BERIGAN Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080811/people_nm/blackface_dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeCity Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Yeah, but the film is catching more grief about the role Ben Stiller plays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 I saw the trailer last night...here's hoping it's all I ever see of this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Not interested. I don't really care how ironic the use of blackface is, it's too much for me. As far as portrayals of the mentally challenged, Extras (the Gervais show) skated right up to that line and wobbled a bit but pulled back just enough. This movie looks like it just crashes through that barrier. Again, always being ironic and knowing about it, but that doesn't cut it with me. Just not interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I plan on seeing this when it opens tomorrow. I don't care how tasteless it is (and I'm speaking as someone who has worked with the metally challenged), I think that Downey looks AMAZING in this. Moreover, it's pretty obvious that the film is not meant to demean either blacks or the handicapped, but rather Hollywood's hypocracy. Stiller's character plays a mentally handicapped man in order to advance his career, not because he cares about the challenges that such people face. Hollywood recognizes that playing a handicapped individual is a fast-track to an Oscar, but they still call the character a "retard." That says a lot more about these characters than it does about people with mental disabilties... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Not interested. I don't really care how ironic the use of blackface is, it's too much for me. As far as portrayals of the mentally challenged, Extras (the Gervais show) skated right up to that line and wobbled a bit but pulled back just enough. This movie looks like it just crashes through that barrier. Again, always being ironic and knowing about it, but that doesn't cut it with me. Just not interested. Blackface is and has always been a far more complex phenomenon than simply "white people making fun of black people." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Stiller's character plays a mentally handicapped man in order to advance his career, not because he cares about the challenges that such people face. Hollywood recognizes that playing a handicapped individual is a fast-track to an Oscar, but they still call the character a "retard." That said, if Stiller ever wins an Oscar, I will know that I have witnessed the collapse of Western Civilization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejp626 Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 (edited) Moreover, it's pretty obvious that the film is not meant to demean either blacks or the handicapped, but rather Hollywood's hypocracy. Stiller's character plays a mentally handicapped man in order to advance his career, not because he cares about the challenges that such people face. Hollywood recognizes that playing a handicapped individual is a fast-track to an Oscar, but they still call the character a "retard." That says a lot more about these characters than it does about people with mental disabilties... I'm well aware of the intent, but as we've discussed on plenty of other occasions, including the New Yorker "satire" of the Obamas, once these things are out there in the public, the original intent is muted and you have powerful images circulating and influencing the culture in weird ways. I don't appreciate the possibility that this film makes it safer for entertainers to put on blackface in an ironic way. I don't think that its extremely tame message (newsflash - actors are self-absorbed jerks who will do anything for a role) justifies Downey's performance. And that goes doubly for putting "retard" back into circulation, when it was largely fading out of US vocabulary. Edited August 13, 2008 by ejp626 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quincy Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 And that goes doubly for putting "retard" back into circulation, when it was largely fading out of US vocabulary. Er..., it's been back for years. See South Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 I plan on seeing this when it opens tomorrow. I don't care how tasteless it is (and I'm speaking as someone who has worked with the metally challenged), I think that Downey looks AMAZING in this. Moreover, it's pretty obvious that the film is not meant to demean either blacks or the handicapped, but rather Hollywood's hypocracy. Stiller's character plays a mentally handicapped man in order to advance his career, not because he cares about the challenges that such people face. Hollywood recognizes that playing a handicapped individual is a fast-track to an Oscar, but they still call the character a "retard." That says a lot more about these characters than it does about people with mental disabilties... Have to admit I'm actually going to see this in the theatre. I'm no Stiller fan and Jack Black tends to get on my nerves, but from the clips I've seen and heard, this one looks very funny to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 And that goes doubly for putting "retard" back into circulation, when it was largely fading out of US vocabulary. Er..., it's been back for years. See South Park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 Couldn't resist... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son-of-a-Weizen Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 ......can you add this guy in as well? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niJoEpQmr6I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjarrell Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 http://www.newsobserver.com/lifestyles/story/1175360.html Local review. FWIW, critic Craig Lindsay, (aka Uncle Crizzle) is African-American. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted September 6, 2008 Report Share Posted September 6, 2008 So, who here has seen this movie? I'm finally caving in and have plans to go tonight after dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted September 6, 2008 Report Share Posted September 6, 2008 So, are you playing the "weak but sensitive male" role tonight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 I saw this last weekend. Okay, if you're "politically correct" you may not have a great time. I thought it was pretty damned funny, almost Zoolander funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 So, are you playing the "weak but sensitive male" role tonight? No nothing like that. I'm just not as motivated to go to the movie theatre these days as I once was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 it was not particularly good. if someone wants to see a movie you do not want to see, it is a good movie to suggest as an alternate. but it is not that good. fart jokes? come on. Fart jokes are right up my alley, same deal with non PC stuff, so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzmoose Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 it was not particularly good. if someone wants to see a movie you do not want to see, it is a good movie to suggest as an alternate. but it is not that good. fart jokes? come on. Heck, I still consider Blazing Saddles to be a classic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catesta Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 it was not particularly good. if someone wants to see a movie you do not want to see, it is a good movie to suggest as an alternate. but it is not that good. fart jokes? come on. Heck, I still consider Blazing Saddles to be a classic! Well, it wasn't at a Blazing Saddles level of funny, but still pretty damn funny. Not enough fart jokes though, if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 There is no such thing as "too many fart jokes". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tkeith Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 Gotta say, I'll be grabbing this the second it's available on Netflix. Stiller makes me laugh (the way Woody Allen once did) and frankly, all the BS that's been created by the PC Police with regard to this movie makes me want to give them my money that much more. More importantly, my raging movie-on over what's coming this Friday is starting to cause me back pain. I usually won't go to the theater (hate the other people -- passionately), but I just have to see Righteous Kill in the first 12 minutes it's out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted September 7, 2008 Report Share Posted September 7, 2008 I love going to the theater. I'm looking forward to Burn After Reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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