Watch most comedians long enough and you’ll start to hear the same stories. But watch Stephen Colbert long enough and you’ll always find he has a new reason for audiences to fall in love with his wife, Evie.
On Sunday, April 21 at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, “The Late Show” host and Ben Schwartz closed out PaleyFest LA 2024 with a wide-ranging and goofy Q&a that included Colbert retelling some of his career-best stories while gently negging his interviewer’s questioning style.
“I will tell you a question I have been asked before,” Colbert quipped, turning Schwartz’ first prompt back on the actor in a good nature. “It’s ‘What’s a question you haven’t been asked before?'”
“And Ok, we’re going to the next question, you guys!,” Schwartz said with a laugh.
Always well-paired for these kinds of media events, the improv...
On Sunday, April 21 at The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, “The Late Show” host and Ben Schwartz closed out PaleyFest LA 2024 with a wide-ranging and goofy Q&a that included Colbert retelling some of his career-best stories while gently negging his interviewer’s questioning style.
“I will tell you a question I have been asked before,” Colbert quipped, turning Schwartz’ first prompt back on the actor in a good nature. “It’s ‘What’s a question you haven’t been asked before?'”
“And Ok, we’re going to the next question, you guys!,” Schwartz said with a laugh.
Always well-paired for these kinds of media events, the improv...
- 4/24/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. had a career renaissance when he starred in 2008 as Tony Stark in Iron Man. The film laid the foundations of the MCU and is still considered to be one of the most important superhero films to be made, despite releasing in the same year as Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight.
However, Iron Man was not the only character Downey Jr. played in 2008. A few months after he appeared in the MCU film, he starred as Kirk Lazarus in Ben Stiller’s satire action film Tropic Thunder. He was even nominated for an Oscar for his role as a method actor who altered his skin color to play a Black man in a film. The role has attracted controversy since its release for its use of Blackface on the star.
Robert Downey Jr.’s ‘Blackface’ Role In Tropic Thunder Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. in...
However, Iron Man was not the only character Downey Jr. played in 2008. A few months after he appeared in the MCU film, he starred as Kirk Lazarus in Ben Stiller’s satire action film Tropic Thunder. He was even nominated for an Oscar for his role as a method actor who altered his skin color to play a Black man in a film. The role has attracted controversy since its release for its use of Blackface on the star.
Robert Downey Jr.’s ‘Blackface’ Role In Tropic Thunder Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. in...
- 4/21/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Robert Downey Jr. plays Australian actor Kirk Lazarus in his Oscar-nominated role in Tropic Thunder. Downey Jr.’s Lazarus takes the extreme step in Method acting and undergoes pigmentation alteration surgery to play an African-American man. The role was clearly a satire that mocked the extreme lengths some actors were willing to go to for a role. Downey Jr.’s co-star in the film, Danny McBride, revealed how the actor stayed in character the whole time.
Ben Stiller, Brandon T Jackson, and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
Downey Jr.’s portrayal in the film received criticism for donning Blackface, but his acting in the film was praised by many. He was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that year, which he lost to Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
Robert Downey Jr. Went Full Method To Play The Exaggerated Version Of A Method Actor Robert Downey Jr. played...
Ben Stiller, Brandon T Jackson, and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
Downey Jr.’s portrayal in the film received criticism for donning Blackface, but his acting in the film was praised by many. He was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that year, which he lost to Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.
Robert Downey Jr. Went Full Method To Play The Exaggerated Version Of A Method Actor Robert Downey Jr. played...
- 4/5/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Tropic Thunder is one of those meta-films that have a lot going on right under the surface. With a cast of actors who were really committed to the bit of the film, including Robert Downey Jr. Downey was deep in his character for the time the film was being filmed, and nothing shows that more than the particular song that he made up for doing his business.
Ben Stiller, Brandon T Jackson, and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
Danny McBride, who was in the film as an explosives director within the narrative of the movie, talked to GQ about the curious way in which he found out how in character Robert Downey Jr. was when it came to his role as Kirk Lazarus, the Australian method actor who essayed the role of Lincoln Osiris.
In character, Robert Downey Jr. made a song to sing while relieving himself
Robert Downey Jr.
Ben Stiller, Brandon T Jackson, and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder
Danny McBride, who was in the film as an explosives director within the narrative of the movie, talked to GQ about the curious way in which he found out how in character Robert Downey Jr. was when it came to his role as Kirk Lazarus, the Australian method actor who essayed the role of Lincoln Osiris.
