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“The end of Innocence and the Entrance of Distrust” OR “Scientology Wins”???

  • March 12, 2012 11:56 am

Precious life, given and taken.

Heavy Monday.

It’s grey outside, a rarity in otherwise sunny Southern California. And the world feels grey.  Read more...

Five Otherwise ‘Stereotypical’ Films Made Better By An Asian Performance

  • October 28, 2010 12:01 am

Last week I blogged about five otherwise decent films ruined by Asian stereotypes. Today, I look at five films (in no particular order) with problematic portrayals of Asians but that contain at least one performance by an Asian actor that make the movies “better.” So without further ado:

1. THE LAST SAMURAI (2003) 
Ken Watanabe as Katsumoto

On the face of it, the plot for this movie sounds pretty ridiculous: White soldier (Tom Cruise) travels to 19th century Japan and becomes the titular “last samurai” when all the other samurais are killed off, then proceeds to retire to a Japanese village to live out his life with his Japanese love. But what gives the film its weight and verisimilitude are the performances of the Japanese cast and, in particular, Ken Watanabe as the leader of the samurai rebels who takes Cruise under his wing and mentors him. Watanabe (who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work) grounds the film with a talent and charisma that appears so subtle and effortless that before you even realize it, you have witnessed the birth of a true American star.

Here’s the original preview trailer:

 Read more...

Short Film Spotlight: PURE

  • June 5, 2010 10:01 am

From our friends at Fantastic Fest, comes a Readers Digest version of every Hollywood cliche (well, more action film-wise). Here’s the rundown on the short, aptly titled PURE:

A meditation on genre, a commentary on visual cliches, and a celebration of the visceral pleasures of cinema. Music by The Jesus Lizard. Please play full screen at top volume!

For some reason, it borrows a lot from Tom Cruise in The Firm. Quick reminder that our Interpretations Film Initiative is fully launched now! Go out there and produce your own short film and be a part of the YOMYOMF community (and also win prizes)! Show us what you’re made of! Details here.

Thirteen Ways To Tell If Someone Is Japanese

  • October 23, 2009 1:57 am

OK, now it’s time for me to offend the Japanese. Here are some ways you can tell if that groovy dude or chick you’re hanging with is from the land of the rising sun.

japan11. If you do not urinate or defecate on them during sex, they will think you don’t love them anymore.

2. When they enter a business run by a Chinese or Korean, they will try to annex it for themselves.

3. If you yell “Godzilla,” they will run for their lives.

4. They’re the only Asians who can’t eat spicy foods.

5. They’ll deny the existence of comfort women and other historical unpleasantries, but they have no problem believing that Tom Cruise came to Japan in the 19th century to save the samurai culture and way of life.  Read more...

Nine Movies Where Asians Die For The White Hero

  • September 16, 2009 1:18 pm

samuraiIt’s almost a rule of Hollywood movies that when you have a Caucasian lead paired with an Asian sidekick or love interest, the Asian character is going to sacrifice his or her life to save (or try to save) the white hero. In chronological order, here are nine major films worth checking out (I’ve tried to point out the good and the bad with each film) that fall into this category.

Broken Blossoms (1919)
Director: D.W. Griffith  Read more...

How To Survive An Attack by Tom Cruise’s Ninja Assassins

  • August 19, 2009 9:12 am

rogerfinishing

  (“Valkyrie sucked, mothafucker!”)

Regular readers of this blog know that my fellow Offender Roger wrote about his disheartening experience with the table read for the new remake of Red Dawn (read his original post here). After calling out Tom Cruise, Roger has expressed his fear that he will be assassinated by ninjas sent by Mr. Cruise. Here in the Offenders family, we look out for each other so this is a very special edition of the “How To Survive” series addressed specifically to Roger so that he can survive if these Cruise-sanctioned ninjas come to take him out.  Read more...

When “Red Dawn” attacks…

  • August 10, 2009 3:03 pm

For the past 14 years, I have been an actor in Hollywood.  As with the career of any actor (famous, infamous, or unknown), it has been a roller coaster of ups, downs, victories, and losses.  There is a reason why most parents would not encourage their child to become an actor.  It is, at best, a completely unpredictable affair and most certainly not a meritocracy.  When people ask me what it’s like to work as an actor in Hollywood, my best answer goes something like this – imagine the superficial, social politics of junior high…and with that, you have the key, critical success factors necessary to excel in Hollywood.  Basically, it’s the exact opposite moral values that mom and dad tried to teach you as a kid.  When asked what it’s like to be an Asian American actor in Hollywood, my best answer is – imagine being a white guy, going to China to be an actor, and expecting to have a career like Chow Yun Fat.  Good luck round eye.

tn2_william_h_ macy_4 HowdyDoody_40Episodes

Rog williampic_c  Read more...