First Look: Robert Downey Jr as Black Man in ‘Tropic Thunder’

oh no. blackface = baaaaaaaaaaaad news.

I suppose THEORETICALLY blackface could be worn as some kind of social commentary. It would need to be very carefully approached and quite explicitly (read: something hollywood doesn’t do).

Tom Cruise is an evil man. Jack Black rocks. comedies are good.

I guess I’ll buy tickets.

There is a long and unfortunate history within U.S. culture regarding the portrayal of African-Americans - ranging from outright racism and bigotry to pure naive ignorance. The pendulum swings from the one extreme of racial hatred to the well-intentioned excesses of political correctness are dizzying to watch.

It all comes down to context.

Eddie Murphy (speaking of fat suits) often portrays white characters - sometimes to humorous effect - and because there isn’t a negatively charged history behind such portrayals, as opposed to Bing Crosby in the film “Holiday Inn” getting “corked up” or Lawrence Olivier’s screen performance as Shakespeare’s “Othello” (we won’t waste any time with C. Thomas Howell here), it comes as no surprise that Murphy’s work is lauded instead of being considered controversial.

I’m reminded of 1964’s “Black Like Me”, which starred James Whitmore as a reporter who dyes his skin to pass for black and experience what it was like to live as an African-American in the U.S. at that time. The film is flawed for many reasons but the story, based on the book of the same title and a true account of the author’s own journey, was never faulted for having a “black” character who was actually white. The context of the story allowed for it.

Asian, First Nations and many other “ethnic” types still get the “They look close enough.” treatment in Hollywood films. It would certainly be outrageous if Nicole Kidman “blacked up” to play the life-story of Rosa Parks. Funny? Hell yes - but unintentionally so.

Robert Downey Jr. is, aruably, one of the finest film actors in the world today and he never disappoints with his wholly original and unexpected approach to his characters. I don’t care if this movie turns out to be one big huge steaming turd of a flop - I’ll still watch it - just for Downey’s performance.

And I have no doubt I’ll be laughing my ass off.

An egocentric and not terribly bright actor dropped into the jungle, resolutely attempting to portray a black man? The context alone already has me giggling.

More power to him. I think it usually turns out pretty funny whenever a person, no matter what the color or religion or sex, plays something completely opposite. It may be offending to some people, but chances are it will be funny to more. Its those few people in the world who blow these things out of proportion. Anybody remember Trading Places?? Dan was playing black guy, and although it was a short scene, it was histerical. Or whatabout a movie with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, where Gene portrayed a black person… that was comedy. The minority of people who think this may be offensive, should not ruin it for all those who dont. I hate it when stuff like happens, where we have to do things a certain way because 10 people will get offended, but 1000 wont, but 10 will….. This is America, free country to act, say, and think whatever we want. Dont like it, dont watch it.

Americans are SO whiny. Who cares if a white guy plays a black guy. If you are butt-hurt, just don’t go see it. Christ!

Blackface performers back in the day were BEING racist BEYOND the costume, it was the CONTENT. So don’t be such a reactionary.

Sounds like Three Amigos. 3 has been actors placed in harms way where they think they are filming.

Actually, this looks pretty good. :) Hope that it’ll be as wacky as Dodgeball or sumthin’ like that. As for the “is this crossing the line” - come on, are you joking? Huey already mentioned the Wayans brothers, but this overally doesn’t seem to be offending at all.

I guess this is the moral and ethical progress white people are talking about that us black people have a hard time spotting.

How far we’ve progressed. Whites can now perform in blackface and black people are ridiculed BEFORE protesting for even thinking about having the gall to do so. Even pre-emptively we have comments about Al Sharpton commenting on the blackface.

The fact that this movie is supposed to be about the egos of Hollywood actors adds a thick layer of unintended racial irony on top of the obvious offense of blackface performance. It is this: Robert Downey Jr., a white man who, like many super rich entertainers has suffered from drug addiction and has been convicted of drug crimes. He represents the double-standard of Hollywood and this society as no non-white actor could have the resume of drug crime that he has and remain an A-list actor who gets major funding from the big moviehouses. Whites will deny this, as racial double standards are routinely denied by reactionary whites but deep down, they know its true. A black actor would be out of work indefinitely if convicted on drug charges multiple times as Downey has been. So that adds a sick and twisted kind of irony that this actor specifically, one that would be out of work if he were not white to begin with, is tapped to paint his face black and play a black man on the silver screen. Talk about ego. White arrogance, fully contextualized, seems boundless.

