As a fan who has followed Ben Stiller’s career for years, I can understand his reservations about remaking “Tropic Thunder” today. The film was indeed edgy and pushed boundaries, which is something that Stiller excels at. However, times have changed, and what may have been acceptable in 2008 might not fly in 2024. The character of Kirk Lazarus, played brilliantly by Robert Downey Jr., would undoubtedly be a sticking point.
Ben Stiller expresses skepticism about whether the satirical comedy “Tropic Thunder,” produced in 2008, could be made today. This film, revolving around a self-centered acting troupe creating a Vietnam War movie, amassed almost $200 million globally and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.). However, it is the character portrayed by Downey that might prevent “Tropic Thunder” from being produced in today’s Hollywood.
Downey starred in “Tropic Thunder” as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian thespian who takes Method acting to an unethical extreme by donning Blackface (or undergoing “pigmentation alteration” surgery, as he puts it) to play a Black soldier in the Vietnam movie. Stiller was lampooning the insane lengths actors go to in order to win awards, but it’s too “dicey” to do again.
Stiller explained to Collider that in the current climate, producing edgier comedy can be quite challenging. Not only due to its nature, but also because of the economic aspects of the film industry at such a grand scale. He believes we were lucky to even get it made back then, and credits Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks for their support; they took an interest in our script and decided to produce it.
Robert portraying a character representing an African American, that’s quite a delicate situation,” Stiller added. “It was tricky back then too, and the only reason we attempted it was because the joke was clear about who was being made fun of – actors trying to win awards. In today’s climate, I’m not sure I would have taken on that role honestly.
Last year, Stiller expressed on his X profile that he stands unapologetically by “Tropic Thunder,” stating that it has been a contentious film from its debut. He is proud of the movie and the efforts put forth by the entire cast and crew.
More recently, some have voiced disapproval towards Downey for wearing blackface in a movie, but the actor has consistently disagreed with this negative reception. In a conversation on Rob Lowe’s “Literally!” podcast earlier this year, Downey compared his role to that of Norman Lear’s classic sitcom “All in the Family.” He argued that both pieces expose problematic stereotypes that have been overused and are no longer acceptable, but faced criticism from people who failed to grasp the larger context.
Originally, there was a certain agreement with the audience, but I’m not implying that they’ve stopped understanding – I’m stating that things have become quite confusing. In Downey’s words, the atmosphere Ben Stiller created, assembled, and filmed ‘Tropic Thunder’ in, was essentially a critique of these outdated stereotypes that were incorrect and had been overused for far too long.
In a 2020 episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Downey Jr. mentioned that his mother was shocked when she discovered he played a role in “Tropic Thunder.” Although he anticipated the criticism that might come with the part, he felt it was an opportunity to expose the absurd self-centeredness and hypocrisy of artists who believe they can act without consequences sometimes.
At that time, Downey Jr. commented that Ben Stiller was clear about the project’s vision and carried it out effectively, despite concerns about it being offensive. He further stated that 90% of his Black friends found it enjoyable, although he acknowledges the criticism from the other 10%. However, he feels strongly that his intentions lie elsewhere. He believes that while it’s never right to do something inappropriate, particularly when it’s outdated, ‘Tropic Thunder’ served as a powerful statement on the issue. Downey Jr. emphasizes the importance of having a strong moral compass and admits if he made a mistake, but defends himself by pointing out that ‘Tropic Thunder’ criticized the use of Blackface.
Besides receiving an Oscar nomination, Downey was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards.
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2024-11-27 02:47