The Odyssey

[Kelliezgirl]

Hey, remember when they made a movie about imaginary gods, and Egyptian history and cast a bunch of white people in it, and no one cared, because the entire point of adapting a classic is to explore different aspects of it through a variety of different lenses. Culture, setting, tone, subtext, the filmmaker's tastes and aesthetics...

No? That's not how it happened? There was a bunch of pearl clutching from certain people, and the director was forced to apologize?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life...irector-apologizes-whitewashed-cast/76565502/

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Well, not necessarily with gods on my side. After all, that's what the story is about: the gods making you prosperous or breaking you into tiny pieces. You can't watch and enjoy the story unless you buy into the myths of the story you're watching.

The gods would have made him bigger...

 

[MillieDynamite]

Stargate SG1 made the best shit up about the ancient gods!

Hey, remember when they made a movie about imaginary gods, and Egyptian history and cast a bunch of white people in it, and no one cared, because the entire point of adapting a classic is to explore different aspects of it through a variety of different lenses. Culture, setting, tone, subtext, the filmmaker's tastes and aesthetics...

No? That's not how it happened? There was a bunch of pearl clutching from certain people, and the director was forced to apologize?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life...irector-apologizes-whitewashed-cast/76565502/

They made him supernatural strong and much faster, so bigger wasn't needed. Again, it's fantasy! Despite some people's assertions, it's historically accurate. It's only accurate to the world they created, like most fiction or autobiographies.

The gods would have made him bigger...

 

[Kelliezgirl]

The only reason to complain about changing the race of characters is racism

Also... changing the race of characters is racist....

https://collider.com/ridley-scott-exodus-gods-and-kings-casting/

 

[MillieDynamite]

Historical characters might be racist, but definitely a black Peter Gunn, Superman, or James Bond wouldn't be.

I'd make an exception for Hamilton. While I haven't seen it, I understand why they did the switch.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

The issue with Eliot Page isn't one of being a trans actor

OK, now try saying that with a straight face...

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Historical characters might be racist, but definitely a black Peter Gunn, Superman, or James Bond wouldn't be.

Or a white Blade, Storm, or Othello... right?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

OK, now try saying that with a straight face...

Just did.
Casting Peter Dinklage in the part would have been just as ludicrous.

 

[crookedletter]

Apropos of nothing, a debating tip: if you want people to take your argument seriously, don't begin with the premise that the only issue people have with trans people is their height.

 

[PennyThompson]

Apropos of nothing, a debating tip: if you want people to take your argument seriously, don't begin with the premise that the only issue people have with trans people is their height.

Tom Cruise would never get any work if height were a primary concern in filmmaking

 

[MillieDynamite]

Actually, I believe Othello should stay black, as the play is about jealousy and race.

Or a white Blade, Storm, or Othello... right?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Apropos of nothing, a debating tip: if you want people to take your argument seriously, don't begin with the premise that the only issue people have with trans people is their height.

Why do you insist on making it about Trans people? I'm simply pointing out that they cast an actor that doesnt look the part.

 

[PennyThompson]

Actually, I believe Othello should stay black, as the play is about jealousy and race.

Race-swapped Othello is totally a thing too, Patrick Stewart once played Othello in a stage production opposite a majority black cast!

 

[MillieDynamite]

At five 7 he towers over me!

Tom Cruise would never get any work if height were a primary concern in filmmaking

 

[crookedletter]

Why do you insist on making it about Trans people? I'm simply pointing out that they cast an actor that doesnt look the part.

If that's in truth your only issue with Page, good for you. But the topic on discussion was the general issues people seem to have with the casting of the movie, and... I don't think it's about height.

As far as I'm aware this was how Page got brought into the discussion:

And of course, he is once again bringing that certain actor actress actor who has no business being in the movie, just like in Inception.

Is that about his height?

 

[Writer61]

Actually, I believe Othello should stay black, as the play is about jealousy and race.

Unless all the other characters were cast with black actors.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The total swap works then.

Race-swapped Othello is totally a thing too, Patrick Stewart once played Othello in a stage production opposite a majority black cast!

 

[MillieDynamite]

Yes, I already addressed that.

Unless all the other characters were cast with black actors.

 

[Writer61]

Yes, I already addressed that.

My apologies, I had missed that.

 

[MillieDynamite]

Well, I think we simoposted.

My apologies, I had missed that.

 

[Writer61]

I can understand why there is a wish to cast according to type, but how far does it go?

Must gay characters be played by gay actors? Turn that around: can gay actors only play gay characters? Should Daniel Day-Lewis return his Oscar for playing a man with cerebral palsy? Only Greek actors play Greek characters? Are disabled actors prohibited from playing characters who are not specifically mentioned as being disabled in the script? And, where would Star Trek be without aliens?

 

[PennyThompson]

The issue with Eliot Page isn't one of being a trans actor, it's casting someone 5ft tall weighing 85lbs as one of the greatest warriors in the world. It just doesnt make any practical sense.

Wait a second, do you think Elliot Page plays Achilles? He doesn't, he plays Sinon.

Page playing Achilles was a twitter hoax meant to enrage people

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

oh wait! do you think Elliot Page plays Achilles? He doesn't, he plays Sinon.

Page playing Achilles was literally a twitter hoax meant to enrage people

That's very funny.

I was totally baffled by the reference to Sinon as 'one of the greatest warriors in the world'!

 

[PennyThompson]

That's very funny.

I was totally baffled by the reference to Sinon as 'one of the greatest warriors in the world'!

Yeah, Newsmax and some other right-wing sources fell for the hoax and were producing all kinds of breathless commentary about it, I think Elon Musk retweeted it too.

 

[crookedletter]

There is also a very willful missing of the point in the seeming inconsistency in applauding diversity in a historically homogeneous industry. The issue with Gods of Egypt and the like is not only historical accuracy: the issue people have is that white people have always dominated casting, and when a movie that should represent an opportunity for others to get some decent roles is passed by in favor of the usual suspects, it's a bummer.

If you don't see the benefit in diverse casting, okay, fine. Enjoy Gods of Egypt or whatever. But don't act like you're unraveling the conspiracy when you ask why those same issues aren't being raised by the same people for The Odyssey.