In character, Robert Downey Jr. made a song to sing while relieving himself
Robert Downey Jr.
- 4/4/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
Robert Downey Jr. finally won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, ending a three-decade wait since his first nomination in 1993 for Chaplin.
Sixteen years later, he got another shot at an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder. But once again, he lost to Heath Ledger (who won posthumously for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight). But now, it’s finally Rdj’s turn.
Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder
Winning his first Oscar nod was a tough journey for the actor. He had to work really hard for it, but in the end, it all paid off. However, there was one thing that was particularly challenging for him in the flick.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Biggest Challenge in Chaplin
Back in 1992, Robert Downey Jr. played...
Sixteen years later, he got another shot at an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder. But once again, he lost to Heath Ledger (who won posthumously for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight). But now, it’s finally Rdj’s turn.
Robert Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder
Winning his first Oscar nod was a tough journey for the actor. He had to work really hard for it, but in the end, it all paid off. However, there was one thing that was particularly challenging for him in the flick.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Biggest Challenge in Chaplin
Back in 1992, Robert Downey Jr. played...
- 3/11/2024
- by Shreya Jha
- FandomWire
Sam Rockwell Paid Tribute To Oscar Winner Robert Downey Jr. With An Amazing Tropic Thunder Reference
"There are actors, and then there are actors who don't drop characters until the DVD commentary."
This is how 2017 Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell opened his impassioned speech in honor of Best Supporting Actor nominee, Robert Downey Jr. The man who gave us a decade of playing Tony Stark in Marvel's "Iron Man" films would go on to take home the statue, his first win after previous nominations for "Chaplin" and his controversial performance in "Tropic Thunder." The former is a role that plenty of film pundits have claimed should have brought Rdj his first Oscar all the way back in 1992, while the latter nomination is still heavily debated considering Rdj's character was an actor who underwent a dangerous and racist procedure to darken his skin in order to play a Black character.
The joke was that his character Kirk Lazarus was the type of actor to dedicate himself...
This is how 2017 Best Supporting Actor Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell opened his impassioned speech in honor of Best Supporting Actor nominee, Robert Downey Jr. The man who gave us a decade of playing Tony Stark in Marvel's "Iron Man" films would go on to take home the statue, his first win after previous nominations for "Chaplin" and his controversial performance in "Tropic Thunder." The former is a role that plenty of film pundits have claimed should have brought Rdj his first Oscar all the way back in 1992, while the latter nomination is still heavily debated considering Rdj's character was an actor who underwent a dangerous and racist procedure to darken his skin in order to play a Black character.
The joke was that his character Kirk Lazarus was the type of actor to dedicate himself...
- 3/11/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Robert Downey Jr. has traded an iron suit for Oscar gold.
The actor took home best supporting actor at the Oscars 2024 for his work as in Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss, with the win marking a high point in a career full of dramatic twists and turns.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy in that order,” Downey began his speech, to laughs. “I’d like to thank my veterinarian — I mean wife, Susan Downey, over there. She found me a snarly, rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
After rising to earn a best actor nomination for the Charlie Chaplin biopic Chaplin (1992), Downey went on to earn a Golden Globe for his work on the hit TV hit Ally McBeal, but faced a career implosion following drug charges and time in prison. But then, his career had an...
The actor took home best supporting actor at the Oscars 2024 for his work as in Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss, with the win marking a high point in a career full of dramatic twists and turns.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy in that order,” Downey began his speech, to laughs. “I’d like to thank my veterinarian — I mean wife, Susan Downey, over there. She found me a snarly, rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
After rising to earn a best actor nomination for the Charlie Chaplin biopic Chaplin (1992), Downey went on to earn a Golden Globe for his work on the hit TV hit Ally McBeal, but faced a career implosion following drug charges and time in prison. But then, his career had an...
- 3/11/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As “Oppenheimer” begins its expected steamroll” of many of the biggest categories at the 96th Academy Awards, Robert Downey Jr. has added yet another storybook ending to one of the greatest comebacks in modern Hollywood history. Downey has won the Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in “Oppenheimer,” beating out stiff competition including Robert De Niro for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Mark Ruffalo in “Poor Things,” Sterling K. Brown in “American Fiction,” and his Barbenheimer counterpart Ryan Gosling for “Barbie.”
