"A Racist Heart"?

[Modernistfan]

I have not and will not see the movie "A Mighty Heart" for one reason: the casting of Angelina Jolie, essentially in blackface, as Mariane Pearl, a woman of Afro-Cuban, Dutch, and Asian ancestry.

I now understand why so many people around the world hate Hollywood and what it stands for: the trashing of not only internationalist high culture, perhaps symbolized by our common interest, classical music, but also indigenous cultures.

Ms. Jolie loves to trumpet her liberalism and her love for the underprivileged. If she really had the courage of her convictions, she would have said: "I'm sorry, but I am not right for this role; please cast a women of color in it." She could even have recommended an up-and-coming actress who might have fit the role better and could have used a break, given the continuing discrimination in Hollywood against actors and actresses of color. Her taking this role speaks volumes that her liberalism is just a sham and a scam.

Notice that they bothered to cast the role of Daniel Pearl with a Jewish-
American actor, Dan Futterman.

For shame. Daniel Pearl's legacy deserved better.

[piston]

[Barry]

I get your larger point. But this isn't exactly Al Jolson redux. Pearl is of Dutch-Jewish, Afro-Latino-Cuban and Chinese Cuban ancestry.
Jolie's mother has (had?) a significant amount of American Indian blood.

It's not exactly an Anglo playing an African-American. Where would you draw the line? Should the studio have kept looking until they found someone part Dutch, part Jewish, Part Chinese and part Afro-Cuban?

[Modernistfan]

No, to attempt to replicate that unlikely combination would have been unreasonable. They should, however, have been able to find someone who would not have had to play the role in blackface.

[Barry]

Again, I think you're going over the top. Ms. Pearl's skin tone isn't exactly common in the U.S. Would you be complaining if they used an African-American actress whose skin is darker than Pearl's by a similar degree to which Jolie's is lighter?
There is no comparison to what was done with black-faced actors like Jolson decades ago IMO.

[Modernistfan]

Ms. Pearl's skin tone is hardly all that uncommon in the United States now. Why not a Latino actress?

The film is more about Ms. Jolie's ego than any real message.

Her liberalism is of a piece with those Hollywood types who scream loudly about offshore oil drilling and nuclear power and yet tool around in Hummers and 12-cylinder BMW's and Mercedes that get 8-10 mpg in city driving.

[Barry]

Ms. Pearl's skin tone is hardly all that uncommon in the United States now. Why not a Latino actress?

The film is more about Ms. Jolie's ego than any real message.

Since you haven't seen it, I'd hardly say you're qualified to make that judgment (I haven't seen it either, and may not, although not for the reason you have brought up..........I just don't go to a lot of movies).

[Chalkperson]

Ms. Pearl's skin tone is hardly all that uncommon in the United States now. Why not a Latino actress?

The film is more about Ms. Jolie's ego than any real message.

Do you seriously think they would have made this movie if Ms Jolie had not been the star...and it tanked anyway, even with her in it...

[BWV 1080]

This is an outrage on par with the half-Indian they got to play Itzhak Stern in Schindler's List

[Haydnseek]

Anthony Quinn must have been a nighmare for you: a Mexican of part Irish ancestry who was cast as a Greek, Arab, Jew, Russian, Spaniard, Italian, Polish-American and so on.

[Corlyss_D]

I now understand why so many people around the world hate Hollywood and what it stands for: the trashing of not only internationalist high culture, perhaps symbolized by our common interest, classical music, but also indigenous cultures.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight! That's why they pay all that money to see the movies, why they try so hard to immitate the genres and the production values. Thanks for reminding me . . .

Anthony Quinn must have been a nighmare for you: a Mexican of part Irish ancestry who was cast as a Greek, Arab, Jew, Russian, Spaniard, Italian, Polish-American and so on.

To quote Les Nessman,

<div align="center">O! The Humanity!</div>

[pizza]

Anthony Quinn must have been a nighmare for you: a Mexican of part Irish ancestry who was cast as a Greek, Arab, Jew, Russian, Spaniard, Italian, Polish-American and so on.

All in one movie?

[Haydnseek]

I don't think the image above of Mrs. Pearl does her justice. Ms. Jolie isn't attractive enough for the role. Maybe if she undergoes lip-reduction surgery. Could the excess material be recycled into a new set of Firestones or something?

[Corlyss_D]

Ms. Jolie isn't attractive enough for the role.

My thought too.

[Barry]

Ms. Jolie isn't attractive enough for the role.

My thought too.

This has no relevance to the issue this thread is about, and I have no opinion of her as an actress since I can't recall seeing any of her films, but I think you're both nuts to say that. If you're only talking appearance, I don't believe it's possible for there to be a role she's not attractive enough for.

[pizza]

Ms. Jolie isn't attractive enough for the role.

My thought too.

This has no relevance to the issue this thread is about, and I have no opinion of her as an actress since I can't recall seeing any of her films, but I think you're both nuts to say that. If you're only talking appearance, I don't believe it's possible for there to be a role she's not attractive enough for.

How about Eleanor Roosevelt!

[Corlyss_D]

Ms. Jolie isn't attractive enough for the role.

My thought too.

This has no relevance to the issue this thread is about.

So?

I dismissed the original topic as too silly to be taken seriously and thought we'd talk about something with more heft, like whether she was suitable for the part. I don't particularly care for her looks (no offense). I've never seen her in a role that I didn't think they could have done much better in casting.

[Barry]

Ms. Jolie isn't attractive enough for the role.

My thought too.

This has no relevance to the issue this thread is about.

So?

I dismissed the original topic as too silly to be taken seriously and thought we'd talk about something with more heft, like whether she was suitable for the part. I don't particularly care for her looks (no offense). I've never seen her in a role that I didn't think they could have done much better in casting.

You might be right about her being frequently mis-cast. I wouldn't know. But just based on photos I've seen of her, that face is about as alluring as any I can think of.