A Question of Authenticity

I have just watched one of the dopest movie trailers I have seen in a long time.  The scale of the movie is epic, with effects that just take your breath away.  I mean, for this to be a remake (technically) of the story of the Ten Commandments, trust and believe this movie looks to  be on par with the original, if not surpass it on every level.  Exodus: Gods & Kings updates the narrative to spectacular fashion, while still managing to respect the previous incarnation……..right…..down…..to….the lack of persons of color in key or prominent roles.  I have never been accused of being a conspiracy theorist or militant, but even watching the trailer in all its magnificence, the casting is almost jarring!   Just when you think Hollywood could surprise you…….it doesn’t. 

At this point, you have probably seen countless posts on social media or the internet in regards to the obvious “Whitewashing” of the movie.  The ensuing outrage has sparked declarations of boycotting the film, as well as debates in regards to this timeless “tradition” of Hollywood. And the disappointment is not coming just from the African American community, as I have seen countless white critics and bloggers shake their heads at the absurdity of it.  Most of the commentary is centered on the idea that Tinsel Town is continuing its lies and trying to sell the history that Egyptians were white.  I’m sure that I could get into a long debate about the ethnicity of the Egyptians and historical accuracy, and I think the Egyptian culture ran the gambit of a combination of Arab & African descent respectively.  However I think that point is moot and what Hollywood is attempting to do or say, has nothing to do with perpetuating that Egyptians were white.  What I see is something far more damning.

 

The habit of whitewashing movies has been a long standing practice in Hollywood that dates back as far as its earliest inceptions.  Often times you would see white men & women with dark make up or such portraying Asians, Latins, Black or Native Americans.  Clearly these people and actors of color existed at the time, but Hollywood was steeped in racism (one could argue it still is….just not as in your face at times), so often times persons of color would not be hired or relegated to background roles.  Many point to Cleopatra portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor as one such insult, however as far as we know Cleo was of Greek descent, so that movies' portrayal could very well be accurate.   In the new movie Exodus you have Christian Bale as Moses, Sigourney Weaver as Tuya, Joel Edgerton as Ramses II & John Tuturro as Pharaoh Seti I, to name a few.  Don’t worry though; casting spared no expense locating black actors to portray an array of thieves, slaves, soldiers etc. Movies like Amistad & 12 Years a Slave, seem to have no problem finding and selecting actors that fulfill the role but can also deliver the acting chops.....and also achieve critical success. But yet, for this movie, in a position of power, black & Middle Eastern actors are low in supply? Granted it’s two different studios, times and directors but the paradigm is still prevalent.   Do you see what they are telling us, yet?

The American public is much too educated nowadays and informed for anyone to attempt to make a movie about Egypt and depict characters as white.  The advent of the internet, cable and even the re-writing of history books, one would have to be pretty arrogant to think that an intelligent adult that will be attending this movie knows better than to believe otherwise.  What I see Hollywood telling us is that “We cannot sell a movie with a black cast.” or “America is not ready to see a movie with an all/majority black cast.” As a matter of fact, that goes for Asians, Latin and other ethnicities. When most of us see a movie with a majority white cast, we don’t say, “oh that’s a white movie”….we look at the story, then actors and if it looks interesting, people will attend.  However when it’s majority black, Latin or Asian, the movie gets lumped into being a movie only for that specific community.  Hitch is one of the funniest and my favorite movies, but I always wondered had the love interest been someone like Kerry Washington and it co-starred Cedric the Entertainer instead of Kevin James, would it also too find itself being labeled another black movie?!   I find that far more insulting and presumptuous.  As a black man, I am offended and if you're white, you should be offended as well. Because you’re being told that you are not intelligent or sophisticated enough to enjoy a film unless it’s white. I am all about getting the best actor available, and as much as I don't want to see films whitewashed, I also don't believe in giving a role to someone just because they are black or whatever.  And yes, there are even times when you may have a character where there ethnicity has nothing to do with with who they are as a person......however there are instances where you do, and in those instances, with all things being equal in talent, you give the role to the appropriate ethnicity.  While doing my research, i was surprised to find out some characters that were originally not white......like the hero John Rico from Starship Troopers.  I never read the book....but in there his name was Juan Rico. Here's a link of other offenses:25 Hollywood Whitewashes

Ultimately Hollywood is a machine that thrives off money. With a movie of this magnitude, I’m sure no expense was spared, and thus the studio wants to make all that money back and then some.  But apparently they feel they can’t do that if the focus of the cast is comprised with people of color.  Now with Moses, being that he was Hebrew…his ethnicity could be a bit ambiguous.  But the other key characters are definitely not of Anglo Saxon descent.  I’m sure there are some white people that may be turned off by a majority black cast, and that’s fine. Let them stay in their archaic mindset of an all-white world.  However I do believe that there is also a contingent of audience goers and movie lovers that just want to see a great movie and have awesome experience.  Could you imagine Christian Bale and Idris Elba chewing up the screen going at one another?! In a day and time where historical accuracy is touted extensively, it seems when it comes to the actual characters, one is more apt to use artistic license to not hire actors whose ethnicity could fulfill the role, as well as serve the script in talent level.  A production like this, I'm had a demand at the highest level for authenticity, except when it comes to the characters.  It’s really a shame that I won’t be seeing Exodus, because I am a movie nut and it looks to be a triumph to behold. However, I just can’t abide something that is so courageous in scope, but not courageous in its casting.