MovieChat Forums > The Yards (2000) Discussion > RACIST HIRING. No one in the media bats...

RACIST HIRING. No one in the media bats an eye.


Phoenix playing a latin person when latins are struggling to get acting jobs.

What a douchebag for accepting such a role.

Anyone ever see a whiteman play a blackman anymore ? Yeah.

Remo Williams movie. had a desperate white actor play a chinese man. Go ahead and watch it for laughs.

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Phoenix was born in Puerto Rico and has a Spanish (among others)heritage...even speaks Spanish. Anyway, why does it matter? The character is much more than his nationality. I think Phoenix was wonderful as Willie.

"So come... I Dare you... Turn the page..."

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his dad is half hispanic. do some research before you open your mouth, moron.





my creation http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f231/PortuguesePYT247/diner.jpg

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And Mark Wahlberhg is playing a New Yorker when he is really from Boston!! Stop the Presses!

What an idiot. It's comments like that that undermine true cries against racism.

"They've never actually done any 'hot policing'"
--GOB

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Robert Downey, Jr., this summer.

It's called acting.
The part was offered to Joaquin Phoenix by a director who admired his talent. It wouldn't matter if he was hispanic or not. The fact that he looked the part and spoke spanish was a plus. If he couldn't have done the role justice, it would have not been offered.

"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

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Some of them are...dumbass

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Phoenix was born in Puerto Rico and his family spent years moving around in Central and South America as missionaries. During those years he grew up speaking Spanish. As for a whiteman laying a black man, Robert Downey Jr just got through playing a black man in a comedy about the Viet Nam war.

I remember several instances where blacks played non black roles. A mini series about Anwar Sadat of Egypt was played by Lou Gossett, Jr. Gossett is neither Moslem nor Egyptian.

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His family returned to he U.S. when he was three. He relearned Spanish,(Mexicano), when he stayed with his father in Mexico when he was 14.

The argument that an actor has to be the ethnicity of the character is ridiculous. It's acting. The best one for the job should get it.
On the other hand, I think that the race of the actor auditioning for the role can usually be taken into consideration.
Parts written with a particular actor in mind are an exception.
Mark Wahlberg was the actor first chosen by Gray for the part of Willie. Joaquin was supposed to play the lead. I think after JP read the script, he figured out that he was the best choice for Willie. It was a good thing that Gray was open to the switch. Joaquin did a great job.


"a malcontent who knows how to spell"

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He was excellent in the role and you are merely playing the fool's highly inappropriate dog-eared and well-worn race card.

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You NEED to take your head out of your Supercilious, Sanctimonious Ass

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