This marks Downey’s first Oscar win on his third nomination. He earned rave reviews in 1992 for playing Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough’s “Chaplin,” which saw him portraying the silent film icon from his impoverished youth to his later years as a global superstar. That performance earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
This marks Downey’s first Oscar win on his third nomination. He earned rave reviews in 1992 for playing Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough’s “Chaplin,” which saw him portraying the silent film icon from his impoverished youth to his later years as a global superstar. That performance earned him his first Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
- 3/11/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Tony Stark and Charlie Chaplin stand as two of Robert Downey Jr.’s most iconic performances. And while Rdj may have expressed relief that Chaplin didn’t nab him an Academy Award, he’s well aware of its special place in his filmography. And he may have an unlikely person to thank for even landing the part – the same person who also passed on Iron Man: Tom Cruise.
In a new Vanity Fair profile, Downey offered his gratitude to Cruise, saying, “I think I’ve got to thank Tom Cruise for a couple of things.” Ahead of being cast in 1992’s Chaplin, Downey recalled meeting with its director, who was far more enamored with Cruise, then fresh off of Days of Thunder. “I went into my agency, and Richard Attenborough was in there. I guess someone had gotten him to take a meeting with me…He held up a picture of Tom Cruise.
In a new Vanity Fair profile, Downey offered his gratitude to Cruise, saying, “I think I’ve got to thank Tom Cruise for a couple of things.” Ahead of being cast in 1992’s Chaplin, Downey recalled meeting with its director, who was far more enamored with Cruise, then fresh off of Days of Thunder. “I went into my agency, and Richard Attenborough was in there. I guess someone had gotten him to take a meeting with me…He held up a picture of Tom Cruise.
- 2/25/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Marvel fans around the world are buzzing with excitement with rumors surrounding Henry Cavill’s potential entry into the superhero franchise MCU. Within these discussions, speculations have arisen that Zack Snyder, the Man of Steel director, might also be in talks to collaborate with the MCU, possibly on a long-awaited project that fans believe he is perfect for.
Henry Cavill is rumored to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe | A still from Man of Steel
These discussions further fuel the belief among fans that Kevin Feige, the head of the studio, could have grander and more thrilling plans in store for Phase 5 of the multiverse saga.
Marvel Fans Speculate Zack Snyder’s Potential MCU Entry
Known for his visually stunning and narratively complex style, Zack Snyder ventured into establishing a cinematic universe for DC with the 2013 film Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill. While the DC Extended Universe has concluded its chapter,...
Henry Cavill is rumored to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe | A still from Man of Steel
These discussions further fuel the belief among fans that Kevin Feige, the head of the studio, could have grander and more thrilling plans in store for Phase 5 of the multiverse saga.
Marvel Fans Speculate Zack Snyder’s Potential MCU Entry
Known for his visually stunning and narratively complex style, Zack Snyder ventured into establishing a cinematic universe for DC with the 2013 film Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill. While the DC Extended Universe has concluded its chapter,...
- 2/19/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
You never go full blackface. That is, unless you understand the joke. But for some – chiefly those who couldn’t pick up on the satire – Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder was too easy of a target: here was a white actor (playing a white actor) playing a Black character. But Rdj, as he should but shouldn’t have to, continues to defend Tropic Thunder.
To make his latest point, Downey Jr. noted on Rob Lowe’s podcast (via Variety) how All in the Family, the Norman Lear show that exposed bigotry in American culture via comedy, actually ran with a disclaimer saying just that. Like Tropic Thunder nearly three decades after All in the Family went off the air, it put a light on a number of common portrayals.
Regarding the disclaimer, Downey Jr. said, “The language was saying, ‘Hey, this is the reason that we’re doing these things that,...
To make his latest point, Downey Jr. noted on Rob Lowe’s podcast (via Variety) how All in the Family, the Norman Lear show that exposed bigotry in American culture via comedy, actually ran with a disclaimer saying just that. Like Tropic Thunder nearly three decades after All in the Family went off the air, it put a light on a number of common portrayals.
Regarding the disclaimer, Downey Jr. said, “The language was saying, ‘Hey, this is the reason that we’re doing these things that,...
- 1/14/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
"Iron Man 2" took some heat when it came out, but man does it look good looking back from 2023. And I'm saying that as someone who thinks the current state of the MCU is merely a hiccup and not the fall of Rome, like so many of my other online colleagues.
Sure, the movie has an abrupt ending, but, man, is there a ton of personality to it, thanks in large part to their choice of villain. Mickey Rourke is an imposing dude. A weird dude, most certainly, but one you don't want to mess with and one that you genuinely believe poses a threat to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark.
