Hollywood Wouldn't Back Lucas Film About Tuskegee Airmen Due to All Black Cast

[GriLtCheeZ]

Except, obviously, releasing all six episodes in theaters in 3D. Other than that he's stepping away.

Remember when Jar-Jar Binks stepped in the poop and then hopped around on one foot in exasperation? Yeah, the fans are too hard on 'ol George.

No I don't remember the Jar Jar step in poop scene. I only watched Episode I once right when it came out. I've probably seen Episode III 50 or 60 times and I'm pretty sure there wasn't one black person in that movie.

 

[speeds]

Come at me bro.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

No I don't remember the Jar Jar step in poop scene. I only watched Episode I once right when it came out. I've probably seen Episode III 50 or 60 times and I'm pretty sure there wasn't one black person in that movie.

episode 3 has samuel motherfucking jackson getting thrown out a window with his arm chopped off

 

[speeds]

People complained about the lack of diversity in Episode IV when it came out. There were British accents in the future but only whites.

 

[speeds]

Lucas whines about THX and American Graffiti being re-edited by the studios but there is a longstanding rumour that Star Wars, in its original Lucas cut, was a complete mess, and that only by having competent editors come in and save it was it turned into a great film. The best film of the series (V) wasn't written or directed by Lucas (although he still feels he has the right to make endless alterations to it).

 

[3RA1N1AC]

lucas should sell the rights to chris nolan or someone that could do episode 7-9 justice, i would go see those in a heartbeat

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

episode 3 has samuel motherfucking jackson getting thrown out a window with his arm chopped off

oops I meant Episode 4.

 

[Natebishop3]

There are four big Black movie stars that come to my mind immediately and probably to the average public. Will. Denzel. Halle. Freeman.

Four.

This is kind of ridiculous... I mean, the first name that popped in my head after I saw your list was Don Cheadle, but Maris has a point. There are a number of other great black actors.... or are you talking about SUPER STARS who command the big bucks?

 

[speeds]

oops I meant Episode 4.

You're right Hope is basically all-white aside from Vader's voice. Empire is deliberately more diverse as a response to the criticism of there being no minorities in space (often falsely referred to as the future despite the fact the film takes place "a long time ago").

I refrained from questioning why on Earth you would watch Episode 6 that many times... Watching it once is exhausting.

 

[Denny Crane]

This is kind of ridiculous... I mean, the first name that popped in my head after I saw your list was Don Cheadle, but Maris has a point. There are a number of other great black actors.... or are you talking about SUPER STARS who command the big bucks?

Big bucks, get to pick their roles, get scripts written for them, big advertising after the picture is made.

 

[porkchopexpress]

This is kind of ridiculous... I mean, the first name that popped in my head after I saw your list was Don Cheadle, but Maris has a point. There are a number of other great black actors.... or are you talking about SUPER STARS who command the big bucks?

That is the point that Maris has failed to grasp (or chosen to ignore). No one here was saying there aren't talented black actors. What I and Denny were saying that there are only a few black movie stars (ones who can sell a movie on their name alone, or star (not support) in a top TV show. Don Cheadle, while a very good actor, does not fall into this definition of star. Neither does "the friend" on Mike and Molly. I think the studios would put out anyone who will sell. My point was that a movie that stars a black lead (excluding those few stars) is a tough sell, and that falls on the viewing public more than anything.

 

[speeds]

Ebert is impressed by the entertaining visuals but less so by the lack of historical nuance. He basically says its a flashy movie about dogfights and special effects that lacks substance. Imagine that.

"Red Tails" is entertaining. Audiences are likely to enjoy it. The scenes of aerial combat are skillfully done and exciting. It makes the point that the airmen were skilled and courageous, and played a historic role in the eventual integration of our armed services. "Red Tails" could have done more than that, by more firmly establishing the atmosphere of the Jim Crow South that surrounded most of the airmen in their childhoods. They had a higher mountain to climb than many white pilots and reached higher on its slopes.

...

Years ago, my father had a friend who flew bombers over Germany. He spoke of the immediate reality that each mission could very likely be the last. Here, I didn't feel fear as the pilots took off. They had pride, patriotism and zeal, yes, but their hands must have been sweating and their guts must have been churning. I would have appreciated their thoughtful late-night conversations about the meaning of it all.

In Spike Lee's "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008), which has some of that anger, there is a flashback to a scene of black American soldiers in the Deep South being refused service by a restaurant that does accept Nazis from a nearby POW camp.

The film is currently at 48/100 on Meta after the first four reviews.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

That is the point that Maris has failed to grasp (or chosen to ignore). No one here was saying there aren't talented black actors. What I and Denny were saying that there are only a few black movie stars (ones who can sell a movie on their name alone, or star (not support) in a top TV show. Don Cheadle, while a very good actor, does not fall into this definition of star. Neither does "the friend" on Mike and Molly. I think the studios would put out anyone who will sell. My point was that a movie that stars a black lead (excluding those few stars) is a tough sell, and that falls on the viewing public more than anything.

And my point would be that the proportion of black stars to white stars in America is probably comparable to the proportion of black residents to white residents, and that to expect there not to be a preponderance of white stars (or complain about it) is silly and pointless.

 

[porkchopexpress]

And my point would be that the proportion of black stars to white stars in America is probably comparable to the proportion of black residents to white residents, and that to expect there not to be a preponderance of white stars (or complain about it) is silly and pointless.

