WHEN Robert Downey Jr. put on dark make-up for his new film, comedy Tropic Thunder, the actor ventured into the racially charged territory of blackface, an old showbiz convention that is no laughing matter.
Downey said he initially worried his portrayal of a white actor playing a black man could hurt his career, and he bristled at being given what he thought would be the most controversial role in the movie directed by Ben Stiller.
Downey stars as an Australian actor named Kirk Lazarus who is playing a black army sergeant in a war movie being filmed in the jungle.
Hollywood`s history with blackface, a style of wearing wigs and makeup to caricature slaves or ex-slaves in the 19th and early 20th centuries, dates to the start of the movie industry but has largely stopped except in cases of satire and comedy.
Downey told reporters in recent interviews his role was a satirical send-up of actor narcissism, and different from older uses of blackface that reinforced harmful stereotypes.
"It`s entertainment that`s set up by people who are high-minded enough to not be racist or offensive," he said.
"The whole film is based on the idea that what we (actors) do at some level is offensive and who we are, at some level, is despicable and pathetic, which is the truth and not the truth. But the part of it that is the truth, is entertaining."
So far Tropic Thunder, which opens in the US on Wednesday, has generated no backlash against the 43-year-old star of Iron Man.
Instead, groups that advocate for the disabled have called for a boycott of the film, citing what they say is its negative portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.
The groups were particularly offended by the film`s repeated use of the word "retard" regarding a character, Simple Jack, played by Stiller in a subplot about an actor.
"We are asking people not to go to the movie and hope to bring a consciousness to people about using derogatory words about this population," said Peter Wheeler, spokesman for Special Olympics, one of 22 disability groups nationwide protesting the satire.
The groups plan to picket the movie`s premiere in LA.
"That will be the start of a nationwide protest," said Wheeler.
"We will continue to be vocal about the destructive effect of this film."
Representatives of the Special Olympics, the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People with Disabilities and other groups met with studio executives last week to discuss the film, but DreamWorks did not make any changes.
Chip Sullivan, a spokesman for DreamWorks said: "We have had productive discussions with representatives of disability advocacy organisations and look forward to working with them closely in the future. However no changes or cuts to the film will be made.
"Tropic Thunder is an R-rated comedy that satirises Hollywood and its excesses, and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the top characters in ridiculous situations. The film is in no way meant to disparage or harm the image of individuals with disabilities," he said.
Have your say!
Add your comments or
read what others are saying