Rourke brings that sense of danger to this movie that seems to be missing from a lot of recent MCU entries. Kang (Jonathan Majors), for instance, doesn't come close to making me think the heroes are really up against the wall this time around.
Sure, the movie has an abrupt ending, but, man, is there a ton of personality to it, thanks in large part to their choice of villain. Mickey Rourke is an imposing dude. A weird dude, most certainly, but one you don't want to mess with and one that you genuinely believe poses a threat to Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark.
Rourke brings that sense of danger to this movie that seems to be missing from a lot of recent MCU entries. Kang (Jonathan Majors), for instance, doesn't come close to making me think the heroes are really up against the wall this time around.
- 12/18/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Robert Downey Jr. is a name everyone knows. His charismatic persona and ageless style has occupied the pop culture zeitgeist for the majority of the 21st century. Having topped Forbes’ list of Highest Paid Actors from 2012-2015 and winning a whopping seven People’s Choice Awards in the 2010s alone, he’s arguably the most popular actor of the 21st century. This is largely due to his portrayal of Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The box office success of his first film with Marvel, 2009’s “Iron Man,” marked the start of the most financially successful and iconic franchise in the history of modern cinema. Downey Jr. starred in 9 MCU films as Iron Man and in the process raked up just shy of $350 million in salary.
His final film as Stark, “Avengers: Endgame,” marked the end of a groundbreaking era for Hollywood. The film...
His final film as Stark, “Avengers: Endgame,” marked the end of a groundbreaking era for Hollywood. The film...
- 7/24/2023
- by Nick Bisa
- Gold Derby
While Tom Cruise is venturing to multiple premieres of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One around the globe, the Top Gun: Maverick star also expressed interest in returning to another of his beloved characters — Les Grossman from the comedy Tropic Thunder. It was thrown around that maybe there would be a spin-off with Grossman and Tom taking centerstage. Nothing has manifested so far, and Ben Stiller is recently finding new success with his AppleTV Original series, Severance.
One person who would love to return to the Tropic Thunder world is Robert Downey Jr. Downey unapologetically played the method actor Kirk Lazarus, who satirically and controversially donned blackface, which has now seemingly reached the point of retroactive criticism. Ben Stiller, who directed Tropic Thunder, stands by its irreverence and will not apologize in favor of “cancel culture.” It looks like Downey Jr. is game to make a sequel as the former...
One person who would love to return to the Tropic Thunder world is Robert Downey Jr. Downey unapologetically played the method actor Kirk Lazarus, who satirically and controversially donned blackface, which has now seemingly reached the point of retroactive criticism. Ben Stiller, who directed Tropic Thunder, stands by its irreverence and will not apologize in favor of “cancel culture.” It looks like Downey Jr. is game to make a sequel as the former...
- 6/23/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Comedians are having to reinvent themselves in the modern era of social awareness. Comedy has long been a device to promote social discourse, used as a space for comedians to bring awareness to social issues and get people talking about them. Think Norman Lear sitcoms like "All in the Family" or George Carlin's controversial takes on religion and media.
But with social media and a changing barometer of what's socially appropriate, the business of comedy is changing. For some, the threat of being canceled means taking past punch lines off the setlist. But not everyone is listening.
For example, in a time when transgender rights are being stripped, Ricky Gervais and Dave Chapelle still recently released Netflix specials that included transphobic jokes. It caused a fair amount of backlash, though neither has suffered any real consequence, short of one Chapelle show cancellation in Minneapolis.
Before we went all-in on cancel culture,...
But with social media and a changing barometer of what's socially appropriate, the business of comedy is changing. For some, the threat of being canceled means taking past punch lines off the setlist. But not everyone is listening.
For example, in a time when transgender rights are being stripped, Ricky Gervais and Dave Chapelle still recently released Netflix specials that included transphobic jokes. It caused a fair amount of backlash, though neither has suffered any real consequence, short of one Chapelle show cancellation in Minneapolis.
Before we went all-in on cancel culture,...
- 3/13/2023
- by Travis Yates
- Slash Film
When asked by a fan on Twitter to “stop apologizing” for his 2008 satirical comedy “Tropic Thunder,” Ben Stiller said that he makes “no apologies” for the film and that he’s still proud of it 15 years later.
“I make no apologies for ‘Tropic Thunder.’ Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it,” Stiller tweeted.
“Tropic Thunder” earned critical and audience acclaim when it was released for its biting, no-holds-barred mockery of all things Hollywood, from the fights between agents and studio executives to the lengths actors will go for a chance at an Oscar. Stiller directed the film and stars in it as Tugg Speedman, a declining action star looking for a career rebound by starring in a Vietnam War movie.
