By now you’ve probably heard about Robert Downey, Jr.’s blackface role in the upcoming Ben Stiller comedy “Tropic Thunder.” (Actually, he doesn’t play a black character. He plays a white actor playing a black character.)Well, the official trailer was released yesterday; a YouTube version is embedded below. To watch a high-def version, follow this link to the “Tropic Thunder” website.
In the still photos I’ve seen, I thought that Downey’s makeup looked interesting. I wasn’t put off by it. But watching the trailer and hearing Downey’s “black voice”... I can pretty much guarantee I won’t be spending my money to see this post-postmodern exercise in meta-irony. Or whatever it’s supposed to be.
Plus there’s a black actor in it doing some bona fide cooning. (Looks to be some Asian cooning happening also.)
Where’s Rev. Wright when you need him?
Uh-oh, I'm actually looking forward to this one quite a bit. Various test screenings have said that it's quite funny, and I love it when Nick Nolte turns up the crazy.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to sound rather insane, but I trust Downey's judgment. He's been doing some of the most consistently high quality work out there for the last four or five years. I wasn't that put off by Downey's voice. He seems to be doing a Chi McBride impression. Plus, I find the concept of the joke, a method actor taking his dedication to an insane degree, funny.
^ Well, he rocked "Zodiac," I will say that.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many movies I'll drop $10 to see in a theater anymore, but it looks like a worthwhile NetFlix rental. All the good bits are probably in the trailer anyway.
ReplyDeleteWho else but RDJ would be a better choice than to play an over-committed a-list character actor?
Also, "Who left the fridge open?" Heh.
"Just cuz it's the theme song doesn't make it not true"
ReplyDeletei probably won't see it, but i thought that was a funny line at the end.
I call it "donging". As in Long Duk Dong. It sounds funnier and its more accurate.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I mightmaybe watch this on netflix but I'm going to wait until it gets a thumbs up from friends. I'm getting too old for the meta, I think.
I call it "donging". As in Long Duk Dong. It sounds funnier and its more accurate.
ReplyDeleteI can get behind that word, Lolo.
Uh-oh, I'm actually looking forward to this one quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteGulp, me, too! I saw a commercial for it and it looked pretty funny.
This looks like a movie that my husband and I will be arguing over in the video store. He'll want it and I'll be like, "Oh, puh-leeeease." We'll get it as long as I pick the second movie.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Wanda, the Jeffersons theme song line was funny.
I have to admit I laughed at the trailer, but most Stiller stuff grows old extremely fast with me. I'm kind of annoyed he's still doing that inflated, self-important type he should have retired at least a decade ago.
ReplyDeleteUBM, check out this thoughtful discussion of race and casting, "Is brown the same old black?," at The Cooler Cinema, a film blog I like (disclaimer: it's by a friend).
ReplyDeletehttp://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2008/03/is-brown-same-old-black.html
I thought the whole theme of the movie was that all of the actors - no matter what ethnicity - were cooning, all to get employment No matter, I most likely wont be spending money to see it either.
ReplyDeleteL
Old Business Dept.:
ReplyDeleteDavid, I'm wondering whether you or your readers ever went to see "Tropic Thunder" and what you thought of it. I understand the reluctance, but I thought it was a funny movie, in that stupid but funny way. Good satire of Hollywood, though.
Anyway, I'd love to see you revisit this one.
mm