MovieChat Forums > Casa de mi padre (2012) Discussion > White Hollywood

White Hollywood

posted 12 years ago by ValianceInEnd
121 replies | jump to latest

I find it interesting that Hollywood would make a Spanish-language comedy with a predominately Hispanic cast, only to cast the lead role as a recognizable white Male. Ferrel's character is named Armando Alvarez, a very Hispanic name. It seems they can't take a risk like this without casting someone to get white people in the theaters as well as the Hispanic market. Is this a part of existing social prejudice that they need to market such a film in this way? Or are they simply racist?

[–] Cinemachinery 12 years ago

Amazing. This was Ferrel's love child, he's the only reason it's happening and, of course, he envisioned himself in the lead... now, in one incredibly puerile OP, suddenly it's all "White Hollywood" and we have the wonderful, brainless dichotomy of "social prejudice or racist". I can feel my brain cells dying just responding to this nonsense.

What we should be seeing is "Good on Ferrel for finding the producers and bringing something that would otherwise not be seen to the US big screen..." but instead we get flavor-of-the-day whinging.

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"But what about my previous kids?" - Job

[–] SamMalone07 12 years ago

All you fools took the bait.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] roycant07 12 years ago

Not according to Americans who act so puzzled when they see a white Mexican.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] Indie_Mod 12 years ago

I do think Hollywood can move forward with hiring other races for roles rather than having a white actor portray the character. Nonetheless, I don't get my knickers in a pinch when I hear about it. It's more of a slight pet peeve.

That said, I don't think casting Will Farrell for this role is exactly the same. Why? Because we're watching a comedian out of context which is part of the joke. It's like when Groucho Marx has been casted as a Country's leader or Cantinflas has been casted as d'Artagnan--they shouldn't be in those roles but they are and it's meant to be funny.

@Leo_Kelly--Actually most Jewish people ARE white...in this case, they are.

[–] MickBarr-1 12 years ago

Do you think this movie had any chance of being made if it wasn't SPECIFICALLY a vehicle for Will Ferrell? You sound as if you believe this is actually a movie that would be made on its own merits. It's not. Having Ferrell in the lead sets the ironic tone for the comedy.

[–] MsCinerama 12 years ago

It is Will Farrell's movie he can be the lead actor if he wants! Of which he is anyways so why is everyone crying? Since when is Mexican a bad word? People are People just get over it now!

[–] MytMowse 12 years ago

Well seeing how most of the people whom speak Spanish are White, then it can't be racist.

[–] roycant07 12 years ago

I think mestizos make up a majority of the Spanish speakers in the word, but White people make up the second number of people who speak Spanish.

And I don't mean white Americans who learn Spanish through Rosetta Stone, but actual White Hispanics, born and bred in Latin America.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] byrnesnotice 12 years ago

Well seeing how most of the people whom speak Spanish are White, then it can't be racist.

I live in California which has the largest Hispanic population in the country, and the vast majority of Spanish speakers here do not racially look like Will Ferrell at all.

Most of the time I can easily tell Mexicans apart from White Anglo Saxons just based on phenotype alone. Even among the Mexicans who speak English with no heavy accent, most of them still don't look White on the outside and I could still I.D them as being Mexican or some other type of Hispanic just based on their phenotype alone.

[–] Realityguy 12 years ago

I think you're one of those ignorant rednecks that doesn't know a *beep* about other cultures, and that believes in blonde hair/Blue eye people (Nordic) being the truly whites. Typical right extremes of Nordicist doctrine.

Mexicans can be White/Caucasian as well. Same goes for other people of Hispanic heritage.

As far as I know, Latin American was colonized by Spain, a White European country, and the Spanish/White blood runs on most of the Hispanic people. There is more White people in Latin America than you might know of, and they can found in all places, not just in Argentina or Uruguay.

[–] Razor187 12 years ago

Yes, Hollywood is very f_ucking racist against Latinos. A much bigger offender is Argo, in which Ben Affleck is playing a REAL LIFE Latino man. And before anyone asks, yes this man IRL looks Latino. Dark eyes, dark hair, and most importantly dark skin. Yet there's tons of racist ass holes who defend it. Makes me sick.

And so Governor Devlin, because even the cost of freedom can be too high, I REFUSE your pardon!

[–] putnadac-310-750288 12 years ago

Actually, this is Will Ferrel's idea. This has nothing to do with Hollywood, and everything to do with Will Ferrel and his crew trying to take a risk. If you don't believe me, check out the NYTimes article that was just written about the movie.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/movies/will-ferrell-tackles-spanish-for-casa-de-mi-padre.html?src=dayp

[–] crazylikeamoose 12 years ago

From what i can tell, the movie is a parody of a low budget 70's exploitation movie where, sadly, this type of casting was done all the time. I wouldn't take it too seriously.