Tropic Thunder's REAL Crime

There's been some silly uproar about Ben Stiller's film Tropic Thunder. Apparently, people are taking offense to the fact Downey's in blackface, which is ridiculous. He is playing an idiot character who thinks a surgical version of blackface is a good idea. Condemning Downey or the film for this, would be like convicting Anthony Hopkins of multiple homicides for his role in Silence of the Lambs.

Secondly, the film is taking heat for making fun of the mentally handicapped. And this too, is obsurd. The film is a satire. It's poking fun at people who believe and act like these characters. It makes me think of the silliness over the New Yorker cover that was making fun of the enormous number of people who are convinced that Barak is a secret muslim.

In the end, Tropic Thunder, although I have yet to see it, is probably guiltier of something else...

PLAGIARISM! Ben Stiller stole his gag about Hollywood exploiting the mentally handicapped to reap Oscars from Ricky Gervais's brilliant TV show Extras (a show we know he was familiar with, because he was on it!). See below -

Extras; The HBO Series

I’m a huge fan of Ricky Gervais (the creator, writer and director of The Office – and star of the UK version). So, it’s no surprise that I’m loving catching up on his new HBO series Extras.

It’s a simple premise: a man quits his job to make it in the British film industry by working as an extra on as many films as possible. He lounges around the set trying to shmooze with the celebrities in order to convince them to finagle him a line of dialogue.

I’ve seen the first three episodes so far and I’m almost as hooked as I was on The Office when I first started watching.

It’s not for the kiddies, but it makes me laugh and wish I was British.