More 'Tropic Thunder' Posters
Filed under: Action, Comedy, Dreamworks, Movie Marketing, Posters
I really think that if Tropic Thunder lives up to our expectations, this may very well be the "Summer of Downey." For starters, I'm already sold on Iron Man, and believe me, it has nothing to do with a love of men in big metal suits. Paramount Pictures has released three new character posters for the action comedy and there is just something about Downey's whacked out expression that brings a smile to my face. Although to be fair, I'm steering clear of the whole 'black face' debate until I actually see the movie. Especially since it seems a little early in the game to start crying "racist" when no one has even seen Downey's performance yet.Thunder was written and directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars as a spoiled action star cast in a big budget war flick that is spiraling out of control. Tired of dealing with spoiled stars and unruly locations, the director (played by Steve Coogan) decides to drop his actors in the middle of a real armed conflict in hopes of adding some 'verité' to the film. Of course, the actors are all clueless of the fact they are no longer in the cozy confines of a movie set and wackiness ensues.
So place your bets: Do you think Tropic Thunder is going to be this summer's big comedy? We'll find out if Stiller can live up to the hype when the film opens in theaters on August 15th. Check out larger versions of all three posters, plus additional photos from the film in the gallery below.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-09-2008 @ 9:13PM
Peter Hall said...
I will never, ever grow tired of that picture, that expression, or that voice.
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4-10-2008 @ 9:03AM
John R said...
I am Black. I say Black and not African-American as I was born in Panama, so it negates the "African" and I wasn't American until I was 6 or 7 (can't remember). But that doesn't make me immune to what Blacks (Afro-American or otherwise) go through on a regular basis. So things like blackface, Laurence Olivier's "Othello" and "Birth of a Nation" really burn me up.
After watching the trailer to "Tropic Thunder", however, I am NOT offended in the LEAST. I was laughing out loud in my cubicle when I watched the trailer.
I'll explain. In watching it, I, at least, got the impression that the whole "super serious actor is so serious about his role that he alters his face" succinctly describes Hollywood whitewashing in general (which as of late, is occuring with primarily Asians and Asian properties). The practice smacks of SO much effort it's pathetically humorous.
Downey's character trying to act Black just smacks of so much effort you can't help but laugh. I mean he's citing "The Jeffersons" theme song in order to console, identify or somehow register with the other Black cast member (who is actually Black, so there is no confusion) for crying out loud. Who does that?
At the same time, from briefly watching Downey, it's not overtly "wigger"-ish a la Jamie Kennedy's approach. It is really a tempered and cautious thinking man's approach of trying too hard at being Black, such a thing I never thought possible. I, at first thought it was Gary Dourdan apeing the likes of Fishburne, Hounsou and Gossett Jr.
Then again, maybe I'm reading into this too much. Either way its hilarious to me.
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4-10-2008 @ 10:39AM
kevjohn said...
The only thing greter than the Robert Downey Jr. poster is the Jack Black poster! And the Jack Black poster isn't at all controversial, since he really is black. Jack black.
I want them both, but I'll wait to see how good the movie is before I plaster these on my walls.
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4-10-2008 @ 1:54PM
Christian said...
At least he's not playing a woman.
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