the movie is about a white guy who plays a black guy in a movie.

funny

5/17/2008 7:55:21 PM

This is a good job at making a white guy look black:




This is not:



The shitty make-up ruined the movie for me. Well, that and the horrible plot / cheesy ending.

5/17/2008 8:44:03 PM

5/18/2008 12:30:05 PM

a hibbity, a jibbity, a rat-tat-tat-tat

8/12/2008 3:14:26 PM

i think it's fucking hilarious

8/12/2008 3:15:20 PM

Ben Stiller should not be allowed to make movies...Jack Black is becoming the new Ben Stiller, I saw about 10 minutes of School of Rock. Downey Jr. I guess is okay, why didn't they just use a black guy though?

8/12/2008 3:20:19 PM

i thought the same,,, black actors gotta stick together man. cue wayne brady/chappelle.

8/12/2008 3:21:34 PM

Quote :

"Downey Jr. I guess is okay, why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

:carlface:

8/12/2008 3:25:57 PM

you guys need to understand that this movie was about a bunch of guys who got captures by real vietnams while filming a 70s setting vietnam movie. ben stiller never knew it was real and thought it was all just special affects at one point they were dunking him in the water and he kept saying CUUUTTTT everytime he came back up lol i cant wait to see a movie about a guy making a movie about a movie next

guy on the left looks like a fish burn bobblehead doll.

katie holmes is like "lol?"


[Edited on August 12, 2008 at 3:34 PM. Reason : love it tome cruise is a first ballot hall of fame in my book]

8/12/2008 3:32:36 PM

Quote :

"Ben Stiller should not be allowed to make movies...Jack Black is becoming the new Ben Stiller"

truth.

8/12/2008 3:38:34 PM

its a comedy, it shouldnt be taken seriously

8/12/2008 4:00:04 PM

ATTN: ILLITERATE PEOPLE

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. IS NOT PLAYING A BLACK MAN

HE'S PLAYING A WHITE METHOD ACTOR WHO IS PLAYING A BLACK MAN IN A MOVIE

JESUS TITTYFUCKING CHRIST

8/12/2008 4:07:56 PM

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

Quote :

"why didn't they just use a black guy though?"

I'm seeing this tonight though, can't wait. Downey Jr. is one of the best actors around.

8/12/2008 6:51:21 PM

i dont see any shoe polish


relax folks, they used real niggerskin

8/12/2008 6:52:09 PM