- Title: USA: Tropic Thunder premieres amid protests
- Date: 14th August 2008
- Summary: WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 11, 2008) (REUTERS) "TROPIC THUNDER" POSTERS ON RED CARPET WIDE SHOT OF RED CARPET AT "TROPIC THUNDER" PREMIERE CAST PLUS CAMEOS OF TROPIC THUNDER: BEN STILLER, ROBERT DOWNEY JR, JACK BLACK, MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY, TOM CRUISE, BRANDON JACKSON, NICK NOLTE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BEN STILLER, WRITER, ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER OF "TROPI
- Embargoed: 29th August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAB13SJEVJ2QHB20W3KCJ55JCFE
- Story Text: Hollywood's comedy A-list took to the red carpet in Los Angeles for the premiere of "Tropic Thunder" on Monday (August 11). The film, directed, co-written, and produced by Ben Stiller features a high powered cast including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Nick Nolte. The movie is a film within a film that takes aim at the inflated egos of Hollywood.
The film is far from controversy free. Robert Downey Jr. plays a white actor playing a black man with dark make-up, venturing into the racially charged territory of blackface.
Another sticking point brought dozens of protesters outside the premiere. Advocacy groups for the disabled have called for a national boycott of the film, citing a negative portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.The groups take offence at the repeated use of "retard" to refer to a character, Simple Jack - a role played by Stiller's "Thunder" character in a film within the film.
When asked about the controversy, Ben Stiller says it was never his intention.
"I totally respect their point of view," Stiller said.
"All I can says is making the movie and the multiple screenings, the hundreds of screenings, we were really aware of the feedback coming to us from audiences. I'm sorry that they have this opinion. I know that the people organizing this had not seen the film. I think that in the context of the movie it's really clear where we were coming from. It was not meant to offend anybody. When you're making an R- rated comedy sometimes that happens. But it was really clear, in our point of view, where our humour was coming from, and it was at the expense of the actors."
Among those in attendance at the premiere was Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Cruise has a cameo in the film where he plays a fat, balding, dork film backer that dances. It's a role that many are talking about.
The film opens on Wednesday, August 13th. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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