Is Robert Downey Jr.’s role In Tropic Thunder, Black face? | Good question
August 13, 2008 · Print This Article
So is it? In Tropic Thunder, Robert Downey Jr. is playing an Oscar winning actor by the name of Kirk Lazarus who in turn gets to play the role of “the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude!” which is actually one of his lines in the movie. In the movie Downey’s role as Lazarus must dawn the ever controversial “black face” as he is playing a white actor that goes under the knife to become “black” for a role as a black man. The satirical nature of this movie plays upon this theme with Brandon T. Jackson (an actual negro lol) playing the role of the black man who questions the not so black, black man. In one scene Robert Downey’s character says “what do you
mean YOU people,” as if someone were stereotyping or generalizing blacks and it was as if Downey was coming to the aide of “his people.” This prompted Brandon T. Jackson’s character, Alpa Chino, to reply with “what do YOU mean YOU people?” That scene is by far one of the funniest scene in the movie’s trailer if you ask me… Which leaves me to feel somewhat guilty for finding this movie entertaining. Im definitely going to go see it, and probably laugh to whole way through, but, the question i pose to you is, IS IT BLACK FACE? of just another one of Ben Stiller’s (director) antics? Do we write it off as comedy? or do we take offense? Let me know…
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyoU72wPUjw]
The Question has been asked by many, see what they’re saying around the Web about Downey’s black face:
Robert Downey Jr. In Blackface For Tropic Thunder
“Tropic Thunder” Stars On Fame, Comedy And Blackface
Why Robert Downey Jr. Can Get Away with Blackface
Here’s Robert Downey Jr in ‘blackface’ in Tropic Thunder
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
A movie like Anjelina Jolie’s “A Mighty Heart” (2007) saw Jolie literally painted brown to depict Marianne Pearl, wife of a slain journalist. THAT movie aimed to dupe it’s audience into believing that what we were seeing was a black woman, when it was a white woman in new-era blackface. Nothing funny or satirical about that. And actresses like Thandie Newton publicly condemned the movie by questioning why a black actress wasn’t used.
So, I definitely plan to see Tropic Thunder.
Ms. Kriss last blog post..Is Robert Downey Jr.’s role In Tropic Thunder, Black face? | Good question
Lmfao.
[...] [...]
….and dude hmmm…..who are you to pronounce the word “negro” on your article ??!! you’re racist or what ??!!!….”an actual negro” dont you ever say it again because you’ll be in trouble….just watch out with what you say iight ??!! dont you have any respect or what ??!! man it pissed me off !!!! when somedy say it im so pissed off ….you cant believe how much….but anyway just watch out iight dude ?!
Peace
Take Care.
It was also a comedy, with the wonderful Marlen Brothers.
How come nobody made such a big deal?
They dressed up as white girls, and poked fun at white girl bimbo tendencies, right?
It is comedy.
Live, LAUGH & move on.
& no, I’m not black or white.
Just disappointed when my most of my black friends hated ‘Tropic Thunder’ because of the ‘race jokes’ but loved ‘White Chicks’ and most my white friends love BOTH movies.
Over&out!