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Race row as actor Robert Downey Jr 'blacks up' for new film
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=528496&in_page_id=1773 ^ | 17:38pm on 7th March 2008

Posted on 03/08/2008 5:58:43 PM PST by BenLurkin

Actor Robert Downey Jr has in the past been applauded for his edgy roles.

But his latest may be a step too far - as the actor dons make-up to play a rather convincing looking black man in a new Hollywood film starring comic actor Ben Stiller.

In a still from film Tropic Thunder, Downey Jnr is sandwiched between Ben Stiller, and a blonde Jack Black.

Controversial: Actor Robert Downey Jr is virtually unrecognisble seen here sandwiched between actors Jack Black, left, and Ben Stiller, in an image from new film Tropic Thunder in which he wore a wig and make-up to look like a black man

With his afro hair and brown skin, he is virtually unrecognisable as the 42-year-old star of stage and screen.

Downey Jr plays a worthy Oscar-winning actor taking on a role originally written for a black actor, and rather than re-write the part, he goes method.

Clearing anticipating a backlash, Downey Jr told a US magazine: "If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago. If you don't do it right, we're going to hell."


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: benstiller; careerhell; hollywood; jackblack; robertdowneyjr
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

See new tag.


41 posted on 03/08/2008 7:17:50 PM PST by Don W (My ingrown toenail has more acting talent than Will Farrell, Jack Black and Queen Latifah COMBINED)
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To: kenavi
"It’s the backlash by dumb blondes that will kill it."

Huh??? ;-)

42 posted on 03/08/2008 7:18:05 PM PST by JustaDumbBlonde
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To: cripplecreek

My thought exactly. How come Eddie Murphy gets to cross over and he doesn’t?


43 posted on 03/08/2008 7:28:18 PM PST by Bookwoman ("...and I am unanimous in this..")
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To: BenLurkin

I don’t care what color Downey is made up in, he is still one of the best actors that has come around in quite a long time.


44 posted on 03/08/2008 7:41:09 PM PST by peggybac (Tolerance is the virtue of believing in nothing)
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To: BenLurkin
Should have used Ted Danson for the role. Whoopi says it is OK.

45 posted on 03/08/2008 7:43:08 PM PST by Kirkwood
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This has to be among the most ridiculous controversies ever invented. What’s next? Victim groups being offended when pasty white chicks like myself smoke some crack? I’m going to go steal a car to get my mind off of this.


46 posted on 03/08/2008 8:02:31 PM PST by KarinG1 (Opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not necessarily represent those of sane people.)
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To: sionnsar
"unrecognisble? Is that some pretentious faux-latin term or just a missssssspelling?"

Neither, it's English. As in Merry Old England doncha know?

47 posted on 03/08/2008 8:26:41 PM PST by OldEagle
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To: Bookwoman
My thought exactly. How come Eddie Murphy gets to cross over and he doesn’t?

Same reason rappers can use the N-word and call women hos with impunity.

48 posted on 03/08/2008 8:27:47 PM PST by Dahoser (America's great untapped alternative energy source: The Founding Fathers spinning in their graves.)
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To: Ezekiel

Silver Streak (Gene Wilder & Richard Pryor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu1TZVX72Aw

The only funny scene in the movie!


49 posted on 03/08/2008 8:30:22 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

It’s make-believe, it’s Hollywood...
Michael Jackson is “make-believe” white...


50 posted on 03/08/2008 8:31:25 PM PST by citizencon
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To: peggybac

Clip from “Chaplin”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9kUzxCY1XI


51 posted on 03/08/2008 8:37:53 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: Ezekiel
The whole scene looks fake too. Looks like they filmed it along the highway, just down the street from the Kukui Grove mall in Kauai. After they were done for the day heck they could just dart across traffic and head for the Starbucks.

LOL, that's a good one!

52 posted on 03/08/2008 8:42:05 PM PST by Lijahsbubbe
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To: Pylon
“Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying”

That sounds kind of funny. If they had any good writers it could be a good one.

53 posted on 03/08/2008 8:44:30 PM PST by Lijahsbubbe
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To: peggybac

That is the truth. And it is what makes his drug addiction problems so sad. He really is one of the best actors around.


54 posted on 03/08/2008 8:59:41 PM PST by Sudetenland
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To: OldEagle

Some people are sooo provincial.


55 posted on 03/08/2008 9:00:55 PM PST by Sudetenland
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To: Southerngl
"I have seen White Chicks at least 50 times."

Bragger! lol

56 posted on 03/08/2008 9:05:33 PM PST by endthematrix (He was shouting 'Allah!' but I didn't hear that. It just sounded like a lot of crap to me.)
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To: Lijahsbubbe

There is kind of a trailer here http://www.tropicthunder.com/
One of the writers writes for King Of The Hill so there is hope.


57 posted on 03/08/2008 9:05:38 PM PST by Pylon (Remember boys, flies spread disease, so keep yours closed.)
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To: Sudetenland

He’s clean and sober now and remarried. Good for him.


58 posted on 03/08/2008 9:08:09 PM PST by peggybac (Tolerance is the virtue of believing in nothing)
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To: peggybac

Oh,that’s good to hear. He really is an incredible actor. I hope he’s conquered his demons.


59 posted on 03/08/2008 9:23:10 PM PST by bootless
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To: BenLurkin

The image “http://movies.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/white_chicks/images/chicks_large.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.

What's the problem?

60 posted on 03/08/2008 9:23:21 PM PST by streetpreacher (Arminian by birth, Calvinist by the grace of God)
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