MovieChat Forums > The Human Stain (2003) Discussion > A film about race and class, dominated b...

A film about race and class, dominated by rich white actors

posted 20 years ago by SaDaTay
70 replies | jump to latest

There was no rhythm to this film. The cast didn't gel. The movie never got its groove on, even though individual performances were wonderful. (Harry Lennix and Anna Deveare Smith were brilliantly self-contained.) It felt like a series of monologues, not a cohesive film.

Perhaps an American should have played the main role, or at least someone with closer connections to the pain of race in America. Hopkins seemed way too far removed.

I believe that a good actor can transcend race, class, ethnicity. A good actor can play a character with whom they personally have very little in common. But for some reason, in this case, that leap didn't happen.

Why didn't they cast a very light-skinnned brotha? Why cast whites to play other races when there are plenty of quality "non-white" actors out there? I suppose that Hopkins' name would guarantee sales.

This was a film about race and class, dominated by rich white actors. Unfotunately, it showed.

[–] janelikesjoe 18 years ago

I agree with the original poster. I didn't mind the fact that white actors played a partly african american man (although i would like to have it explained more why he looks white), but then again, I'm white. But the film wasn't cohesive to me at all. don't know how the book it, but it was an effort that fell short.

[–] savvygal 18 years ago

janelikesjoe, google allison davis, sr. and his two sons, gordon davis and allison davis, jr. (who appeared in the human stain, as the white racist customer on the train). also sharon mcphail (detroit councilwoman) and romare bearden (celebrated black artist)
white-looking african americans are not uncommon in the black community.

[–] janelikesjoe 18 years ago

yeah, I didn't know that Wentworth Miller was bi-racial, and thanks for elightenting me about the rest of cast. That does make a difference, although they "look" white so one coudl still argue. However, it does put it in a slightly different and interesting light. If a lot of the actors used were biracial but appeared to be only white, then the casting of the film kind of mirrored some of its themes. just an interesting thought. it kind of makes me like the movie more. not in and of itself though

[–] wenkwank 18 years ago

Yes, it is domintaed by white actors. The reason why the casted Wentworth was probably because of how he looks more white than black.

[–] Photon_Embargo 18 years ago

Have you watched many hollywood movies lately? They are mostly dominated by rich white actors, or otherwise, rich black actors....

Acting is a contextual farce, this statement is self-defeating.

(Mind you, I'd just rather digress to RICH ACTORS myself)

[–] Photon_Embargo 18 years ago

You guys spend too much time making segregations and giving names. Biracial, quadracial, mocha etc. I think Americans have a large racial/cultural fascination that undermines things at times. You guys are constantly looking for differences and making them important. Constant definitions. You also imply by the words, like biracial, that people are from two races. Humankind is one race.

I meet people, and I don't really care all too much of their mixture (or lack of). Polynesian, aboriginal, islander, scottish, italian, chinese whatever. That is something that results in how they look and perhaps act, but it equally could not.

It was definitions in Rwanda that created Tutsis and Hutus (yes, by white people - colonization had nasty results across the world) and indirectly led to the mass slaughter.

[–] swt_jne 18 years ago

Whilst I can see your point about the use of segregation and racial bias to cause problems, for those people who are multi-racial it resonates more personally for them. My son is Caucasian (50%)- English, German, Irish, Dutch and Hawaiian (25%) and Chinese (25%). It's important for him to recognize who he is and where he comes from. It's not to assign self importance or judge any of his races; but it illustrates how lovely a tapestry of culture America has become. We are not all alike, but we are not lesser or more important or civilized or intelligent. I hope to continue to learn more about who we are and our cultural makeup, so as to perpetuate positive race relations from now on.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Prismark10 13 years ago

Technically Hopkins is also now also a US citizen but he did not pull this role off.

Its that man again!!

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Walter_Iego 12 years ago

Perhaps, but it still had that "void" that was important.

---
"The truth is behind everything..."

[–] bear022013-588-696101 11 years ago

Sa Ba Tay,
I will be brief, because I am suffering from"Negro Fatigue," and you and the majority of your people have to understand that acting is another field where you simply cannot cut it.Never could..never will.
Whether it is putting Men on the Moon or finding a cure for polio it is The
proud,highly intelligent human species The Male Caucasian who has done it and always will.Many black folks cannot speak unless it is about race and being black.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] carlie1964 10 years ago

I agree,

[–] jmichael3387 8 years ago

I thought the movie was great....until the race stuff started to dominate. The race part was boring.