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Is 'Tropic Thunder' Offensive?
Posted Aug 25th 2008 6:33PM by Ada Calhoun
Filed under: Controversy, Film
Tropic Thunder (trailer above in case you're one of the few people in America who haven't seen the movie yet) takes a lot of risks satirizing the film industry. Inevitably, it's catching heat from disability groups, among others.
But it's also inspired champions like Slate's Dana Stevens, who offers this defense of Robert Downey, Jr.'s use of blackface and the repetition of the word "retard" in a scene mocking the Oscars' shameless tendency to give stars awards for playing people with mental disabilities. Here's some of what she says:
There are a lot of things you could say about Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of a white man playing a black man in this movie, but "unoriginal" is hardly one of them. On the contrary, I thought the movie took a lot of chances in its willingness to tread into the minefield-ridden territory of race relations and the appropriation of black culture by the white mainstream (which happens not only in Hollywood but in the music industry-look at Elvis.)
We're inclined to agree with her. The film was extremely funny in parts, and Robert Downey Jr. is just a genius, no question.
What do you think of the movie? Did you take offense?
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I didn't take offense but it was one of those garbage in movies that I wouldn't have chosen if I knew how offensive it was before I paid for the ticket. Trailer is funny movie just over the top garbage...becoming the typical hollywood product.
Veronica at 7:54PM on Aug 25th 2008
2. Yes, it is offensive. As a mother of an adult with Autism, I don't like the words he has used.
We are educated adults that should choose our words wisely. We should empower the next generation, not spread prejudice. This film is not acceptable and will be viewed as such by the disability community as a whole.
pshep at 1:57PM on Aug 26th 2008
3. Is Tropic Thunder offensive? What if it is? I've looked all through the Constitution and just can't find the right to not be offended. I've found that the proper response to the statement, "I'm offended" is usually, "So?"
John Howell at 9:46PM on Aug 25th 2008
4. No. I didn't take offence, though I can imagine many people would. What surprised me, though, were children in the audience. This movie is hardly for children, though today's kids actuate as much imitation gore in their video games. As for Downey Jr's spoof on playing a black guy...Cool. I thought. On the other hand Tom Cruise looked and acted silly to me, even more so with the Nicole Kidman cum Viginia Woolf snozzle (Was that, too, a spoof on the performance of a once-upon-a-time wife who is ten times more talented than him? If so, for shame!) Anyway, not his thing, at all!
Burton Foreman at 11:46AM on Aug 26th 2008
5. Remember that Monty Python worked very hard to offend everyone, so that no one was slighted.
Kent at 1:57AM on Aug 26th 2008
6. The only ones who were made fun of in this movie were actors, and the entertainment industry. I thought it was quite funny, and those who can't understand it's point are truly sad. Any "offensive" material was making pointed fun at the entertainment industries' warped world.
Pretty sad when you get raked over the coals for essentially making fun of yourself!
celticbikerbabe at 7:54AM on Aug 26th 2008
7. ATHEISTS CAN NO LONGER REWRITE THEIR OWN HISTORY
http://evolutionfacts.blogspot.com/#Racist_atheists
Issac Asimov at 9:45AM on Aug 26th 2008
8. Offensive? Thats ridiculous! People these days are too easily offended. There is no way that anyone should be offended by anything in this movie. It's comedy genius,the story line is amazing,the actors are amazing,the characters are amazing. Why can't people just take the movie as what it is...harmless entertainment. I genuinely believe that so many people are wimps without a sense of humour. They obviously didn't mean to offend anyone,what's the big deal?!
Ashley at 1:01PM on Sep 26th 2008
9. It's offensive when you don't understand who the joke is really pointing at.
Mokele Mbembe at 1:53PM on Sep 26th 2008