Tropic Thunder (2008)
December 12, 2022 8:05 AM - Subscribe
[TRAILER] Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), pampered action superstar, sets out for Southeast Asia to take part in the biggest, most-expensive war movie produced, but soon after filming begins, he and his co-stars, Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), comic Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and the rest of the crew, must become real soldiers when fighting breaks out in that part of the jungle.
Also starring Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Brandon Soo Hoo, Reggie Lee, Trieu Tran, Tobey Maguire, Tyra Banks, Jon Voight, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jason Bateman, Christine Taylor, Maria Menounos, Yvette Nicole Brown, Lance Bass.
Directed by Ben Stiller. Written by Greg Hayden.
82% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Currently available for digital rental in the US. JustWatch listing.
Today, I'm going to post six movies that are problematic and/or made by/starring problematic people, but also either: have merit/are acclaimed; won some awards; are/were very popular; are/were culturally notable; or have a certain amount of cultural cachet or staying power. I'll be tagging these #problematicmovies.
This movie is a good example of how some movies can, via satire, arguably pull off problematic content (in this case, blackface and use of the R word) for some, even as others draw a line in the sand and still won't abide it.
Also starring Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey, Danny McBride, Bill Hader, Brandon Soo Hoo, Reggie Lee, Trieu Tran, Tobey Maguire, Tyra Banks, Jon Voight, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Jason Bateman, Christine Taylor, Maria Menounos, Yvette Nicole Brown, Lance Bass.
Directed by Ben Stiller. Written by Greg Hayden.
82% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Currently available for digital rental in the US. JustWatch listing.
Today, I'm going to post six movies that are problematic and/or made by/starring problematic people, but also either: have merit/are acclaimed; won some awards; are/were very popular; are/were culturally notable; or have a certain amount of cultural cachet or staying power. I'll be tagging these #problematicmovies.
This movie is a good example of how some movies can, via satire, arguably pull off problematic content (in this case, blackface and use of the R word) for some, even as others draw a line in the sand and still won't abide it.
I enjoyed the movie trailer for the Priest movie.
posted by porpoise at 11:58 AM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by porpoise at 11:58 AM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
The trailers that open this movie are genius.
I went to see the movie when it was in theaters. I hadn't been out to a movie in a long time; I had a 7-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a very, very demanding 1-year-old.
One evening, I left the kiddos home with my partner, and went to see this movie by myself. There was something about my mood, the idiosyncratic makeup of my brain, and the movie's humor that made it, on that night, the most hilarious thing ever. When the movie ended, I couldn't stop laughing. I laughed all the way to the parking lot, during the short drive home, and then I sat on the couch at home, laughing helplessly for awhile longer.
I've seen it, I think, twice since then, and it's not the same movie I saw in the theater. It's still funny, and I, for one, mostly like the satire, but conditions have never been, and probably never will be, right for it to be that funny all over again. Perhaps the sleep deprivation, and cultural deprivation, I was experiencing at the time were culprits.
posted by Well I never at 12:18 PM on December 12, 2022 [10 favorites]
I went to see the movie when it was in theaters. I hadn't been out to a movie in a long time; I had a 7-year-old, a 4-year-old, and a very, very demanding 1-year-old.
One evening, I left the kiddos home with my partner, and went to see this movie by myself. There was something about my mood, the idiosyncratic makeup of my brain, and the movie's humor that made it, on that night, the most hilarious thing ever. When the movie ended, I couldn't stop laughing. I laughed all the way to the parking lot, during the short drive home, and then I sat on the couch at home, laughing helplessly for awhile longer.
I've seen it, I think, twice since then, and it's not the same movie I saw in the theater. It's still funny, and I, for one, mostly like the satire, but conditions have never been, and probably never will be, right for it to be that funny all over again. Perhaps the sleep deprivation, and cultural deprivation, I was experiencing at the time were culprits.
posted by Well I never at 12:18 PM on December 12, 2022 [10 favorites]
As a few people pointed out at the time, the Downey Jr. in blackface gag was wrapped in irony and part of the joke was that it was something you really shouldn't get away with. But we also get Tom Cruise, a doing an over the top Jewish movie mogul stereotype, and it's played straight up for mockery, no irony necessary.
