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Olaf The Stout posted:The whole point of his character was that he was an out-of-touch actor who was so full of himself that he didn't realize how offensive it was. He also nailed it. Tropic Thunder is from 2008. That's a long time ago in terms of public communication. Imagine a studio comes out, today, goes "we're making this comedy movie, it's got Robert Downey Jr. in it, and, uh, here's first pictures...": are people on Twitter going to look at Robert Downey Jr. in blackface and patiently wait to see the movie and get the background on things? Or anyway: it's not like blackface was still cool in '08. They bucked a convention doing it in Tropic Thunder in '08 and that's what comedy and art have to be able to do to. You can still call them out if they fail. Years down the line, even; if they'd done Downey's character in Tropic Thunder slightly differently we'd all be sitting here going "remember Tropic Thunder, what a racist embarrassment that was" roughly the way we remember Ace Ventura. e: gently caress me if I'd known I was gonna carry this stuff over to a new page I'd not have bucked the historically proven as wise convention of keeping my mouth shut
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Feb 5, 2019 14:40
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Depends on how you pitch it. Kind of the whole point of Tropic Thunder is that it's about an incredibly ill-advised movie production that goes even more horribly wrong, with situations and characters that combine a lot of infamous Hollywood disasters and people, exaggerated for comic effect.
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Feb 5, 2019 15:52
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em9NDCgkybA
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Feb 5, 2019 16:09
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Yeah, Downey in blackface in Tropic Thunder works because his character Kirk Lazarus is the butt of the joke. He's not making fun of black people; he's being made fun of because he's such a method actor that he's willing to change his skin tone to be a black man. It's totally ridiculous. Now that I think of it, I believe this was Ted Danson's thinking when he showed up in blackface for the Friar's Club roast of his then-girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg. The trick is that Danson played it totally straight, which makes sense in the context of the roast. I believe even Whoopi thought it was funny. Unfortunately the pic came out & without people understanding how roasts work, Danson was raked over the coals.
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Feb 5, 2019 16:20
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I think it also works because you have Brandon T. Jackson (as Alpa Chino) to literally commentate on his blackface. With the double layer that Alpa Chino is somewhat playing a role/stereotype himself in order to sell records and sponsorships. Alpa Chino : And why am I in this movie? Maybe it's because I just knew I had to represent, because they had one good part in here for a black man and they gave it to Crocodile Dundee! Kirk Lazarus : Pump your brakes, kid. That man's a national treasure. Alpa Chino : I just wanted to thrown another shrimp on your barbie! Kirk Lazarus : That poo poo ain't funny. Kevin Sandusky : Hey, fellas... it's hot! We're tired! It stinks! Alpa Chino : I ain't fuckin' with you, Kangaroo Jack. I'm sorry the dingo ate your baby! Kirk Lazarus : You know that's a true story? Lady lost a kid. You're about to cross some fuckin' lines. Kevin Sandusky : Guys, relax! Alpa Chino : You know what? gently caress that, man! I'm sick of this koala-huntin' nigga tellin' me- [is cut off as Lazarus slaps him; goes to punch back] Kirk Lazarus : [blocking the punch and pulling Alpa into an embrace] For four hundred years, that word has kept us down. Alpa Chino : What the gently caress? Kirk Lazarus : Took a whole lotta tryin' just to get up that hill. Now we're up in the big leagues, gettin' our turn at bat. As long as we live, it's you and me, baby... Alpa Chino : [pulling away] That's the theme song to The Jeffersons. Man, you really need help. Kirk Lazarus : Just because it's a theme song don't mean it's not true. Mierenneuker has a new favorite as of 17:31 on Feb 5, 2019 |
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Feb 5, 2019 17:26
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I'm still pretty uncomfortable with whatever Tom Cruise is doing in that movie. Apparently a lot of people thought it was funny?
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Feb 5, 2019 17:56
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Baron von Eevl posted:I'm still pretty uncomfortable with whatever Tom Cruise is doing in that movie. Apparently a lot of people thought it was funny? Playing a coked to the gills movie exec with anger issues? It was pretty fantastic.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:17
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Mierenneuker posted:I think it also works because you have Brandon T. Jackson (as Alpa Chino) to literally commentate on his blackface. With the double layer that Alpa Chino is somewhat playing a role/stereotype himself in order to sell records and sponsorships. Kirk: What do you mean, "you people"?! Alpa: ... what do you mean, "you people"?
