Some people don’t like the idea of an American playing James Bond, they want to keep Bond played by any actor from United Kingdom area (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales)
I still haven’t heard anybody complaining about Charlton Heston playing Moses in Ten Commandments when Heston was not even a Jew.
People didn’t mind Robert Downey Jr. playing an Australian who’s also playing an African American, hardly anybody thoughts it was stereotypical, he even received an Oscar nomination. I thought his performance was brilliant by the way.
In fact Tropic Thunder was criticized more for its humor on the develop-mentally disabled.
When Ziyi Zhang got to play the lead in Memoirs Of A Geisha, I heard some in the Asian community consider it not cool that Zhang, a Chinese, was playing a Japanese character.
There’s a debate out there whether CAPTAIN AMERICA in the upcoming Marvels’ live action movie, can be played by a Non-American actor
I know for sure that some fans think Jake Gyllenhaal doesn’t look Persian therefore PRINCE OF PERSIA the movie is going to stink because of that reason alone.
Christian Bale and Russell Crowe playing American cowboys (3:10 To Yuma), Paul Bettany playing a Southerner (Secret Life Of Bees), Michael Caine for his New England accent (The Cider House Roles), these actor received praises for their performances.
I’m Asian and a long time ago when I heard that Clint Eastwood was looking for people to play Hmong in Gran Torino, I contacted the casting director and she said they’re only looking for Hmong actors, which I find odd because I could swear that some of the actors playing Japanese soldiers in Clint Eastwood’s Letters From Iwo Jima were Koreans and Chinese, not all of them were Japanese.
So how do you decide which ones you’re okay with and which ones you think is offensive?
Do you let it slip by if the character was played by a great actor like Anthony Hopkins (Nixon, Amistad)?
So the actors have to really really really try look the part to deserve audience’s approval?
Maybe PRINCE OF PERSIA crew didn’t do a good job of prepping Jake to look more Persian-like? If Jake did some pitch perfect Persian accent, then would that make it acceptable?
Does it make a difference if they’re playing real life or fictional characters?
Do Actors have to match the ethnic/race of the characters of they play?
Well if you do have an actor that can match the role why not use it. Using a somebody that matches does make the movie more enjoyable. I can imagine the a riot in hollywood if they did Frost/Nixon and Nixon was played by Samual L Jackson.”Yes I hope the Vietcong would die and I hope I they burn in hell!” That would be funny as hell I can just imagine the WTF look on Michael Sheen’s face.
But it does throw me off when an ethnic role is played by someone who does match it at all. I mean not even close and don;t try to match to at all. Yes….the prince of persia is a perfect example. Jake Gyllenhal. Great actor and all but what the (beep) is doing playing an arabian when he doesn’t even get a tan for christ sake. Seriously if you don;t have the time….airbrush that bitch. The guy looks pale as he did on bubbleboy. I mean if you are gonna lie to me at least do it with some style.
The production crew could’ve have at least done something to make him look arabian. They didn;t even try. Just make him wearing tight hot pants and vest, give him a wig and he’s good to go. Yeah I’m convienced. What’s the problem afraid of give a Jakey a tan thinking people would mistake it for being blackfaced? I just hate seeing good ethnic actors getting passed over for some valley boy getting the part cause he’s so HAWT!
I think going out of the match should be the last resort. There is always someone who can do the role that has the right ethnic match you just have to look. Even if they don’t fit. There is someone that can fool you. List of examples
Hugh Jackman. Austailian played a Canadian, Englishman, American
Eric Bana Australian played Greek, American, English,
Christian Bale English played an Irish, American, Hispanic
Colin Farrel Irish played Italian, Redneck, greek, english
I would put down Anthony Hopkins but in my opinion I don’t think he plays other ethnics parts very well. His english accent keeps ruining it. Best example is Human Stain and World’s fast indian.
But really in the end you should first try to get the real deal. Like with the captain america movie. It would be nice to get a native for the part if you can;t get someone who looks and talks as close as an american. It would suck see captain america have an english accent. I know I would have nightmares of General Livingston from the Revolutionary wars rise from the grave saying “GOTCHA BITCH! VICTORY IS FINALLY MINE! God bless the queen!”