Welcome one and all to the first edition of roughcut.com's Civilian Voices. This is the section of the site where you, that's right, you, have the opportunity to make your opinions known. And judging by our first batch of e-mail, you are a very opinionated bunch. As many of you may know, the character played by Kevin Spacey in the soon to be released Pay It Forward was described as an African-American man in the novel upon which the film was based. Warner Bros. has never made a statement regarding its decision to change the race of the main character when bringing the film to the big screen, but many of you had your own opinions as to why the studio would make this kind of decision.

"Hollywood cares about one color:  Green.  The decision to cast Kevin Spacey versus Denzel Washington in Pay it Forward was based on the size of American Beauty's box office versus that of The Hurricane.  Hits have been few and far between for Denzel and Morgan Freeman; and quite frankly, the film has a far better chance of succeeding with Kevin Spacey in the lead." -- David (Not Poland)

 

"In response to the question, 'Why didn't they hire a black actor to star in Pay It Forward?'  Because Kevin Spacey was interested.  Maybe it was because he was white, maybe not, but to assume it's an issue of skin color without any substantial evidence is just wrong.  Remember Jerry Maguire?  Well, that role, in which Cuba Gooding Jr. took home an Oscar ®, was originally written as a white character.  So what? They hired a black actor instead and it worked out great.  Also, Don Cheadle, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman weren't sitting around their houses with nothing to do.  Don Cheadle was doing The Family Man and Traffic (which will be a much better film than Pay It Forward), Denzel Washington was doing The Hurricane and Remember the Titans, and Morgan Freeman is too old for the role and was doing Under Suspicion and Along Came A Spider anyway.  I understand there are a lot of racial issues going on in the industry, but why make an issue out of a non-issue? " -- Jay

Speaking of racial equality in Hollywood, Spike Lee's latest film Bamboozled focuses on just that issue. A television writer played by Damon Wayans proposes a tasteless new show that features African-Americans in blackface in hopes of being released from his contract. His plan for termination backfires when the show is a huge success. If you aren't familiar with the plot, or haven't seen the trailers or t.v. spots, you aren't the only one.

"...what is going on at New Line with the marketing of Bamboozled?  I have yet to see one television ad for the film, nor have I seen the trailer in a movie theatre (although I did see it online).  Are they dumping the film?  I mean, you have a new feature from (like him or not) one of America's most provocative, adult filmmakers, and there has been next to zero advance buzz about this movie.  What gives?" -- Jimmy

Opening nationwide this weekend is the Sylvester Stallone vehicle Get Carter. The film is a remake of the 1971 film starring Michael Caine in the title role. Caine has a cameo in the updated version. Will Stallone's Get Carter be a classic or a dud?

"I'm amused -- and, of course, primed to expect the worst -- by WB's decision not to press-screen the Get Carter remake. But, then again, I remember how MGM treated the 1971 original. Yeah, everybody knows 30 years after the fact that the first Get Carter is a classic. When it was first released in North America, however, MGM sort of booted it out the back door. At the time, I was living in New Orleans -- not exactly an obscure jerkwater town -- and was shocked when the movie opened for first-run engagements at local drive-ins. It wasn't until weeks later that Get Carter finally got its first booking in a "hard-top" theater, a small, long-since demolished, art house. Trivia note: When Get Carter opened at New Orleans drive-ins, it played on a double bill with another movie that MGM threw away -- Paul Mazursky's Alex in Wonderland. " -- Joe

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With guns blazing, cars flipping, and fists flying, Get Carter is just the kind of film Joe Lieberman and his gang in Washington would like to see Hollywood do away with altogether. A voice from overseas raises a few questions about Hollywood as the new American scapegoat. "I just GOTTA say something about that whole movie-violence issue: the United States should maybe try to take a look across their border. (Even though I know that's sometimes a bit hard for Americans.) Here in Europe, we have the same movies you have over there. We have MORE sex on television, maybe even more violence. I remember getting into a movie like Se7en when I was 13 or 14 years old. But, look at the stats: do we have more violence in schools here than in the U.S., or less? Do we have more teen pregnancy, rapes, etc. in Europe than in the U.S., or less? Maybe politicians in the U.S. should stop playing the blame game with the movie and entertainment industry and take a closer look at the REAL problems of American society. Hypocrisy and lies definitely won't solve any problems. They will only make it worse. We can't let the entertainment industry become politics' scapegoat!" -- Mike of Vienna

Violence in the movies is a hot topic this year. One about which I'm sure many of you have a strong opinion. Are government officials just looking for a scapegoat or is there validity to their argument? If a child is prone to violence, will he or she be pushed over the edge by watching a movie or television show? Recent polls show that parents now want schools to be responsible for teaching their children about sex. Does Hollywood need to take on a more parental role as well? Guarding kids from things their parents shouldn't let them see?

If you've got an answer to any of these questions, want to respond to one of the readers whose e-mails were printed in today's column, or simply want to rant or rave about another issue related to film, I'd love to hear from you. My goal is to initiate conversation and debate not only in this forum, but in offices, classrooms, and around the family dinner table. So get typing! The next edition of Civilian Voices will appear on Saturday. Your voice is important. Make it heard.

Meghan McCarthy
Editor, Civilian Voices

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