But when Tugg travels to Vietnam to shoot on location,...
“I make no apologies for ‘Tropic Thunder.’ Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it,” Stiller tweeted.
“Tropic Thunder” earned critical and audience acclaim when it was released for its biting, no-holds-barred mockery of all things Hollywood, from the fights between agents and studio executives to the lengths actors will go for a chance at an Oscar. Stiller directed the film and stars in it as Tugg Speedman, a declining action star looking for a career rebound by starring in a Vietnam War movie.
But when Tugg travels to Vietnam to shoot on location,...
- 2/25/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Earlier this week, a tweet claiming Ben Stiller had apologized for making his 2008 comedy Tropic Thunder went viral, leading to Stiller himself clarifying that wasn’t the case.
“Please stop apologizing for doing this movie,” read the original tweet. “It was and still is funny Af. Even funnier now with cancel culture the way it is. It’s a Movie. Ya’ll can just get over it. I was Dying laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else.”
Stiller, who directed and starred in Tropic Thunder, responded by saying, “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work that everyone did on it.”
As it turns out, a 2018 tweet by Stiller had resurfaced in which he mentioned the backlash to Tropic Thunder...
“Please stop apologizing for doing this movie,” read the original tweet. “It was and still is funny Af. Even funnier now with cancel culture the way it is. It’s a Movie. Ya’ll can just get over it. I was Dying laughing when I first saw it back in the day and so was everyone else.”
Stiller, who directed and starred in Tropic Thunder, responded by saying, “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work that everyone did on it.”
As it turns out, a 2018 tweet by Stiller had resurfaced in which he mentioned the backlash to Tropic Thunder...
- 2/24/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
Ben Stiller is still “proud” of Tropic Thunder, which he wrote and starred in, despite its controversial legacy.
The 2008 satire comedy about a group of hapless actors making a Vietnam War film famously featured Robert Downey Jr in blackface.
Downey Jr’s character is an Australian method actor, Kirk Lazarus, who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” to play an African-American soldier in the fictional film.
Though Downey Jr’s character was the butt of the joke, the decision to use blackface still attracted much criticism.
On Tuesday (21 February), Stiller responded to a fan on Twitter who asked the actor to “stop apologizing for doing this movie”.
Stiller replied saying he has never apologised for the film, which earned Downey Jr an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
“I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder,” the actor wrote. “Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened.
The 2008 satire comedy about a group of hapless actors making a Vietnam War film famously featured Robert Downey Jr in blackface.
Downey Jr’s character is an Australian method actor, Kirk Lazarus, who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” to play an African-American soldier in the fictional film.
Though Downey Jr’s character was the butt of the joke, the decision to use blackface still attracted much criticism.
On Tuesday (21 February), Stiller responded to a fan on Twitter who asked the actor to “stop apologizing for doing this movie”.
Stiller replied saying he has never apologised for the film, which earned Downey Jr an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
“I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder,” the actor wrote. “Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened.
- 2/24/2023
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - Film
Amid cancel culture, it seems Tropic Thunder would be one of the go-to targets–to people that completely miss the point. And it has been and remains so, with the topic coming up as recently as this week, forcing Ben Stiller to respond once again.
One Twitter user claiming that liberals have been allegedly trying to “cancel” Tropic Thunder…15 years after it came out. Ben Stiller replied, “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.” (It may be worth noting that “Benny S.” is clearly a conservative and may just be trying to get a rise.) You can see the exchange below:
I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened.
One Twitter user claiming that liberals have been allegedly trying to “cancel” Tropic Thunder…15 years after it came out. Ben Stiller replied, “I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.” (It may be worth noting that “Benny S.” is clearly a conservative and may just be trying to get a rise.) You can see the exchange below:
I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened.
- 2/24/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Despite the controversy surrounding the film, Ben Stiller is still “proud” of “Tropic Thunder”.
The 2008 action comedy features Robert Downey Jr. as Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus. Kirk undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery to play the role of a black man in a movie.
Critics have heavily scrutinized the use of Downey’s blackface in the film despite the actor earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars for the role.
Read More: Ben Stiller Turns 2022 Emmys Into Father-Daughter Date Night With Ella Stiller
Stiller’s character in the film has also attracted a myriad of controversies. His character in the movie, Tugg Speedman, plays the role of Simple Jack, who is meant to be a satire of actors who chase critical acclaim by playing disabled roles.