On a side note to all of those who comment that this won’t be offensive, who decides on this kind of question? Whites or blacks? This issue dates back a century. The legacy of haranguing men like Al Sharpton dates back to before Al Sharpton was born. Whites have always decided what was acceptable or offensive. That is why they essentially hate a person like Al Sharpton who represents non-whites deciding for themselves what is or is not appropriate.

I, being African American, think that this is going to a great role for Robert Downey Jr. Caucasians, and others as well, are always portrayed by African Americans in the movies and on TV. Robert Downey Jr is not portraying an African American in Blackface like the KKK portrayed African Americans long ago. I’m a big fan of all three (Downey, Black, Stiller) and I think that this movie is going to be a big hit!

The plot of this movie seems very funny and I am encouraged by the comments I see here. I was nervous when I first heard about it. Regardless, I am looking forward to it! Someone mentioned that Downey looks like Tiger Woods, but I am thinking James Earl Jones when he was young. Check it out, seriously!

Can we all just get over ourselves???? Double standards obviously exist on both sides. Being of native american heritage, I can tell you that I am in no way brain washed or influenced by how my ancestors are portrayed in the movies. Teach your children to have a strong sense of who they are and not to buy into someone else’s propaganda just because it is displayed on a big screen. Personally, I do think that Ingemar makes a valid point about how Robert Downey Jr manages to still get A list roles in spite of his many and well publicised drug busts. I gotta admit though, I have always thought him to be a really good actor and perhaps that is why Hollywood keeps him around. Hopefully, his portrayal in this movie will be funny and not demeaning or offensive.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with Robert Downey Jr. playing this character! In fact, I think this will be hilarious. I don’t think this character is intended as a mockery or insult to black people like blackface was. To Ms. Powell, no one has even seen the movie yet. How can you automatically assume that black people will be mocked and made to look like buffoons? And why is it alright for the Wayans brothers to make blonde girls look dumb and shallow but this movie is immoral and unethical? How can we rid the world of racism with such double standards?

Blackface done by whites is ALWAYS racist, BF has a racist history, the original intent of BF was to mock and demonize African-Americans as they suffered in slavery and in Jim Crow, even when whites do it today it still echoes of the original intent.

The African-American tragedy is slavery, slavery is like the trunk of a tree, but BF done by whites is a branch on that tree, thus it is wrong and racist when someone uses that branch as fodder for a joke, Ben Stiller could have used another avenue for his joke. Plus this film will resurrect BF, NOW, more TV shows and films will use BF, because this film makes it appear that it is NOW fine for whites to use BF, NOW white frat parties will use BF and it will be harder to condemn them.

A film that made made a Swastika appear to NOW be less offensive or even cool would be considered anti semetic. Blacks look at BF done by whites the same way Jews see the Swastika, a representation of hate.

Remember, just because RDJ is made up to LOOK like a normal Black person, it is STILL BF, BF is NOT limited to what AL Jolson did.

What about White Chicks?

Whiteface does NOT equal Blackface, they have different histories.

Just a quick note about Robert Downey Jr., before his drug busts he had a promising career; with nominations and accolades for his work. Then the drug stuff came along and after some years was over. I read in an interview that many people wouldn’t hire him because insurance wouldn’t cover him. If you think about it, he really hasn’t had any big movies prior to Iron Man. So he wasn’t given the silver spoon back immediately after his jail time/drug use/whatever. Many people-actors, musicians-of all different races, have had brushes with the law and came out okay and still worked and had a successful life. Now I’m not saying it isn’t harder for someone who is black, asian, indian or anyone else. But I think it all boils down to talent, Robert Downey Jr. is a very talented actor. Would you rather see some no talent actor play a part because he never did drugs or have someone who is talented but has a history play a part in a movie. I’ll take the talent anytime.

IT’S NOT BLACKFACE. Look at the story. He plays a white actor in the movie, the makeup is part of the story. It’s not blackface he has surgery. As a black man I find this hilarious. It’s actually making fun of blackface.

