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Wesley Snipes: 'White people like to watch white men do white things.'

posted 12 years ago by Mr_Hamster
21 replies | jump to latest

Hi there fellow Demolition Man fans,

I just found an old article from a German tv guide ('TV Movie') which came out during the movie's release (I've censored the nude pic of Sly for obvious reasons ), thought I'd share it with you:

http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x199/mr_hamster/DemolitionMan_Page1 .jpg
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x199/mr_hamster/DemolitionMan_Page2 .jpg

Anyway, on the right page is an interview with Wesley Snipes, and it seems like he didn't think too much of his role, the movie and Hollywood in general.

For those of you whose German's a little rusty, here's the translation:

"White people like to watch white men do white things."

TV Movie: Your last movie, 'Rising Sun', was criticized as being racist towards the Japanese. In 'Demolition Man', you're playing the villain. That could also be considered racist.

Snipes: Sure. The white man's the good guy, the black man's the bad guy. There'll certainly be a discussion among the black population about this. However, sometimes you have to make a small sacrifice in order to reach a bigger audience. I'd rather be in a blockbuster such as this one than a politically correct independent film. In my next action movie, I'll decide who's gonna be the bad guy.

TV Movie: What else got you interested in doing this movie?

Snipes: The money! I'm also trying to play very different characters to avoid typecasting. A black man playing the bad guy every once in a while isn't that much of a problem really, it only becomes a problem when black people play nothing but villains in the movies.

TV Movie: Hasn't the situation for black people within the film industry improved for the better lately?

Snipes: No. There are a few bright spots here and there. Still, the money as well as the studios are being controlled by white people, and they feel most comfortable watching white men do white things. Sure, a few of us happen to be very successful, like Spike Lee. However, those token figures can be found anywhere within America, take politics for instance. In the end they aren't the ones who make an impact on society.

Interesting stuff, anybody care to comment?

Who are they? And what do they want?

[–] ultimate221 12 years ago

wesley snipes is an idiot

most the time its the white man is the good guy, and the white man is the bad guy

[–] somemoviesilike 12 years ago

I think that might kinda be his point. Anyway, Hollywood, like most arenas, has come a long way in 20 years. Even if Tyler Perry's doing his best to undo all that.

[–] legnadibrom (5697) 4 years ago

tyler perry has his own studio in georgia & making movies, tv, etc. with black folk exclusively

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] HowYaLikeDemApplesWill 9 years ago

There were plenty...including several Snipes himself starred in.

New Jack City
Passenger 57
White Men Can't Jump
Sugar Hill
Drop Zone

Whose idea was it for the word "Lisp" to have an "S" in it?

[–] LadyKalma 12 years ago

Huh. Some friends and I watched this whilst drunk last night, and one of us noticed something related. A "utopian" future society, practically all of the named characters are white, and the thing that "ruins" it all is a black man from early 90s LA going on a crime spree, who can only be stopped by a white guy. It's amusingly uncomfortable to view it through that lens, but unfortunately doesn't hold water in the least.

As for Snipes' specific comments, he's a smart guy but this is just a very, very dumb generalisation. It was never written with the idea of a black antagonist, that was just a result of them finding a great martial artist for the role (Jackie Chan was apparently even considered at one point). Snipes also disproved his own comments by grossing $70mil only a few years later, "despite" having a black protagonist, in Blade. Blade 2 made $150mil despite one of the antagonists being a white supremacist (played with entirely self-aware irony by the jewish Ron Pearlman) who is bested by the black protagonist. He was way off mark. I like Snipes on screen, and his commentary tracks on his DVDs are entertaining, but the guy comes off as a major ass the rest of the time.

[–] ianster00 12 years ago

I'd say he generally has a point. Especially at the time of the interview, there were very few films where non-white characters were in a majority roles or any/all of the 'hero' roles.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ianster00 12 years ago

That's completely beside the point being made tbh. Generally in those movies the hero is a younger white guy.

[–] Mr_Hamster 10 years ago

Thanks for your replies so far guys!

Anyone else?

Who are they? And what do they want?

[–] huzdaman 10 years ago

White men, doing white things. Like say, paying your taxes...

[–] Mr_Hamster 10 years ago

White men, doing white things. Like say, paying your taxes...

Who are they? And what do they want?

[–] tueher86 10 years ago

Was Wesley Snipes even aware that the movie's original depiction of the villain was never a black guy? They just happened to land Snipes while failing to get their original choices for the role. They mostly just wanted someone who knew martial arts. The fact that Wesley Snipes came on board was the only reason they edited the script to alter the villain into having a black personality.

[–] Mr_Hamster 9 years ago

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/top-five-filmmaker-chris-rock-75 3223

Kind of addressing the same issue here, isn't he?

Who are they? And what do they want?
😎

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] nancy-mitrione 7 years ago

Personally I think he is dead on .... and it doesn't matter if it is 2003, 2012 or 2018, I don't think too much has changed. There are many more prominent roles for white people. Why, not sure. Is it because white leads have a better return at the box office? Producers are racists? I love a variety of movies and I have probably seen all of WS Ice Cube's movies and found them enjoyable. BTW I am a white, 51 year old woman and watched for the 10th time Boyz n the Hood last nightand still think it is a great movie.

[–] strntz (10790) 6 years ago

Why, not sure. Is it because white leads have a better return at the box office?

You asked, you answered.

One thing I've learned about white folks in power is that even when they're racist, they like money more than anything. Why do you think blacks are over represented in sports?

Money.

Denzel does well at the box office and so is very well paid and highly sought after, but while I enjoy Snipes movies in general, he's just not a big draw.

Actors regardless of color are paid by demand, and demand is created at the box office.

[–] Burk48917 (10966) 6 years ago

He was the good guy in 3 Blade movies where all of the bad guys were white.

[–] SheHateMe (37) 6 years ago

Ah, but when was he interviewed? Blade seems to be a realization of his dream he spoke of during the interview.

And look at what he did in New Jack City btw... not even an Oscar nom was bullshit.