A fan took to Twitter on Feb. 21, where they asked Stiller to “stop apologizing for the film.”
I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder.
The 2008 action comedy features Robert Downey Jr. as Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus. Kirk undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery to play the role of a black man in a movie.
Critics have heavily scrutinized the use of Downey’s blackface in the film despite the actor earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Oscars for the role.
Read More: Ben Stiller Turns 2022 Emmys Into Father-Daughter Date Night With Ella Stiller
Stiller’s character in the film has also attracted a myriad of controversies. His character in the movie, Tugg Speedman, plays the role of Simple Jack, who is meant to be a satire of actors who chase critical acclaim by playing disabled roles.
A fan took to Twitter on Feb. 21, where they asked Stiller to “stop apologizing for the film.”
I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder.
- 2/23/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
When it comes to portrayals of people with intellectual disabilities, there will always be a time before and a time after that controversial R-word speech in "Tropic Thunder." It was crude, but before that, it never really occurred to me that non-disabled actors might see such roles as a route to acclaim and accolades. Afterwards, I couldn't look some prestige performances by certain Hollywood A-listers in the same way again.
In the context of the scene, multi-award winning method actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) is taking issue with Oscar-baiting performances, implying that his rival Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) only portrayed a character with a disability to fast-track his...
The post Rain Man Ending Explained: Bet Two for Good appeared first on /Film.
In the context of the scene, multi-award winning method actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) is taking issue with Oscar-baiting performances, implying that his rival Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) only portrayed a character with a disability to fast-track his...
The post Rain Man Ending Explained: Bet Two for Good appeared first on /Film.
- 4/21/2022
- by Lee Adams
- Slash Film
Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t dip his toes into the waters of comedy very often, but he really should because he’s brilliant at it. Ever since Iron Man launched the renaissance that transformed him from an also-ran into one of the biggest stars in the business, he’s only made two straight-up comedies, one of which saw him land an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his efforts.
While Ben Stiller has admitted that Tropic Thunder wouldn’t get made today, and some woke folks on the internet demanded that Downey Jr. apologize for wearing blackface in the movie despite never having seen it for themselves, he perfectly pitched his performance as Kirk Lazarus to poke fun at the entitlement of rich white dudes that think they can play any role they want regardless of race or gender.
Two years later he then teamed up with The Hangover...
While Ben Stiller has admitted that Tropic Thunder wouldn’t get made today, and some woke folks on the internet demanded that Downey Jr. apologize for wearing blackface in the movie despite never having seen it for themselves, he perfectly pitched his performance as Kirk Lazarus to poke fun at the entitlement of rich white dudes that think they can play any role they want regardless of race or gender.
Two years later he then teamed up with The Hangover...
- 9/2/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
With the world currently in the midst of a huge push for racial and social equality, the entertainment industry has been paying close attention, with the studios now removing movies and episodes of certain TV shows that people may deem offensive. Gone with the Wind was initially removed from HBO Max before returning with a new introduction, while The Dukes of Hazzard is heavily rumored to be next in line for the chopping block.
However, in some cases it feels more like a knee-jerk reaction without looking at the bigger picture, with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia losing an episode over depictions of blackface, even though the episode in question is designed entirely to show the ignorance that certain sections of society have over the offense it can cause.
Another example is Robert Downey Jr.’s Academy Award-nominated performance in Tropic Thunder, with a lot of folks demanding that he...
However, in some cases it feels more like a knee-jerk reaction without looking at the bigger picture, with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia losing an episode over depictions of blackface, even though the episode in question is designed entirely to show the ignorance that certain sections of society have over the offense it can cause.
Another example is Robert Downey Jr.’s Academy Award-nominated performance in Tropic Thunder, with a lot of folks demanding that he...
- 7/11/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Cancel culture has to be one of the worst things to have happened to society since social media became a ubiquitous part of everyday life for a lot of people, and while there’s often sound reasoning behind some of the targets, other times it just feels like the online flash-mob swells in numbers and turns something into a huge deal without knowing all of the facts.
One recent example saw people shocked that beloved Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. had worn blackface in Tropic Thunder, with demands for him to apologize immediately and have him forcibly removed from the top of the Hollywood A-list. The only problem was that a lot of those that were offended hadn’t even seen the movie, and therefore had no idea that the actor’s Academy Award-nominated performance as Kirk Lazarus existed entirely as a satirical look at the entitlement of white actors.
