Okay, you want to play it this way...
tetsuwanatom1 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: --- In
scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Astromancer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> So what you're saying is because she is white playing a woman who
is racially mixed with black, it give the movie racial undertones?
No. More accurately, it would be because she is a White woman
playing a real life character who is multi-racial so an issue of
race arises in regards to the portrayal. The movie itself doesn't
have "racial undertones" (I'm a critic and I get to see some movies
for free, to answer your bet below, you lose, not that it would
matter re: this issue)
>>Listen to you! The woman is multiracial...That being the case, couldn't it go
>>either way? Jennifer Beals, who is multiracial, has been doing roles written
>>for white women for years, yet I have not heard ANYONE protest in anger over
>>that!
>One that comes to mind is Mercury Rising...The Main Character in
>the book was a black man, but in the movie, the character was
>played by Bruce Willis...
Which is an entirely different issue, when a novel is changed as it
is made into a film. White characters in novels end up being played
by POC and vice versa. In those cases it would only become an issue
if the change was made so as to side-step some question of race as a
convenience.
>>But it is the SAME type of argument...no one protested
The matter with "Mighty Heart" is somewhat similar to Hopkins being
cast in the adaptation of Amis' novel Human Stain. In that
novel/film, the protagonist is a multi-racial man who was "passing."
They were able to find Wentworth Miller , a multi-racial man (who
could "pass"), to play the protagonist as a young man, however, they
chose Hopkins for reasons of his skill, box office draw, and likely
because they couldn't find some multiracial man of that age. Also,
they wanted to play a little game so we would discover
the "surprise" of the character's background. The movie got a pass
for those reasons.
With "Heart," Thandie Newton would have been spot on perfect for the
part. And Hallie Berry, who would have probably been awful in the
role, still fits. Why, in the 21st century, get a White actress when
there are plenty of capable, known actresses out there available?
Because of the ego trips of the people involved? Because
we're "beyond" race?
The capable actor got the role...other factor may have been involved, but no
complaints on the level that you seem to think exist here...
>Did you not take into consideration that the Jolie does bare a
>striking resemblance to
> the woman?
Uh, no, I don't think she looks like her one bit.
>>That is your opinion...and I don't see any other black actress who could do
better...and, as usual, you discount the approval of the author, to my
knowledge, has no objections...
And if the
filmmakers thought she does bear such a striking resemblance, then
why the Cleopatra make-up? Shouldn't be necessary, right?
>>No...I have not heard one complaint about the many white actors who have
played Othello either...
It's getting easier and easier to by-pass the "does he/she look like
me" bit of your response regarding Shatner. Is that really enough?
Okay, then when it comes to all icons, it's all fair game then. When
Hellen Mirren plays Coretta Scott King, I don't want to hear any
complaints.
>>When it happens (I can't belive I am responding to this), MAYBE I'll take
issue with it...Have taken into consideration just how rediculous you sound? We
are talking about believeability...Okay, you don't feel that AJ fits the role,
but the only objection you have is that she used makeup to resemble her
character, a practice many acter, both black and white have been doing since
theatre has existed...
>Do you know if the woman (Pearl) objects to being portrayed as a
>white woman? If not, I don't understand what the problem is..
Of course, who doesn't? It's been part of the PR for the film for
the last several months. For the record, she doesn't, and claims
that she *wanted* AJ to play the role since she made friends with
her. It's just a matter of adultry that AJ is playing the part since
Brad Pitt originally thought of the role for Jennifer Aniston. The
role was the gift that kept on giving.
>>Oh brother...I rest my case...
Just because I think something is a good idea for me doesn't mean
that it is. I might want Pitt to play me in my life story, and if I
did suffer that madness I would hope someone would step in and
say, "Dude, doesn't this reek of minstrelsy?"
>>Uh, no??
For Mrs Pearl's part, she seems to confuse nationality and race "I'm
Cuban and I'm Dutch. Can a Dutch person play me?"
(lol) Yes they could...with the proper makeup...
"Lets just saying you know more than you think, but were not going to help
you figure it out." - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie
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