Tropic Thunder: Robert Downey Jr. Just Wants Everyone to Get Along
Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 12, 2008
Ever since his reemergence with 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Robert Downey Jr. has been a remembered favorite of mine. His own past tribulations aside, the man is a talent. His new status set in stone with the huge success of Iron Man, Downey likes his newfound (re-found?) acceptance to Hollywood like joining the mafia. As a fan, it was an absolute pleasure to sit at the same table as him and an even greater joy to find out he’s a cool fucking dude. Odds are, as long as you’ve looked past his previous missteps, he’s probably exactly the kind of guy you expect – charming, magnetic, and very, very funny.
Right off the bat RDJ was virtually assaulted with a question about who should be more offended – Australians or Blacks, because of his portrayal of an Aussie actor who goes to great lengths to portray a black soldier. With a disarming laugh, Downey responded “Does somebody have to be mad? Do we have to start there?”
In terms of the genesis of Kurt Lazarus, Downey indicates that he was originally written as an Irishman. However, noting that in his faux trailer he played an Irishman, Downey suggested they make him Australian. “What’s the stretch for an Irishman to play an Irishman?” With this ethnic change, Downey now gets to portray an Australian, a “very gay Irishman,” an African American, and a Vietnamese soldier. In portraying all of these different races, RDJ was asked what research he did to prepare for these parts to get the ’stereotypes’ down. His response:
None, because my goal was for there to be nothing stereotypical, except for when the story demands that he’s momentarily, specifically stereotypical, for which the actual black man puts him in his place.
As Lazarus, a lot has been made of the actors who Downey may or may not have channeled to get the role just right. The word from the man himself came down to three popular actors, whom he channeled to varying degrees depending on which “tool” was best suited at that time. The actors were the obvious Russell Crowe, along with Colin Farrell and Daniel Day Lewis.
I think Kirk Lazarus is nuts. That’s what I think.
In crafting the character of Kirk Lazarus, Downey had a wealth of information to fall back on, both from second-hand stories and perceptions of other stars, as well as his own storied past which he acknowledges but doesn’t talk about (haven’t we heard enough of it, anyways?). He views Lazarus as having sunk so far into the world of the actor that he’s lost himself and gone crazy. Though, in defense the character and many other celebrities, Downey recognizes the shit they’re put through at times. He has given perhaps my most favorite sound bite of all time, which, as a matter of record, I will transcribe for you below.
Imagine coming downstairs and your hairs stupid and you peed in your pants or whatever it is, imagine coming down to the bottom of your stairs every morning and just having someone there going Click! That’s forever, bitch!
It was refreshing to be able to witness Downey talk freely about the movie and to notice that he wasn’t overly concerned with peoples perception of him or to see him scared of an audience reaction. He too was sound in the knowledge that audiences had understood where he was coming from in his portayal and that it wasn’t any one type of of person or any one person he was satirizing, other than a self-absorbed actor who has gone to a ridiculousness and insane place in pursuing his craft.
If there is one reason why you need to go see Tropic Thunder, it is without a doubt to witness the performance of Robert Downey Jr., an actor at the top of his comedic game.
Tropic Thunder is the movie about the movie pretending to be the other movie in theaters on August 13th.
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