Problematic parts aside, I liked this movie. Haven't rewatched it; I might well be 'over' some the edgy stuff but it made me laugh at the time.
posted by mark k at 12:45 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
Problematic parts aside, I liked this movie. Haven't rewatched it; I might well be 'over' some the edgy stuff but it made me laugh at the time.
posted by mark k at 12:45 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
But we also get Tom Cruise, a doing an over the top Jewish movie mogul stereotype, and it's played straight up for mockery, no irony necessary.
This is a very good point. I don't think I really realized the "Jewishness" of the character on the first few viewings, despite the character name. Like you say, the blackface stuff and even "never go full r-word" seemed to rely really heavily on irony and the fact that it should have been unacceptable (it's kinda overtly pointed out on at least a few occasions in the script), but that's not really the case with Cruise's character. I think part of the reason it got a pass was because it was still quite absurdly over-the-top and people focused on the ridiculous dance?
posted by asnider at 1:30 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
This is a very good point. I don't think I really realized the "Jewishness" of the character on the first few viewings, despite the character name. Like you say, the blackface stuff and even "never go full r-word" seemed to rely really heavily on irony and the fact that it should have been unacceptable (it's kinda overtly pointed out on at least a few occasions in the script), but that's not really the case with Cruise's character. I think part of the reason it got a pass was because it was still quite absurdly over-the-top and people focused on the ridiculous dance?
posted by asnider at 1:30 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
I watched the entire movie with the DVD commentary track as the audio. Robert Downey Jr. did the whole thing in character with his part from the movie, still doing the method acting thing. It's incredible.
posted by mcstayinskool at 3:34 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mcstayinskool at 3:34 PM on December 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
not really the case with Cruise's character. I think part of the reason it got a pass was because it was still quite absurdly over-the-top and people focused on the ridiculous dance?
I think it's the fact that it was Tom Cruise doing something absurdly over-the-top and the weird dance is what got it the pass.
posted by nubs at 3:53 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
I think it's the fact that it was Tom Cruise doing something absurdly over-the-top and the weird dance is what got it the pass.
posted by nubs at 3:53 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have to wonder now (and it's been too long since I've seen it to speculate) if Cruise was doing a Harvey Weinstein thing; it felt very much like he was skewering a specific person to me, though I didn't know who.
I never thought RDJ's character was offensive in a way other than how he was obviously meant to be offensive -- the joke is clearly on actors who are so narcissistic that they can't see how bringing their privileged selves to a role could actually be a problem. I feel like what would really happen may be worse. In real life, my guess is the Black character based on a real person would just be played by a white person as a white person.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:18 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
I never thought RDJ's character was offensive in a way other than how he was obviously meant to be offensive -- the joke is clearly on actors who are so narcissistic that they can't see how bringing their privileged selves to a role could actually be a problem. I feel like what would really happen may be worse. In real life, my guess is the Black character based on a real person would just be played by a white person as a white person.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 4:18 PM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]
Cruise's character was supposed to have been specifically based on Scott Rudin who is reportedly quite awful himself.
posted by Pryde at 4:44 PM on December 12, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by Pryde at 4:44 PM on December 12, 2022 [6 favorites]
This absolutely works for me and is hilarious. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who went with the view of "ironic racism is still racism" and I get that this is easy for a white person to handwave. But to me, they pull it off. The R word stuff more or less works, too, and for the same reasons (they're mocking the character, not endorsing them), but it's not a speech I would quote, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Steve Coogan doesn't get enough love as one of the funniest parts of this movie.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:48 AM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Steve Coogan doesn't get enough love as one of the funniest parts of this movie.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:48 AM on December 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'd forgotten Coogan was in this movie, going to have to revisit it
posted by elkevelvet at 8:52 AM on December 13, 2022
posted by elkevelvet at 8:52 AM on December 13, 2022
Even better than Hamlet starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and Hamlet is taking out the trash."
posted by kirkaracha at 9:11 AM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and Hamlet is taking out the trash."
posted by kirkaracha at 9:11 AM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Steve Coogan doesn't get enough love as one of the funniest parts of this movie.