One recent example saw people shocked that beloved Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. had worn blackface in Tropic Thunder, with demands for him to apologize immediately and have him forcibly removed from the top of the Hollywood A-list. The only problem was that a lot of those that were offended hadn’t even seen the movie, and therefore had no idea that the actor’s Academy Award-nominated performance as Kirk Lazarus existed entirely as a satirical look at the entitlement of white actors.
- 6/27/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Robert Downey Jr. has had one hell of a career. Getting started back in 1985 as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, he’s now grown into a cultural phenomenon and played a bevy of memorable characters across various film series. He’s perhaps most well-known for his role as the lovable billionaire Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) in the McU. But now, over a decade after its release, one spectacular part has come back to haunt him.
A recent uprising on Twitter and other social media platforms has seen a very vocal group of people trying to ‘cancel’ Downey Jr. due to his use of blackface in the 2008 action-comedy Tropic Thunder. The film is actually about making a movie, and Rdj plays an intense method actor named Kirk Lazarus, who has an extremely controversial alteration to his pigmentation so that he can appear black to play the character Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris.
A recent uprising on Twitter and other social media platforms has seen a very vocal group of people trying to ‘cancel’ Downey Jr. due to his use of blackface in the 2008 action-comedy Tropic Thunder. The film is actually about making a movie, and Rdj plays an intense method actor named Kirk Lazarus, who has an extremely controversial alteration to his pigmentation so that he can appear black to play the character Staff Sergeant Lincoln Osiris.
- 5/1/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige recently described today’s internet culture as a ‘hell pit,’ and while his words might seem a little harsh to some people, they’re not entirely without merit, either. The social media age has given everyone the platform to voice their opinions on whatever they want however they want, and has also given rise to both the ‘toxic fandom’ movement and the so-called ‘cancel culture.’
Some fans have an increased sense of entitlement and ownership over brands or franchises that they hold dear, and seem to be under the impression that launching petitions about things they don’t like will suddenly cause Brie Larson to be dropped from the biggest role of her career, or that Lucasfilm will release J.J. Abrams’ director’s cut of The Rise of Skywalker despite no evidence that such a thing even exists. In fact, the only one of...
Some fans have an increased sense of entitlement and ownership over brands or franchises that they hold dear, and seem to be under the impression that launching petitions about things they don’t like will suddenly cause Brie Larson to be dropped from the biggest role of her career, or that Lucasfilm will release J.J. Abrams’ director’s cut of The Rise of Skywalker despite no evidence that such a thing even exists. In fact, the only one of...
- 5/1/2020
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Today (April 4th) marks the 55th birthday of the Hollywood legend that is Mr. Robert Downey Jr. The actor’s been a major name in the business for decades, earning himself an Oscar nomination back in 1992 for Chaplin, but as we all know, his portrayal of Tony Stark in the McU is what lifted him to a phenomenal level of fame and acclaim.
He officially vacated the role of Iron Man, at least on a regular basis, in last year’s Avengers: Endgame, but all the birthday messages that Marvel fans have been sharing on social media today make clear that his contribution to the franchise will never be forgotten.
To begin with, fan artist Boss Logic shared this awesome piece to commemorate Downey’s big day.
Happy 55 @RobertDowneyJr here is to a minimum of 55 more pic.twitter.com/CrzZDT3m3p
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) April 4, 2020
The one and only.
Happy...
He officially vacated the role of Iron Man, at least on a regular basis, in last year’s Avengers: Endgame, but all the birthday messages that Marvel fans have been sharing on social media today make clear that his contribution to the franchise will never be forgotten.
To begin with, fan artist Boss Logic shared this awesome piece to commemorate Downey’s big day.
Happy 55 @RobertDowneyJr here is to a minimum of 55 more pic.twitter.com/CrzZDT3m3p
— BossLogic (@Bosslogic) April 4, 2020
The one and only.
Happy...
- 4/4/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Let us travel back in time a bit, back to a period before Uber, The Masked Singer, and other atrocities. In 2008, the very same year that Iron Man would kick off the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. would take to the silver screens with a, uh, slightly more esoteric role as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder, the massive comedy hit. At the time, not much was made of Robert’s use of blackface. Now, however, it’s coming back to bite him, it seems.
Sitting down with walking Hgh factory Joe Rogan on his podcast to promote Dolittle which, weird choice but okay, the host asked Downey Jr. about the role and the actor’s choice to don blackface, and Iron Man had this to say in response:
“I think having a moral psychology is job one. Sometimes, you just gotta go, ‘Yeah I effed up.’ In my defense,...
