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The R-Word and Tropic Thunder
Anyone else see this? There's a campaign, spearheaded by the Special Olympics and other groups, to eliminate the r-word (retard) from everyday speech. They've set up a Web site where you can learn more and sign a pledge. Disability rights advocates say the word is hate speech.
The campaign is sparked by the movie "Tropic Thunder," which comes out today. It's co-written and directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars. Apparently Stiller's character plays a fading Hollywood star who lost his chance at an Oscar in his portrayal of a character with a learning disability. Scenes from that "movie" are part of "Tropic Thunder" and there is frequent use of the word.
Comments
My 34-year old brother happens to have Down's Syndrome and consequently I have ALWAYS cringed when people use the r-word. (And have sometimes spoken up/thrown a fit/lectured about it.)
That said, all reviews of the TROPIC THUNDER movie are clear to explain that the movie is satirizing how actors and filmmakers exploit the mentally disabled in their performances and scripts.
During award season, the Oscar often goes to ...
Actor playing mentally and/or physically disabled person
Actress playing "ugly" woman or prostitute
TROPIC THUNDER also has Robert Downey Jr in BLACKFACE and they really go after war movies!
At the end of the day, I'll see the movie. And I've yet to see "Sam I Am" in which Sean Penn plays yet another sweet and noble mentally disabled man. Yawn ...
GREAT article about this over at salon.com -- http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2008/08/13/tropic_thunder/