He has relatively little screen time, so it's easy to forget he's even in the movie.
posted by asnider at 1:19 PM on December 13, 2022
He has relatively little screen time, so it's easy to forget he's even in the movie.
posted by asnider at 1:19 PM on December 13, 2022
I know, but the way he just wilts... it sends me.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:27 PM on December 13, 2022
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:27 PM on December 13, 2022
It's probably just my fondness for Coogan talking. But something about the way he just sits and takes the abuse from Sid... even accepting it when the grip punches him in the face...
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:46 PM on December 13, 2022
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:46 PM on December 13, 2022
I remember seeing this with limited foreknowledge with a bunch of buddies and just being blown away at how perfect/stupid the fake trailers are. Like three seconds in the whole screen is all Alpa Chino's Booty Sweat (and Bust-A-Nut bar) and we were all WTF?
Fun fact, for someone portraying a Academy darling, Robert Downey Jr.'s most-nominated role is.. this film. He was Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated for both Chaplin (lead) and Tropic Thunder (supporting) but was also nominated in the SAG awards for Tropic Thunder. I had completely forgotten he was Oscar nominated for this role; this was the Heath Ledger year so who even remembered who else was nominated.
posted by Superilla at 5:26 PM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Fun fact, for someone portraying a Academy darling, Robert Downey Jr.'s most-nominated role is.. this film. He was Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated for both Chaplin (lead) and Tropic Thunder (supporting) but was also nominated in the SAG awards for Tropic Thunder. I had completely forgotten he was Oscar nominated for this role; this was the Heath Ledger year so who even remembered who else was nominated.
posted by Superilla at 5:26 PM on December 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
I will say that on paper the casting of RDJ in this role has an amusing meta quality, based on his father's film Putney Swope.
posted by pxe2000 at 5:33 PM on December 13, 2022
posted by pxe2000 at 5:33 PM on December 13, 2022
But we also get Tom Cruise, a doing an over the top Jewish movie mogul stereotype
I think part of the reason it got a pass was because it was still quite absurdly over-the-top and people focused on the ridiculous dance?
I think the bigger reason is that it was directed by Ben Stiller and co-written by Etan Cohen (not one of the brothers, the other one)? We’ve discussed before the weird dynamics that come out of self-deprecating Jewish humor being so woven into American entertainment that it gets repeated by people who have never met a Jewish person, but the Jewish people who write it tend to get some leeway. But I think it was the subject of a bit of controversy when the film came out, especially because of the choice to have Cruise play the character - as were the blackface bit and the “Simple Jack” bit, which were more clearly making a joke of Hollywood stereotyping but, uh, portraying offensive portrayals in doing so.
posted by atoxyl at 9:43 PM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I think part of the reason it got a pass was because it was still quite absurdly over-the-top and people focused on the ridiculous dance?
I think the bigger reason is that it was directed by Ben Stiller and co-written by Etan Cohen (not one of the brothers, the other one)? We’ve discussed before the weird dynamics that come out of self-deprecating Jewish humor being so woven into American entertainment that it gets repeated by people who have never met a Jewish person, but the Jewish people who write it tend to get some leeway. But I think it was the subject of a bit of controversy when the film came out, especially because of the choice to have Cruise play the character - as were the blackface bit and the “Simple Jack” bit, which were more clearly making a joke of Hollywood stereotyping but, uh, portraying offensive portrayals in doing so.
posted by atoxyl at 9:43 PM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
when the grip punches him in the face...
I laughed because I thought it was an "Oh, so that's what a key grip does..." joke.
posted by straight at 9:17 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]
I laughed because I thought it was an "Oh, so that's what a key grip does..." joke.
posted by straight at 9:17 PM on February 7 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by Stuka at 11:50 AM on December 12, 2022 [2 favorites]