Of the top 15 earners in 2011, 1 was black. Not quite representative. How many network TV shows have a POC as the star? And again "the friend" on Mike and Molly does not count as a star.

 

[PapaG]

"It’s very patriotic, very jingoistic, very old-fashioned, corny..." -George Lucas

Previews definitely give this vibe, which makes me want to see it. I'm all about the Ghost Protocols and stuff, but sometimes I enjoy the simple, corny stuff as well.

That's why Hollyweird wouldn't back it. If Lucas had changed the Tuskegee Airmen to an all-white unit who brutally tortures some innocent enemies, he'd probably get an Oscar for his efforts.

 

[PapaG]

Your suggestion that minorities are not featured on network TV is ridiculous.

Out of curiosity, who is the modern Sherman Hemsley? Hell, I remember when Jackee' had a Top 20 TV show with 227. Redd Foxx was arguably on the same level as Carroll O'Connor and Henry Winkler in the '70s in terms of being a comedic lead.

I admit that I don't watch much network TV these days, because I don't really find much there outside of sports that interests me, but who are the major black leads on network TV today? Is there anything like Good Times, or What's Happenin', or even Benson on TV now, where a black male is the 'star' of the show, or with an all-black cast?

 

[PapaG]

Instantly recognizable as...hey, that's that dude from ER. Who gives a shit.

I forgot Eriq La Salle was on ER. I never watched it. I do remember him as the Soul Glo dickish boyfriend in Coming to America!

[video=youtube;sr7XI5auZMU]

 

[RR7]

Out of curiosity, who is the modern Sherman Hemsley? Hell, I remember when Jackee' had a Top 20 TV show with 227. Redd Foxx was arguably on the same level as Carroll O'Connor and Henry Winkler in the '70s in terms of being a comedic lead.

I admit that I don't watch much network TV these days, because I don't really find much there outside of sports that interests me, but who are the major black leads on network TV today? Is there anything like Good Times, or What's Happenin', or even Benson on TV now, where a black male is the 'star' of the show, or with an all-black cast?

I think there's quite a few, but not on the "big 3" networks. Tons though on UPN/WB/whatever the hell those two networks are called now.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

That's why Hollyweird wouldn't back it. If Lucas had changed the Tuskegee Airmen to an all-white unit who brutally tortures some innocent enemies, he'd probably get an Oscar for his efforts.

Yeah Lucas should have made mention of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment.

 

[Natebishop3]

I loved the original Tuskegee Airman movie, so this one has a high bar to reach. I don't have a lot of faith in Lucas at this point in his career.

 

[speeds]

So as it turns out, Red Tails stinks, is still scoring under 50 on MetaCritic, and has pulled-in $19-million in the box office, well on it's way to being a flop.

Maybe when Lucas screened the film for distributors and they passed on it, racism in Hollywood was less the issue and Lucas being a fucking shit filmmaker more so. Lucas, the deluded egomaniac he is, probably couldn't handle another of his films being panned so he came up with the racism issue. Bleeding heart liberals like Oprah and Jon Stewart were quick to hop on his nuts.

An issue that (according to most reviews) he handles like a rabid bear would handle a Lalique vase in the film, BTW.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/01/27/red-tails-makes-top-box-office-debut/

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

@ "top box office" being #2.

Its going to have a huge dropoff. Especially for a George Lucas action movie, the pro-black marketing probably gave it a bump, especially for MLK Jr day. But overall, the focus of marketing it like they did will ultimately hurt sales, not help them. Making something less campy and more serious a film would have done wonders. The entire premise of the tuskegee airmen could have made into an oscar winning movie, but the ridiculousness of it all probably ensures it to being a failure.

 

[speeds]

http://rapfix.mtv.com/2012/01/27/red-tails-makes-top-box-office-debut/

You're so cute, Denny, I just want to hug you and dress you up in onesies.

Red Tails debuted during the dead season of film releases. The January 20th weekend releases were Underworld: Awakening (grossed more) and Haywire (less). That's it. So it came second out of three films.

Not exactly ET vs. Blade Runner, here.

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Plus, is there a market overseas for an American war film? I doubt it.

Anyway, I saw it with my dad and it wasn't very good overall, but had a moment or two.

 

[speeds]

Plus, is there a market overseas for an American war film? I doubt it.

Anyway, I saw it with my dad and it wasn't very good overall, but had a moment or two.

Sure, if it's good.

Saving Private Ryan made more outside the US than in it (265 vs 216).

 

[speeds]

Bleeding heart liberals like Oprah and Jon Stewart were quick to hop on his nuts.

Speaking of whom...

1982

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Sure, if it's good.

Saving Private Ryan made more outside the US than in it (265 vs 216).

I knew someone would say that. I think you are mostly right though, if the movie was better and had bigger stars it'd be an easier sell even these days.

 

[speeds]

I knew someone would say that. I think you are mostly right though, if the movie was better and had bigger stars it'd be an easier sell even these days.

It's unfair to compare it to SPR. Maybe more fair to compare it (at this point) to Miracle at St-Anna, which was also negatively reviewed and did very poorly in the box office.

 

[MARIS61]

And my point would be that the proportion of black stars to white stars in America is probably comparable to the proportion of black residents to white residents, and that to expect there not to be a preponderance of white stars (or complain about it) is silly and pointless.

I would also think you have to consider the audience and acting pool to be of similar proportions.