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Feb 5, 2019 18:31
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Ugly In The Morning posted:Playing a coked to the gills movie exec with anger issues? It was pretty fantastic. It was really bad. Cringeworthy.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:38
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Baron von Eevl posted:I'm still pretty uncomfortable with whatever Tom Cruise is doing in that movie. Apparently a lot of people thought it was funny? RCarr posted:It was really bad. Cringeworthy. Yeah, I'm with Lincoln. Y'all some sensitive-rear end non-gender-specific, sexual-orientation neutral bitches.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:38
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Tom Cruise dancing to Flo Rida in a fat suit is funny.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:45
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Mr. Bad Guy posted:Yeah, I'm with Lincoln. Y'all some sensitive-rear end non-gender-specific, sexual-orientation neutral bitches. Tom Cruise's character in that movie doesn't really have anything to do with concerns about political correctness, it's just a weird joke that goes on too long.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:45
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Comedy is funnier now than it's ever been, Mel Brooks' brain has just calcified from age and he can't come up with new material. When somebody tells you the poo poo you're saying isn't funny anymore, you don't go whining to the news media, you SAY SOME DIFFERENT poo poo
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Feb 5, 2019 18:48
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Straight White Shark posted:Tom Cruise's character in that movie doesn't really have anything to do with concerns about political correctness, it's just a weird joke that goes on too long. Oh, ok well that's whatevs, different strokes for different folks. I thought people were getting pisyy over like a fat acceptance thing, or maybe because his character was a racial stereotype, I dunno. I just thought Tom Cruise in a fat suit was funny.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:54
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RandomFerret posted:Comedy is funnier now than it's ever been, Mel Brooks' brain has just calcified from age and he can't come up with new material. When somebody tells you the poo poo you're saying isn't funny anymore, you don't go whining to the news media, you SAY SOME DIFFERENT poo poo Yeah, this. There's still a ton of funny poo poo out there that isn't in the least problematic.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:56
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My issue with Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder is just that I think playing a Jewish stereotype character(albeit a fairly specific one) is rich coming from him, a guy who has done some pretty shady things in the name of his own religion.
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Feb 5, 2019 18:56
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Straight White Shark posted:Tom Cruise's character in that movie doesn't really have anything to do with concerns about political correctness, it's just a weird joke that goes on too long. Didnt he talk about carpet bombing an Asian kid?
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Feb 5, 2019 19:00
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Decrepus posted:Didnt he talk about carpet bombing an Asian kid? Jesus christ, really? He thinks he's talking to a rival film producer and using hyperbole, when in fact he's talking to a drug lord who is threatening to murder a hostage. But yes, the drug lord is an Asian child, you obviously zeroed in on the crux of that scene. Edit: You know what now that I think of it, Cruise never even talks to the kid, hes talking to the henchman the whole time. So yeah, you're just looking for dumb poo poo to be offended about. Are you a pre-teen Asian drug lord, is the scene too real for you? Mr. Bad Guy has a new favorite as of 19:11 on Feb 5, 2019 |
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Feb 5, 2019 19:09
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RandomFerret posted:Comedy is funnier now than it's ever been, Mel Brooks' brain has just calcified from age and he can't come up with new material. When somebody tells you the poo poo you're saying isn't funny anymore, you don't go whining to the news media, you SAY SOME DIFFERENT poo poo I remember when I first joined this site, or thereabouts, they put a banner ad on the front page for the Spaceball animated series. It looked so incredibly bad. The whole thing is apparently on Youtube now that I look, but I won't do that to anyone. Instead, behold what I assume is the opening song (I won't click it to watch it). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pezanr9bH0U
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Feb 5, 2019 19:10
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RandomFerret posted:Comedy is funnier now than it's ever been, Mel Brooks' brain has just calcified from age and he can't come up with new material. When somebody tells you the poo poo you're saying isn't funny anymore, you don't go whining to the news media, you SAY SOME DIFFERENT poo poo It's always the fucks howling about political correctness and people being too sensitive who are the biggest most delicate snowflakes
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Feb 5, 2019 19:11
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Decrepus posted:Didnt he talk about carpet bombing an Asian kid? He told flaming dragon to gently caress his own face.
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Feb 5, 2019 19:14
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Les Grossman is just Harvey Weinstein.
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Feb 5, 2019 19:15
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IUG posted:I remember when I first joined this site, or thereabouts, they put a banner ad on the front page for the Spaceball animated series. It looked so incredibly bad. To be fair, this site also shilled Whitest Kids U' Know pretty hard, which somehow lasted...five loving years?!