All I’d like to say is that I know blackface has much more history than whiteface and that gives the reason to be more offended if one sees Tropic Thunder than White Chicks, where two black guys dress as white blonde women.
I understand that reasoning, because yes, blackface is offensive, but it does not help to keep on being offended.
And why is it always between whites and blacks?
If Asians and Hispanics can get made fun of in anyway, no matter how offensive, no one would care.
Asians and Hispanics have history too, and if they get made fun of, it’s not as offensive.
I don’t understand why. Asians have been enslaved to build railroads, Hispanics work the hardest now and get paid very little.
I’m not saying that we should all forget about your history, but I’m saying to move on, still remember your history, but still don’t feel too offended by it.
Most of the time, people don’t mean to offend others so deeply.

And plus, he was a white guy in the movie too, so this is not blackface. If he was always an African-American in the movie, then I can see why one would think that, but he was a white man that had surgically become an African American in order to play a role in a movie.

Yeah, im black and educated in african american history so I do know and understand the origins of blackface and the meaning. This movie really just looks like its going to be funny, and even if it sucks i dont think its racist. I know we (black folks) have alot of real racist things to deal with but I dont think this is one of them. And honestly most black people dont care about these things. I still am not speaking for everyone but the reality is although no one wants to feel taunted, this doesnt quite look like that.

Wow, people. Stop, take a deep breath, and remember that life is not always about a ’cause’. Since entertainment began, there has been humor in watching a person put themselves in an awkward position by pretending to be something they are not. Men pretending to be women, women pretending to be men, pretending to be clergy, pretending to be rich, pretending to be poor, pretending to be disabled, pretending to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer, or royalty. The list seems to be endless. In each case we see the hilarity of how ridiculous it is for anyone to pretend to be something they are not.

Yes, there are people with evil intent, but most people want to laugh collectively at the folly of living life as a human with all of our imperfections to poke fun at. Each generation in America the line gets blurrier and blurrier as to what exactly ‘race’ means. I have so many different races of people in my genealogy that even the already simplified categories of white or black no longer are applicable.

Take away the power from the evil few by finding reasons to bond with the many.

whats wrong with YOU PEOPLE?

WOW, just putting it out there, if I ever found out a co-worker watched this movie this movie, I will thank them for letting me know they are a racist, and treat them accordingly.

stereotypes of how black men view white women to begin with.. so, if you haven’t seen the point in my tireless, probably wasted dialogue.. we are all racist in some way or another, some are vocal, others defend their so called purism with insane arguments, a true “acceptor of all” would find foul with both types of “facing” so to all of you who still look at america as racist, your outspoken faults with tropic thunder while defending movies such as white chcik is why this country will never fix itself, so either become an “acceptor” or just admit that people are not above the animal kingdom, we are all creatures of the earth, everything we think is a creation of our minds and our minds are natural.

Oh one more thing “PUMP YOUR BRAKES KID!” LOL

Black face is racist no matter how many of your white people and boot licking people defend it,it’s still wrong and there’s nothing funny about it and racism in hollywood will continue.

DaturazChild, You would have made a good slave.

Shame on you for defending blackface, it was invented to PERSECUTE Black people, and now the enemy is trying to resurrect it with this film, this film will open the floodgates to more blackface, this film is a test to see how Blacks will react, they are counting on responses like yours.

Just because RDJ is not singing Mammy or Dixie, it still is BF, if someone made a film that made something offensive to Jews seem like it is no longer offensive or even cool, heads would roll, but sense Black pain is not considered to be ‘real pain’, everyone is laughing. Chalk up another one for racism.

By the way, do you also endorse blackface frat parties that have been thrown in recent years?

TJ, with respect, learn the history of whites in blackface, or maybe better still, see the film, Birth of a Nation. Then maybe you will begin to understand.

Laugh at racism TJ? On that logic, can we laugh about Jews being put into ovens? Is there a funny side to the Holocaust?

My contention is that there is nothing funny about the Jewish Holocaust or the African-American holocaust, aka American slavery.

Blackface began as a persecution device, to ridicule, demonize, to instill fear of Black people and even encourage killing them, thus when it is used today, it conjures up memories of the original purpose.

But the ‘effects’ of the past are still with us TJ.

If the ‘racism’ of whites in blackface has gone, WHERE DID IT GO?

Ashcan are you a black supremacist.

TJ, you are part of the problem.

“What problem?”

LOL@YOU! Dude here is where I stop taking you seriously.

Enjoy your life.