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
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Blackface, yes. Comical satire of blackface, also yes. To me, that’s what makes it different. When the trailers were first released, I was adamently against seeing it. Then, I realized that the movie is completely poking fun at the utter ridiculousness of the idea that a non-black actor would go to such lengths to win a role, all while the actors (like Brandon T. J.’s character) around him let their amusement and condescending feelings be known.
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.
I really like Robert Downey Jr. and I would like to check it out. I am sure he did his thing with respect. I agree that Thandie would have been a better choice for A Mighty Heart even though I like Angelina. Thandie is an accomplished actress and could have pulled the role off better. I think it did poorly because of the whole Angelina playing a black woman thing. It just didn’t work on any level. Had Thandie played it, I believe the attention would have focused more on the story, sadness and what not. There wouldn’t have been a dry eye in the house…
Ms. Kriss last blog post..Is Robert Downey Jr.’s role In Tropic Thunder, Black face? | Good question
i am a fan of comedy but hate double standards. i probaly will go see tropic thunder because i believe roles like the one Downey is playing was done for laughs and not to bring down our race. we as black people have to get out of the “they can’t say that but we can talk about them” stage. Black comedians like Eddie Murphy have been playing “White Face” roles for ever and no one says sh*#,(coming to america, norbit, saturday night live). And when a white actor does it Al Sharpton takes the rollers out of his perm and put on one of those colorful jogging suits and starts marching and making demands. Its different when a man is “blacked face to make us believe he’s black when there are qualified black actors, but in a movie like this, it is done out of fun and lets you know what the premise is. We need to relax. everything ain”t a plot to destroy the black race…lol
I didnt at all take it personal the shit is funny as hell if you ask me. S Dot Parker said black comedians do it and talk about it all the time. Thats the whole point, its comedy…people need to just RELAX and take time and laugh. But sometimes it can be taking too far but its not the case here in my opinion.
Hahahahahah at “colorful jogging suits”
Lmfao.
You know, I just saw this movie and to be honest, Downey, Jr’s character was one of the clear highlights. He was so over the top and they definately pointed all of the humor inward. You found yourself laughing at HIM for being so freakin’ crazy enough to be in ‘black face; that there really was nothing to take offense at. I mean I almost died when he ‘lectured’ Brandon Jackson’s character about the “n” word…
This movie was hilarious! I laughed hard from beginning to end! When I saw the trailers for the first time I was offended, but E! did a special on each of the actors in the movie kind of like E! True Hollywood stories on the characters. So I had to see the movie and I was not offended at all. I thought Robert Downey Jr.’s character was the best part of the movie. He definitely deserves as Oscar for this because he’s been acting his ass off (in this movie and Iron Man).
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Robert Downey Jr. was amazing !!!!! when i saw Tropic Thunder i thought it was a real Black man i was like <> & my mom told me <> i was like <> because i forget that it was Robert Downey Jr. and my mom was like <> and i was like <> and she was like <> and i was like <> …..ans she said <> i was like <> so….when i saw Iron Man i was like <> it was wierd to see him white…..its like if he was Black inside of him and white outside lol but whatever its wierd lol he’s a really good actor & i was surprise to see him do this character …..he’s so talented oh my gosh i thought he was a real black man it was crazy i thought he was my oncle lol it was crazy !!!!!!!! lol !!!! =P lol
….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.
Ok, so I remember a movie called ‘White Chicks’
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!