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Feb 5, 2019 19:18
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Mr. Bad Guy posted:Jesus christ, really? He thinks he's talking to a rival film producer and using hyperbole, when in fact he's talking to a drug lord who is threatening to murder a hostage. But yes, the drug lord is an Asian child, you obviously zeroed in on the crux of that scene. The guy who's listening to Tom Cruise's rant on the phone's "what the gently caress" face is great in that scene
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Feb 5, 2019 19:18
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I liked it when Tom Cruise thrusted his groin. Tom Cruise is pretty great, for a crazy man.
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Feb 5, 2019 19:23
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Rupert Buttermilk posted:Yeah, this. There's still a ton of funny poo poo out there that isn't in the least problematic. Like what
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Feb 5, 2019 20:25
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Crimpolioni posted:Like what
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Feb 5, 2019 20:26
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Mr. Bad Guy posted:Jesus christ, really? He thinks he's talking to a rival film producer and using hyperbole, when in fact he's talking to a drug lord who is threatening to murder a hostage. But yes, the drug lord is an Asian child, you obviously zeroed in on the crux of that scene. I am actually not offended at all about this you dumb spaz. 
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Feb 5, 2019 20:44
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Tom Cruise the actor owns but Tom Cruise the religious zealot is very bad.
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Feb 5, 2019 21:07
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Crimpolioni posted:Like what https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6piDRKOwh88
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Feb 5, 2019 21:26
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Decrepus posted:spaz 
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Feb 5, 2019 21:29
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Android Apocalypse posted:
Hey i looked up the dates on this and whoopi made him do it, she has a museum of racist advertisement, she thinks this kind of thing is hilarious, she talked him into doing it, and the fallout was apocalyptic and they broke up a month later.
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Feb 5, 2019 21:42
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Aphrodite posted:Les Grossman is just Harvey Weinstein. That's the joke, right? Weinstein is a gross man, in both senses of the word?
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Feb 5, 2019 21:56
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mng posted:Tom Cruise is pretty great, for a crazy man. The dichotomy of the Cruise. His films are almost always amazing, but he's a total nutbag. The man works hard at his job, but then I guess he can given that he's a level 10 mind-control immortal who can fly or whatever the hell it is you become when you hit Xenu-con 1.
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Feb 5, 2019 23:48
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The weird thing is that Ben Stiller can write well, even outside his comfort zone he produces some good stuff. But for some reason he always sort of reverts to the mid-late 90's milieu because he's more comfortable there. The actors themselves were the funniest part of Tropic Thunder. A lesser cast would have seen a pretty forgettable movie, imo.
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Feb 5, 2019 23:59
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phasmid posted:
his politics arent front and center in the first two ender's games. The second ender's book speaker of the dead is about how ender has a ptsd thing about the reveal in the end of the first book and works so hard to undo what he did. The first one is about how politics can be easily manipulated by the rich. its standard and formuliac now but it was sort of one of the first ya dystopian future books. I think it was ender's and the one where they see in black and white that were the first ones to lay down that forumula.
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Feb 6, 2019 00:13
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You mean The Giver? That movie was forgettable but I maintain the set design was loving stellar and Jeff Bridges is always fun to see.
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Feb 6, 2019 00:16
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snergle posted:his politics arent front and center in the first two ender's games. The second ender's book speaker of the dead is about how ender has a ptsd thing about the reveal in the end of the first book and works so hard to undo what he did. The first one is about how politics can be easily manipulated by the rich. its standard and formuliac now but it was sort of one of the first ya dystopian future books. I think it was ender's and the one where they see in black and white that were the first ones to lay down that forumula. The Giver? That book blew my mind when I was 10.
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Feb 6, 2019 00:16
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phasmid posted:The weird thing is that Ben Stiller can write well, even outside his comfort zone he produces some good stuff. But for some reason he always sort of reverts to the mid-late 90's milieu because he's more comfortable there. The actors themselves were the funniest part of Tropic Thunder. A lesser cast would have seen a pretty forgettable movie, imo. I always thought Stiller was the weakest part of Tropic Thunder. Everybody in the cast was basically playing the type of character they'd actually be cast as. Stiller casting himself as a macho action hero was a misstep. https://twitter.com/FilmEasterEggs/status/1092934663188897792
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Feb 6, 2019 01:15
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Cruise was supposed to play the lead and Stiller the McConaughey agent role. Then when Stiller decided to play the lead himself, Cruise asked to play Grossman because he still wanted to be in the movie and apparently that whole character was his idea.
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Feb 6, 2019 01:17
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