Sitting down with walking Hgh factory Joe Rogan on his podcast to promote Dolittle which, weird choice but okay, the host asked Downey Jr. about the role and the actor’s choice to don blackface, and Iron Man had this to say in response:
“I think having a moral psychology is job one. Sometimes, you just gotta go, ‘Yeah I effed up.’ In my defense,...
- 1/24/2020
- by Josh Heath
- We Got This Covered
Robert Downey Jr. is opening up about his controversial role in Tropic Thunder 12 years after making the film.
While promoting his new movie Dolittle, the actor, 54, spoke candidly about one of his most debated characters, Kirk Lazarus, during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
In the 2008 Ben Stiller-directed satire, Downey Jr. played a committed Australian method actor who surgically darkened his skin for the role of a black soldier in a war movie.
“My mother was horrified,” Downey Jr. admitted while looking back at the casting process.
“‘Bobby, I’m telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.
While promoting his new movie Dolittle, the actor, 54, spoke candidly about one of his most debated characters, Kirk Lazarus, during a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
In the 2008 Ben Stiller-directed satire, Downey Jr. played a committed Australian method actor who surgically darkened his skin for the role of a black soldier in a war movie.
“My mother was horrified,” Downey Jr. admitted while looking back at the casting process.
“‘Bobby, I’m telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.
- 1/21/2020
- by Georgia Slater
- PEOPLE.com
Robert Downey Jr. reignited his career by launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Iron Man” in 2008, which just so happens to be the year he threatened to ruin his career by going blackface for “Tropic Thunder.” Ben Stiller’s Hollywood satire cast Downey Jr. as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery to darken his skin in order to play a black character in a war movie. Downey Jr. appears in blackface for the majority of “Tropic Thunder,” a decision that has continued to spark debate and court controversy for 12 years and counting. Downey Jr. looked back at the casting while promoting “Doolittle” on a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
“My mother was horrified,” Downey Jr. said. “‘Bobby, I’m telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.’ I was like, ‘Yeah me too, mom.’ When Ben called and said, ‘Hey I...
“My mother was horrified,” Downey Jr. said. “‘Bobby, I’m telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.’ I was like, ‘Yeah me too, mom.’ When Ben called and said, ‘Hey I...
- 1/21/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
In retrospect, it seems surprising that Robert Downey Jr.’s blackface in Tropic Thunder passed without controversy. Released in 2008, the same year that Downey Jr. made his career-defining debut as Tony Stark in Iron Man, the movie sees him playing Kirk Lazarus, who’s the epitome of a method actor, donning blackface to play an African-American soldier named Lincoln Osiris.
The film gets away with this by lampshading how offensive, stupid and racist Lazarus is being. The character is a parody of actors who take themselves too seriously and performances in which actors don dramatic prosthetics to drastically alter their appearance. But even though the film is making fun of those that would do blackface, it’s still blackface. And let’s face it, in 2020, this character would launch a million opinion columns.
Downey Jr. recently appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast where he was asked about the role,...
The film gets away with this by lampshading how offensive, stupid and racist Lazarus is being. The character is a parody of actors who take themselves too seriously and performances in which actors don dramatic prosthetics to drastically alter their appearance. But even though the film is making fun of those that would do blackface, it’s still blackface. And let’s face it, in 2020, this character would launch a million opinion columns.
Downey Jr. recently appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast where he was asked about the role,...
- 1/17/2020
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
The summer of Robert Downey Jr. is halfway over, with Iron Man fading into the ether at the box office, but soon enough, he'll be everywhere again in support of his new comedy, Tropic Thunder. I've never spoken to Ben Stiller so I don't have any idea what his personality is like (some comedians, you know, are real jackasses), but I wonder if he's Ok with all the attention being on Downey. After all, Stiller's technically the lead and it's a movie he wrote and directed. Nobody cares about that, though; they just want to see Iron Man in blackface.
Well, we get to see a little bit more of that - although what's most revealing is the pre-surgery Kirk Lazarus - in the new international trailer for Tropic Thunder.
I wish they'd kept Danny McBride's pantsuit line in this one. Oh well. Seek it out if you haven't heard it.
Well, we get to see a little bit more of that - although what's most revealing is the pre-surgery Kirk Lazarus - in the new international trailer for Tropic Thunder.
I wish they'd kept Danny McBride's pantsuit line in this one. Oh well. Seek it out if you haven't heard it.
- 7/8/2008
- by Colin Boyd
- GetTheBigPicture.net
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