It could be that he feels that because his character was an important icon to black cinema that it shouldn't be compromised by comedy. Like not being able to make a joke about Jesus. But he fails to realize that most people under 30 don't know who the hell he is!
On Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 4:46 AM, Martin Baxter <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Keith, I'm thinking that the cumulative effects of all of those shots to > the head he took when he played for the Rams are showing. > > "If all the world's a stage and all the people merely players, who in > bloody hell hired the director?" -- Charles L Grant > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQUxw9aUVik > > > > > ------------------------------ > To: [email protected] > From: [email protected] > Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:57:15 +0000 > Subject: [scifinoir2] Fwd: Fred Williamson Hates on 'Black Dynamite' > > > I think Williamson might be playing this up a bit for kicks. I mean, how > can one decry this movie as offensive for being too comedic, then say that > Robert Downey Jr's role in "Tropic Thunder" is a proper homage? > > ***************************************************************** > > http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/entertainment/movies/13439/1 > > > Fred Williamson Hates on 'Black Dynamite' > > Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 12:18 pm > By: Chris Richburg > > Despite a healthy buzz, the blaxploitation spoof "Black Dynamite" has > received a thumbs down from one of the era’s top stars. > > In an interview with EURweb’s Lee Bailey, Fred “The Hammer” Williams > weighed in on "Black Dynamite" as well as the intentions of Screen Gems, the > studio promoting the Scott Sanders-directed film, which hits theaters in > selected markets this Friday (Oct. 16). > > Although he declared his "love for the period," the film’s star, Michael > Jai White, opted to use humor as a vehicle for showcasing a time in which > films told universal stories via black actors and filmmakers. For White, > "Black Dynamite" served as a “tip of the hat to that era.” > > "It's funny to do it as a time capsule and lay in some jokes that are only > funny when you're looking at them now,” the actor told the LA Times. "You > look at the '70s, is there a more entertaining time? That time period was so > alive. It was a great time for black people -- they went from their heads > being bowed to being up and strong." > > However, White’s approach did not earn high marks with Williamson, who is > proud of the way his characters come across on the big screen. According to > him, "Black Dynamite’s" attempt to honor his onscreen image fell flat. > > “He says that they’re payin’ homage to me. How can you pay homage to me in > a comedy. I don’t do comedy. How you gonna pay homage to me?," said > Williamson. “...My thing is to be the hero, to win the fight, to get the > girl at the end of the movie and don’t die. OK. You go to see a Freddy > Williamson movie. Ain’t no singin’, ain’t no dancin’ because I don’t sing. I > don’t dance, in public anyway. So my kind of film, call it what you want. I > have no idea what the hell ‘black exploitation’ means, but if you want to > call it that, fine. But I don’t do comedy and you can’t pay homage to me by > doing comedy.” > > Starring White in the title role, "Black Dynamite" centers on a 1970s > action legend who sets out to avenge his brother’s death at the hands of The > Man. During his quest, Black Dynamite (also White's character's name) > discovers The Man has filled black orphanages with heroin and flooded the > streets with bad adulterated malt liquor. The actions by The Man are part of > a vast conspiracy that stretches all the way to the White House. > > While he has no problem with White’s performance, Williams expressed his > displeasure over Screen Gem’s “ploy to get me involved so they can make more > money” from the film. > > “It has nothing to do with anything except getting people thinking that > it’s the kind of film that Freddy Williamson would do and would like and so > the public would come out. You know, you can’t use me dog. No way,” the > veteran actor shared. “I don’t appreciate what the studio is trying to do. I > respect Michael Jai White because it’s a job. He’s working. He’s making > money. I respect that. I don’t respect Screen Gems trying to bill this as a > resurrection of black stars coming back and doing the kind of films that > they want because I guarantee you, Michael White is doing this film, but > it’s not what he wants to do.” > > “He’s a big good looking guy, a martial arts guy. He don’t wanna be doing > funny. He wants to be out there kickin’ people’s ass and being the hero like > everybody else. He don’t wanna do comedy,” Williamson continued. “I mean the > guy worked all those many years to be a martial arts expert. He’s a good > looking guy. He’s done mostly action films. He succumbs to a comedy because > that’s all that’s left for him.” > > An action star with roles in "Three the Hard Way," "Original Gangsters," > "Black Caesar" and "Hell Up in Harlem," Williamson is considered an icon > among fans of black cinema. But while Black Dynamite may have missed the > mark as far as he's concerned, the actor applauded Robert Downey Jr.’s > portrayal of a black method actor in the hit film "Tropic Thunder." > > “The guy who paid homage to me was a white guy in 'Tropic Thunder.' Did you > see that film? ... Robert Downey Jr. He did it in blackface with sideburns, > looked just like The Hammer. When they reviewed the film in New York and all > other venues they said he did a great interpretation of Fred Williamson. > Now, I respect that. That means he knows who I am. He saw me. He respects > the way that I talk. He respects the way that I project myself and that’s > what he was doing. He was in a comedy, but he wasn’t comic. He was doing The > Hammer.” > > Editors note ... > > Michael Jai White will speak for himself in tomorrow's EUR. Among other > things, he'll tell how "Black Dynamite" came to be and why he thinks it's > important. > > Meanwhile, as far as Mr. Williamson is concerned there's more. If you're > still reading this, then we think you'll be interested and will want to HEAR > the full interview with him. So, just click the player below. > > Let's just say the Hammer, who insists he doesn't do comedy, actually does > although it's not intentional at first. But after our Lee Bailey broke him > down, he got with the program. He's not so tough when his guard is down. > > > ------------------------------ > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up > now. <http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/> > > > -- Bringing diversity to perversity for over 9 years! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
