Why a Brown Boyfriend?
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danixdefcon5 — 17 years ago(May 18, 2008 08:50 PM)
Yeah right. There are lots of scenarios you don't mention though; like black vs. hispanic and such. The Cambodian actor from The Killing Fields was killed by a black guy, but do I think that all blacks are criminals? Nope. Timothy McVeigh was a white dude should I think that all whites are terrorists?
Truth is that crime strikes anyone. Minorities aren't specifically targeting "all those white people", just people. Period. -
farodelava — 17 years ago(May 18, 2008 02:43 PM)
Ah..this all sounds ridiculous..it's not like Jodi and Naveen or Terrence were hooking up in "real life". She doesn't even swing that way from rumors.
The color wasn't important in the casting choice, it was the actor and their ability. I thought it was very well casted.
Do you Think Nevin's character in I am Legend was written as a black man from a book in the by Richard Matheson???
You need a good actor to carry a film..color need not be consideredanother good one would be Denzel's little lauded movie, Man on Fire
"But it's not for eating. It's for lookin through." -
Dyellyc — 17 years ago(May 23, 2008 04:37 AM)
"I just thought it was random that Foster had a brown boyfriend. I know, I know, it doesn't matter or anything and it actually works with Howard being brown (or a light skinned black man, call it whatever) and reminding Foster of her boyfriend, but I also saw it as a random sort of casting choice. "
Does it really matter? I'm surprised since you say you are brown.
Just when you think we get over the black remarks I hope we are not going to start on brown.
I hope that people don't replace a colour when they may really focusing on religion.
I can't bare any of that. We're all the same, stop the biggots. -
koffeenkreame41-1 — 11 years ago(July 07, 2014 12:04 AM)
Well said, why should it matter? Maybe Foster thought Naveen was a good actor and/or good looking.
Maybe, same for Howard too. I remember she really wanted to play Detective Mercer, after seeing his performances in Crash and Hustle & Flow.
"I am the ultimate badass, you do not wanna*beep*wit me!"- Hudson in Aliens. -
nestafan2 — 17 years ago(August 15, 2008 05:22 PM)
When did white women dating men of color became an anomaly? How exactly is it "weird" to see this on screen? It sounds like the poster meant to say it's not unusual to see a white woman with a black man, but it is unusual to see a white woman with an Indian man. Who knows? But if the thread starter is "brown", how was this movie pairing a shock?
Truth is the weapon we fear the most. -
johndeckbose — 17 years ago(August 15, 2008 07:43 PM)
Very simple. To show that Foster's character is not a racist.
If there was anything that pointed to that notion, it would make her character unsympathetic, as she guns down, mostly, people of color.
And while this seems simplistic, let me just relate a Hollywood casting anecdote. When Steve Martin wanted to do a remake of "Cyrano de Bergerac" (which became "Roxanne"), Hollywood types were concerned that Darryl Hannah couldn't play the part of a brainy scientist type.
The solution, they said, was to have her wear glasses.
In the philosophy of the Hollywood studio, glasses were all that was necessary to make a previously ditzy actress seem cerebral.
So, giving Jodie Foster a boyfriend "of color" assuaged all concerns that her character might be seen as racist. -
bilko-1 — 17 years ago(August 26, 2008 11:06 AM)
"this could be the stupidest post I've ever read."
You clearly don't read many posts on IMDB!
I think that this is an interesting question, as it is quite unusual to have a relationship of mixed races in a mainstream Hollywood movie. Those posts that suggest that it is related to the fact that non-whites make up the majority of those that are gunned down in the film could be correct. On the other hand it could be completely random. New York is certainly a "melting pot" and I think that the film reflected this very well. I would have thought that it would be important to resist any racist overtones that may appear and I think that this was handled admirably. The trick is to do it an an unselfconscious way and some may argue that this was not achieved. I still maintain that this was a worthwhile post and would question the intelligence of the poster who ranked it as stupid. -
Vashti13 — 17 years ago(August 26, 2008 06:46 PM)
Johndeckbose and Bilko-1 give thoughtful answers to a genuine question that most respondents shrugged off with derision.
None of the casting was accidental. Hollywood (especially for big-budget/big-name movies) NEVER does anything accidentally. So the original poster (IMO), was asking a question alluding to the meaning of the very careful and deliberate casting choices.
And when you are this careful and deliberate in making some choices then why are you? The reasons for -those- choices are as meaningful as the reasons for the other choices that could have been madebut most are pretending they are not.
That's the essence of having a real and productive discussion about race/gender. And I, for one, appreciate the considered and courteously-stated questions and responses. I think JohnDB nailed it pretty closely. I think the discussion could be extended even further, but I certainly wouldn't given the tone of this board. But thanks, you three!