Brian Thibodeau

Michelle Yeoh! Gong Li! Zhang Ziyi!

Sounds like ideal casting!

For a movie about Chinese courtesans!! Sigh....

http://www.worldmoviemag.com/index.p...t=News&key=426

What IS Hollywood's problem?!? There are plenty of bi-lingual Japanese actresses who would be far more appropriate for the roles. Sure, they may not have the box-office recognition of these three, but come on. It's a story about Japanese Geishas. Just another case of Hollywood assuming the audience for this won't be able to tell the difference between a Chinese face and a Japanese face. The sad thing is, for a large portion of the audience, they're probably right. It's the kind of ignorance on both sides that breeds my contempt.

When exactly will Hollywood start casting Asians as characters from their respective countries or origin on a regular basis, instead of just scooping recognizable names out of the pool of known-to-white-folks Chinese actors. I know it does happen occasionally (as in LAST SAMURAI or HAROLD & KUMAR), but this whole MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA thing smells like a blown opportunity.

Hopefully this will all turn out to be a case of bad rumour taking flight.

Kristian

I was talking to a friend of mine about this the other day. It really is a disturbing trend in casting. There are so many talented Japanese actresses out there and it's sad that they won't get a chance to be featured in one of the few mainstream US films about Japan.

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Cameron Yee

As much as I love those ladies, this is messed up.

Gary->dee

On the bright side... could be worse.

Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Cameron Yee

That illustrates the difference between "just plain wrong" and "messed up."

Brian Thibodeau

Hell, they could've at least watched the KILL BILL series or some of the J-Horror films that have started turning up on video over here.

I'm a big fan of all three of those Chinese actresses, largely because they play Chinese characters in Chinese films, or Chinese characters in American films, but NOT because they play Japanese characters in films made by ignorant American filmmakers who just want big names (big as possible anyways) above the title.

I can see the trailer now:

After a series of scenic travelogue shots and snippets from the movie revealing pretty scenes of tender love and potential ultimate sacrifice (bet there'll be a pre-harikiri scene, to point up the "Japaneseness" of the endeavour, 'cause that's what those people do, right?), we'll get the usual baritoned voiceover, probably by the guy who did the trailer for the still unreleased HERO who'll start with the inevitable lead-off line "In an age of fuedal warfare, where true love was forbidden," before ending something like this:

"From the producers of Twister..."

"...and the writer of Batman Forever..."

"...and the director of Chicago..."

"...comes the stirring portrait of three women who dared to fight for equality, justice......and love."

"Rush Hour 2's Zhang Ziyi, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon's Michelle Yeoh, and Raise the Red Lantern's Gong Li..."

"...in a film by Rob Marshall."

"MEMoirs of a Geisha."

Sigh

Brian Thibodeau

Thank goodness those days are over, although now Hollywood just uses actual Asian actors to occasionally essay watered down bit-part versions of those same stereotypical roles.

Gary->dee

This sounds sick and maybe because it's Friday that I would even entertain this notion, but I can imagine Steve's bossom buddy Tom Hanks putting on Japanese makeup and.. ugh nevermind. I think I'm getting sick!

Brian Thibodeau

Just sick enough for an American studio to require. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a Caucasian actor added to the cast, just to give American audiences a "familiar face" to identify with, so that we may vicariously venture into this strange, beautiful, alien world called...Japan with someone who makes us feel all sympathetic and special.

Dome Vongvises

I think Zhang Ziyi is hot as balls but damn that's some wrong casting.