Monday, October 06, 2008

Tropic Thunder: Bizarre

I had been looking forward to Tropic Thunder for some time. Ben Stiller is my favorite US comedic actor, but when I discovered that Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise would be playing barely recognisable characters in it too then I was even more psyched.

Tropic Thunder is a bizarre movie to say the least, detailing the comedic exploits of a group of prima donna actors stranded and left to fend for themselves in a South East Asian jungle while shooting a Vietnam War movie. Through various twists, they believe that they are still portraying a Special Forces unit and are being filmed and that the producers are simply striving for the greatest realism on screen.

The group is led by fading action star Tugg Speedman (Stiller) who is portraying John "Four Leaf" Tayback. The real Tayback (Nick Nolte) was a Vietnam War veteran who wrote the book Tropic Thunder on which the movie is made. Jack Black is Jeff "Fats" Portnoy a drug addict star of popular Eddie Murphy-style multiple-role fat-suit comedies. Kirk Lazarus (Downey) is a multi-Oscar winning Australian method actor who goes to the lengths of having skin pigmentation alteration cosmetic surgery in order for him to better portray the African American NCO Sgt. Osiris. As for Tom Cruise, well I don't want to spoil it, but needless to say there are a few people reading this, who saw the movie, who wouldn't be able to tell me what part Cruise was playing.

Final Verdict: It sadly wasn't the best comedy of the year, but well worth watching for all of the Hollywood in-jokes and satire and especially to see the actors playing quite different characters than ever before.

Colonel Creedon Rating: ****


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Forget Tom Sizemore, after seeing this, I reckon Jack Black is the man to play the Lt.Col in "Creedon, Legend of a Lt.Col"!

Folks, What do you think the film of the Lt.Col's life should be called?

Douglas Kastle said...

I loved this movie, Cruise was a (major) surprise. Any ways :

"I know who I am, I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."

Classic

Anonymous said...

Civvy, he came up with Sizemore, yes? But we always knew it had to be Jack, didn't we? Oh crap! You have to see that thingy that I found!!! Hmmm. I'll have to post it. I have to be cryptic, I don't want to ruin the surprise.

Anyway, who cares about what the movie will be called? What I want to know is: Who will play you?

Anonymous said...

Connie, I prefer to take on more of an oversight role, as such, someone like Michael Bay would best repesent me on set. ;)

I believe Alan Rickman would be suitable to play my learned colleague, Sithy

The real question is who could possible do justice to the role of Connie?

Anonymous said...

Michael Bay? Are you sure he's handsome enough? He's kinda funny looking. Alan Rickman, on the other hand, is held in high regard by some of the ladies I know.

Civvy, you are too kind. I am but a bit player. Surely my part could be played by your everyday sass-mouth writer, as I am merely words on a screen.

Major General Creedon said...

Although I have said his performance in King Kong was superb, Black would incapable of convincingly playing one of the most elite trained and highly decorated officer of the USMC.
Basically, he looks too friendly, his eyes smile even if he doesn't. So he lacks the ability to intimidate with a single glance - one of my trademarks.
Jack is one of the greatest comedies on film today when people just see him on screen they laugh. I think it would send a mixed message to have a comedic actor take part in the most realistic and expensive war movie ever made detailing everything from USMC Force Recon Training, SAS exchange selection to battles and campaigns in Grenada, The Leb, Panama, Iraq, The Mog and Afghanistan to name but a few.
No, Tom Sizemore's name is still at the top, but recently the director who will be shooting Whopper's first screen appearance has been considering Micheal Madsen.

Major General Creedon said...

Oh sorry I meant to add that Jeffery Combs will play Civvy and Tina Fey would make a great Constance.

Anonymous said...

Jeffrey Combs was Summer Glau's boyfriend in the 4400!!

As for me, it's as I said: your basic sassy, mouthy writer, the one, the only, the lovely... Miss Tina Fey!

Anonymous said...

"Jack is one of the greatest comedies on film today when people just see him on screen they laugh.",

You know, Lt.Col, it is for the very same reason that I believe Jack Black would be the man to play you, excepting the "on screen" part, of course. ;)

Liquidator Brunt?, total rockstar!, mind you, the funny thing about Coombs is that he was declared dead by the media on 9-11, then miraculously was undeclared dead (or is that declared undead?) Anyway I can see how his rumoured Christ like abilities would remind you of me. So good choice Lt.Col,

I'm just glad you didn't go with a Norrit Imp.

Connie is to be played by Ms.Fey?. I endorse this decision. Of course, if Ms. Fey is busy, we could always wait 3 weeks and I'm sure a lookalike will be available.